James Strudwick (1797-1882)

Writing in 1869 Charles Kerry, the then curate of Puttenham (1868-76) recorded;

Master Strudwick was one of the most famous of the modern school, though he danced without bells. William Cranham says that when he was young, he and James Strudwick went to London with a cart load of carrots for the market; and having looked to their horse, and made all things right for the night, came to the house where they had agreed to sleep. Here they found a cockney dancing to the strains of an old blind fiddler. After a while Cranham informed them that there was a countryman present, who, although he had walked with him 35 miles that day, he dared "back" against the Londoner. The challenge was at once accepted, and it was agreed that the fiddler (being blind) should be the judge (the parties of course not being made known to the musician) Accordingly, Strudwick having taken of his shoes, danced first, when he was succeeded by the cockney. When all was over, the old fiddler declared that the first man had beaten the second 'out and out' both in precision and delicacy of step. So the countryman won the day.

James Strudwick would have been aged 72 when this article was written and William Cranham was aged 79.

The Rev.Kerry re-visited Puttenham 5th October 1881 and saw James Strudwick who was now blind and aged 84.

He died 11 months later on 3rd September 1882....My Great-Great-Grandfather.                                                     

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