It is almost 30 years since Fred Abel, 'the gentleman of the road' died, but his memory still lives on, writes Edward Salsbury.
He originally came from East Anglia, possibly Ipswich, where I believe he had a family. Abel, or Abell, is a common surname in that area. He claimed he was born on 29 May 1907, which would have made him 75 when he died on 28 January 1982.
Very little is known about his background. He served with the royal artillary during the Second World War, and afterwards worked with his brother in agriculture for about three years. As things did not work out for Fred, he took to the road between 1948 and 1950.
My first meeting with Fred and his One Man Circus or 'animal Antics' show was in the late 1950s when, as a child, I accompanied my father in his cattle truck. We visited all the local markets and farms fairly often, as school was not compulsory then. We often had a package, which dad was asked to pass onto Fred, collected from a farmer, or from someone who knew Fred. In the Winter it could be a bale of hay for his donkeys...
You can read the full article in the June edition of The Four Shires Magazine, which is available from all good, local Newsagents
