MERCURY & HERALD, FRIDAY, DECE >I 



COUNTY PARADE ^^ 



88, HIS FIRST BOOK 

 JUST BEEN PUBLIS 



COPY of a remarkable new book appeared on my 

 desk this week. And remarkable is the right word, 

 for it has been written comparatively recently by a 

 Northamptonshire man who is new "getting c>n for 89," 

 to quote his own words. 



He had never written anything for publication 

 befo-re, not even an article — let alone a complete and 

 fully illustrated volume that runs to 77 pages! 



''Reminiscences of Bert Drage" (David Green, Ket- 

 tering, 10s.. 6d.) is the book. And the Bert Drage of the 

 title is Mr. Herbert Drage, of Chapel Brampton. 



This is how the auto-j, 



biography starts off: ''I] 

 have had a gnand life — I 

 more hunting thian anyj 

 man living, I should think. | 



"I am writing this in bed, 

 (January, 1953). I had a fallj 

 about a month ago and fractured j 

 my thigh .... I have broken so 

 many bones, but never niy thigh 

 before. I have broken by legs six 

 times, collar-bone twice, ribs, 

 both arms and pelvis, and '■ 

 cracked my shoulder-blade. ThCj 

 broken pelvis was the worst. ! 



'• I supipose I ought to give up 

 jumping fences now, as I have 

 lost my grip and probably I oeveT 

 ought to have come off-" 



Yes, startled reader, it was a 

 fall from a horse that broke Mr. 

 Drage's thigh ! Although in his 

 middle 80's, he was still out hunt- 

 ing with the Pytchley ! 



Turn to the end of the book 

 and you will read what I think Is 

 an equa.lly surprising FINALE : 

 "I aim now well again, playing 

 golf and riding, but do not jump, 

 for at 88 I leave it to the younger 

 ■generation." 



