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 DICK RAWLE

Born: Exford, Somerset, 1920
Lived: Exford, Wootton Courtenay, Simonsbath, Challacombe, Parracombe
Recording made: 2001
Length of recording: 4 hrs 2 mins

To read a summary of the contents of the oral history recordings click CD1, CD2, CD3 or CD4.

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Dick Rawle's father drove the coach and four from Porlock to Lynmouth; his Uncle George was captain of the Lynmouth lifeboat at the time of the overland launch. When Uncle George died Dick helped carry his coffin two miles or more, from Nutscale to Stoke Pero church. He was in his prime, he says, strong as a horse, but it was hard work.

He bought his first sheep when he left school, 10 for £5, with his mole catching money. At 17 he was driving horses at Wootton Courtenay. Since then he's moved all over Exmoor, ploughing, thrashing, blacksmithing and doing contract work. After the war he and his wife Lett moved to Parracombe. He says he's never made out a cheque in his life and that Lett looked after everything, as well as working on the farm.

He has hunted and shot all his life, takes warfarin for his heart, and goes dancing in Barnstaple once a week.