Whistlecraft - a notorious family of poachers from Rickinghall

George Ruffels, later to be known as Joe Whistlecraft died in 1960.  Convicted over a hundred times, mainly for poaching, he was one of a notorious family who, nevertheless, are fondly remembered by many who knew them in Rickinghall and Hinderclay in Suffolk where they lived.  Known as the man who got away with murder, Joe still served over twenty years in jail, longer than many who have received a life sentence. This included three spells in Dartmoor.  His father and brothers were also regulars at both Ixworth and Eye Petty Sessions. At the start of this story, we meet Joe Whistlecraft in 1959, looking back on a long life. It is just months since his youngest brother Ernie has died and shortly before Joe will join him. Though these are not his actual words, I’d like to think he would recognise this tale as a fair reflection of the way they all lived then. This is the true story of a man who seems to have regarded regular imprisonment as little more than an occupational hazard of his chosen way of life. .

This is a presentation by Pip Wright, a retired Primary School Teacher, living in Stowmarket in Suffolk.  Pip writes local history books and give talks to groups of all kinds and all ages across East Anglia.  He has spent a number of years gathering information on local social history.