Wondrous Worzel

Perusing the Retro feature in The

News for 1979 (March 6), I note that Worzel Gummidge was popular on the TV that year.

This well-known celebrity made us all laugh but few were able to see through the straw and the rags and get to know the lonely and wretched figure that lay within.

As a day-old baby, he was discovered abandoned on the parish church steps in the tiny village of ten acre.

He was taken in and raised by Mr Crowman a kindly figure who ran a scarecrow agency. Mr Crowman became his mentor and attempted to teach Worzel the ins and outs of the bird control business. At 17, however, the lad was already wayward and running with a bad crowd. He grudgingly accepted the post of farm scarecrow but he was lazy and took time off work.

His boss was ready to sack him and It was only Mr Crowman's influence that kept him in his job.

Worzel suffered with paranoid schizophrenia and during these episodes' friends said it was almost like trying to reason with a different head.

He met and fell in love with social climber

Aunt Sally who was herself a troubled and volatile woman. Craving acceptance into the upper echelons of society she exploited and manipulated Worzel by making him party to her laughable yet tragic scheming to realise her dream.

They were said to have dabbled in illicit substances and their famous catchphrase: 'Cup of tea and a slice of cake,' was thought to be a drug reference.

He briefly found happiness with Saucy Nancy, a figurehead in the shipping industry but their plans were scuppered by jealous Aunt Sally.

Later in life he entertained with his stand-up routine and was unique in his field.

Anthony Fenlon Bursledon Road, Waterlooville