Ricko Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Love him or hate him, D Brian Plummer was certainly a bit of a character. I have been writing field sports articles for over 6 months now and have almost finished my first book (it's about a small village that I grew up in) Thinking to the future, I am wondering whether to start the research for a biography about Plummer. David Hancock the lurcher breeder is going to be an obvious and, no disrespect, he's not getting any younger. It also gives me an opportunity to travel up the the N coast of Scotland and down to S Wales via Staffordshire. I think that people would buy it, his books still seem to be appealing. The manager of Coch Y Bonddu books (who market his works) thinks it would be an interesting (contraversial) project. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Two of my pals have been out with Plummer and both say he was a waste of space. Full of waffle. A lot of other people have said the same. Im only repeating what they said, i never met the man. So would a book about him sell ?????. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Two of my pals have been out with Plummer and both say he was a waste of space. Your friends must be world class. :rolleyes: I would have thought Plummer's feats and dog breeding would have guaranteed his status - let alone his books. A remarkable man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 I thought your last CW article very well written. Whatever anyones opinion of Plummer, he surely deserves a biography due to his place in field sports and dog breeding. If you were to write one I would certainly be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 It can't be an autobiography if you write it Plummer is like Marmite; you either love him or don't believe a word he says. I'm sure that a well written book on his life would be well received by many. The problem I forsee is that without independent evidence, i.e first hand experiences of him, you would have to rely heavily on his own writings. And that might not make for a totally accurate (or even mildly accurate) account of his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted May 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Thank you Wharf Rat, all feedback is welcome. It would of course be a biography. In terms of evidence, it would mean tracking down: The former pupils and members of the Huddlesford Rat Pack David Hancock (as mentioned previously) His ex-wife (!) Any remaining members of his family Former friends from S Wales Associates from his latter days in Scotland etc I'm under no illusion that it would be an easy task, but the research perhaps needs to be done sooner rather than later. I must admit I do occasionally see parallels with my own life and Plummer's, a bit worrying maybe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 I don't know how valid a biography about Brian would be, written by someone who had never met him and did'nt know him. Have you aproached his widow and asked what she thought of the idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 The first place to start would be with the documentaries that Barry Cockcroft and Michael Croucher made in the 1970's and 1980's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted May 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 I don't know how valid a biography about Brian would be, written by someone who had never met him and did'nt know him Fair comment, but on my bookshelf I can see several biographies written by people who had never met the subject eg Gladstone by Roy Jenkins Thorough research is the key I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 Brian Plummer helped the Scottish Working Dog Association during the fight in the Scottish Parliament against the Protection of Wild Mammals bill. he did it without any publicity or praise. A lot of people that I have heard criticising him could'nt understand a lot of the language he used. Gladstone was a historical figure when his biography was written Brian was in living memory and again has anyone had the common courtesy to consult his widow.I think someone like David Hancock or John Winch would be more qualified to write about Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I have thé tv programmes hé did and also à talk hé did in a pub .talked down to people but didnt like questions hé couldnt answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 (edited) If you want a truthful opinion on Plummer ask David Harcombe. He seen first hand the conditions Plummer kept and breed dogs in. Edited May 29, 2012 by dazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted May 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Vulpicide, you have a pm. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 im sure there was a new breed book being written, there are enough clubs flying there flags. some of the text was digging deep(no pun) into his early life in wales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferret47 Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 ricko, Hi I'm new to this site but I knew Brian and visited him quite a bit (when he lived in Caithness but more so when he moved to Abingdon, south of Glasgow). Brian gets slammed off loads of websites but i found him a fascinating, interesting and totally captivating individual. Yes he had his faults (he was a manic depressive) but when he was on form there was no finer. He knew his dogs and if he elaborated/exaggerated a bit, so, I fish and I'm guilty of the fishermans arms! The man had a phenomenal memory, had several degrees (see John Winch the QC Barrister) but his knowledge of animals was second to none. A biography does beckon because when he was alive when David Hancock(the lurcher breeder) mentioned his peculiarities they fell out big style. Brian was very very kind to me (he gave me several dogs). However bio's need to be interesting and Brian was certainly interesting! I await the customary abuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Brian Plummer helped the Scottish Working Dog Association during the fight in the Scottish Parliament against the Protection of Wild Mammals bill. he did it without any publicity or praise. A lot of people that I have heard criticising him could'nt understand a lot of the language he used. Gladstone was a historical figure when his biography was written Brian was in living memory and again has anyone had the common courtesy to consult his widow.I think someone like David Hancock or John Winch would be more qualified to write about Brian. I would second John Winch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitehackle Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 If you want a truthful opinion on Plummer ask David Harcombe. He seen first hand the conditions Plummer kept and breed dogs in. I don't think this is true, harcombe says a friend told him about plummers dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferret47 Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Plummer certainly polarises people, he's def Marmite, but he was good to me! He knew his dogs and he knew how to write, I've got a couple of his dogs now in front of me, they are wilfull. antaganistc and compared to my others they are a bloody handfull (as he would want). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 they must be old dogs, he has been dead 10 yrs and sure he hadnt bred anything for a few yrs before that, 98 was his last terrier litter im sure. I wasted 12 yrs with the breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 I think he meant Plummers, not necessarily actually bred by the man himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddywack12 Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I read a lot about the man on many different websites and forums. Never met him or anyone I know met him but I have all his books and enjoy reading them again and again. Would buy an autobiography straight away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferret47 Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Exactly Paddywack, a man who polarises so many different opinions is INTERESTING! Exactly what a biography needs, people do literally come to blows about him and his dogs, (however it was his cats that fascinated me, his Cattery was bigger than all his kennels))! So what if he exagerrated things (are we all not guilty of this) obviously not me, well not since I've left the SAS, Brian had his faults but he knew how to write, he inspired, educated and informed. David Harcombe is a first rate terrier man but we all met tricksters, just embrace life, if hunting/fishing/shooting is to survive we need to stick not seperate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 but when you write a book about a fox catching lurcher and then said dog is shown openly and at 12 yrs old is unmarked and a total pabrocation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Brian could spell fabrication Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) I have no axe to grind but met Mr Plummer on a number of occasions and bought a white German Shepherd from him, based on the advice of the kennel club. The condition in which he kept his dogs and the feed was unusual and he carefully told me he kept ' a closed gene pool' which resulted in the dog developing epilepsy and dying pitifully within 4 years. He offered to send the dogs pedigree but that never arrived. He was arrogant and contemptuous of people who did not have a degree and changed to me when he knew I had. He seemed to bridle against what life had done to him and how he had relatively so little when he clearly thought he deserved much more. That said when he had my measure (whatever that meant to him) he showed me the eagle owls he was training and how he had a bet to fully train one of these birds within 6 months. I found myself disliking him on the basis that he seemed and was pretentious and I believed that he should have valued people more than he did. Sadly the dog was bought for my daughter so she was rather upset after its untimely death. All this must be 16 years ago now. If we have a choice in life there are other people I would rather have met but his widow was and is a gentle and pleasant lady, I'd talk to her Edited June 3, 2013 by Kes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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