POACHER-NOVELIST

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 May 1933, Page 5

POACHER-NOVELIST

AUTHOR OF “RED IKE.” Mr Jonathan M. Denwood, tailor and poacher, who wrote “Red Ike,” of which thousands of copies were sold, died on March 31 last, at his birthplace, Cockermouth, at the age of 63. Denwood’s life was as remarkable as his novel. He was a butcher’s boy and a tailor’s apprentice, and had a love affair at 16. A quarrel with his sweetheart drove him to enlist, but his father, who was said to be the original of “Red Ike,” brought him back, and in due course the young couple’s differences were made up and they were married and went to America. There Denwood worked in a draper’s shop, and subsequently he returned to Cockermouth. He carried on his trade as a tailor in their little cottage on the top of a hill for the next forty years, and often walked thirty miles a day, measuring farm workers in suits. A great fell tramper, he was also a keen fisherman, and few knew as much as he knew of the poacher’s art. ITe wrote “Red Ike” for pleasure. Mr S. Fowler Wright, the author, recognised its exceptional qualities, at. the same time telling Denwood that certain alterations were advisable. He helped to put the book into shape, and secured its publication. Within a month 30,000 copies were sold. Mr Denwood also wrote “Cumbrian Nights” and “John Peel.”