Letters from Tarka the Otter author donated to county

A fascinating series of 39 letters and postcards written by Tarka the Otter author Henry Williamson to Frances Gay has been donated to the record office, because of their connection to Wiltshire-based author Richard Jefferies.

Mr Williamson was a former president of the Richard Jefferies Society, of which Mrs Gay was secretary. Spanning from 1958 to 1971, the correspondence touches on Williamson's latest work, his personal opinions of fellow authors and his domestic life.

Mrs Gay's daughter Ethelwyn Gregory decided to donate the letters to the record office to ensure they remain within the county. Record office archivist Steven Hobbs said it was an unusual and interesting donation. One of the letters touches on Williamson's dislike of fellow writer WH Hudson, author of A Shepherd's Life, who he criticised as being 'less than honest' in his work, which he felt was written with a lack of feeling.

But Williamson greatly admired the work of Victorian author Richard Jefferies, who was born in Coate, near Swindon in 1848 and wrote a series on walks across north Wiltshire, as well as books on rural life and agriculture.

Record office arcivist Steven Hobbs said: "The donor wanted us to have them because of the Jefferies Society's links with Wiltshire.

"Because of who Williamson was, the correspondence will be of interest to scholars and people who have an interest in his work.

"He is famous because of Tarka the Otter but infamous because of wartime issues. He was suspected of having leanings towards the Nazis. But as a writer he was superb."

Mr Hobbs said he hoped the letters and postcards could form part of a bigger display focussing on the life and works of Jefferies, once the record office completes its switch to state-of-the-art premises in Chippenham.

Jefferies was a former journalist with the North Wiltshire Herald and later wrote for the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard.