Walter Flesher (1894-1984)
Burley & Bingley Moor Gamekeeper. Radio & TV Naturalist, Writer & Broadcaster 1940s to 1970s.
Founder member of Wharfedale Naturalists Society.
Founder member of Wharfedale Naturalists Society.
Born 1894 at Pear Tree Farm, Burley in Wharfedale.
1897 - At aged 3 was first educated at the Township School.
1899 - Aged 5 he went to the Wesleyan (Methodist) School on Main Street.
1900 - The Flesher family moved to somewhere on Sun Lane.
1906 - Aged 12 whilst still at school, he became a part-time spinner at Wm. Fison & Co's Greenholme Mills, earning 3s.9d per week.
1907 - Aged 13 left school & worked as a full-time spinner earning 8s.6d. for a 55-hour week. (His sister Alice Flesher also left school at 13 to become a weaver at Greenholme Mills). Work started at 6.00am.
1899 - Aged 5 he went to the Wesleyan (Methodist) School on Main Street.
1900 - The Flesher family moved to somewhere on Sun Lane.
1906 - Aged 12 whilst still at school, he became a part-time spinner at Wm. Fison & Co's Greenholme Mills, earning 3s.9d per week.
1907 - Aged 13 left school & worked as a full-time spinner earning 8s.6d. for a 55-hour week. (His sister Alice Flesher also left school at 13 to become a weaver at Greenholme Mills). Work started at 6.00am.
c1910 - He left Fison's Greenholme Mills & became a painter & decorator and then went to work for the Yeadon Dyeing Company at the Old Dog Mill, Yeadon. Leaving home at 5.30am & returning at 7.00pm having walked both ways.
c1912 - Transferred to the (Yeadon/Denholme) Dyeing Company mill at Denholme, boarded in the village during the week & returning to Burley at weekends.
c1912 - Transferred to the (Yeadon/Denholme) Dyeing Company mill at Denholme, boarded in the village during the week & returning to Burley at weekends.
1914 August - two weeks after war broke out, Walter volunteered for Kitchener's Army, serving in the West Riding Regiment of the 9th Duke of Wellington's.
Burley District recruits August 1914 West Riding Regiment of the 9th Duke of Wellington's. Info & image courtesy of Robert Rogers.
Back row
Jack Culpan, Bob Peel, Alec Livingston, Alf Clarkson, Frank Brumfitt, Alf Booker, Ernest Ware, Sam Philips, Cliff Wilkinson, Bob Greaves, Albert (Alf) Bradley, Tom Otty, Bill (Willie) Mounsey, Harry Turner, Charlie Brear, Jack Calvert, George Parker, Fred Mann (in white coat).
Middle row
Jim Seed, George White, Gordon Philips, Woody Preston (1890-1916), Twig Lupton, Harry Dale, Tommy Carr, Harold Thorne, Arnold Constantine, Smith Mounsey, Harry Johnston, John Isle.
Front row
Jim Howe, Harry Greaves, Ernest Raistrick, Walter Flesher (flat cap, legs folded to one side), Harry Mason, Sgt. Baker, Arthur Howe, Joe Smith, Walter Thorne, Bert Hogg.
Back row
Jack Culpan, Bob Peel, Alec Livingston, Alf Clarkson, Frank Brumfitt, Alf Booker, Ernest Ware, Sam Philips, Cliff Wilkinson, Bob Greaves, Albert (Alf) Bradley, Tom Otty, Bill (Willie) Mounsey, Harry Turner, Charlie Brear, Jack Calvert, George Parker, Fred Mann (in white coat).
Middle row
Jim Seed, George White, Gordon Philips, Woody Preston (1890-1916), Twig Lupton, Harry Dale, Tommy Carr, Harold Thorne, Arnold Constantine, Smith Mounsey, Harry Johnston, John Isle.
Front row
Jim Howe, Harry Greaves, Ernest Raistrick, Walter Flesher (flat cap, legs folded to one side), Harry Mason, Sgt. Baker, Arthur Howe, Joe Smith, Walter Thorne, Bert Hogg.
1915 July - His regiment was sent to France and served there until November 1917. During that time he was allowed two 6-day leaves in "Blighty".
1917 Nov - During a night raid he was hit by shrapnel and his right arm and right leg were damaged. His right arm was amputated above the elbow and he spent a year in Nottingham having skin grafts for his thigh wounds.
c1918 - After his convalescence he was taken back by the Denholme Dyeing Company and worked in their office. He had to teach himself to write using his left hand.
1920 - Burley Grove United AFC team photo - a standing Walter Flesher included in the image. (Burley District Football History)
c1918 - After his convalescence he was taken back by the Denholme Dyeing Company and worked in their office. He had to teach himself to write using his left hand.
1920 - Burley Grove United AFC team photo - a standing Walter Flesher included in the image. (Burley District Football History)
1926 - General Strike. The company failed & Walter was put out of work aged 32.
c1928 - Walter bought from Teddy Moody (Ironmonger), half an acre of land at Farr Royd, off Sun Lane, Burley in Wharfedale. On this land he kept poultry, sold the eggs & dressed chickens from Otley Market to sell in the village.
1930s - A keen naturalist from a young age he was drawn to the Moors. His grandfather had taught him about birds & was encouraged by Paul Myers, a naturalist who lived in the village. He spent most of his free-time roaming the countryside & learning from farmers & gamekeepers. He enjoyed imparting his knowledge to others and in the 1930s was invited to give talks locally on natural history. These talks were reported in the local press & the Sunday Express wrote an article about him.
c1940 - Taken on as a gamekeeper on Burley & Bingley Moors which were owned by Major Liscombe's Syndicate. (Their younger gamekeepers had been called up).
1944 - Took up residence on Booth Street, Burley in Wharfedale along with his sister Alice.
c1928 - Walter bought from Teddy Moody (Ironmonger), half an acre of land at Farr Royd, off Sun Lane, Burley in Wharfedale. On this land he kept poultry, sold the eggs & dressed chickens from Otley Market to sell in the village.
1930s - A keen naturalist from a young age he was drawn to the Moors. His grandfather had taught him about birds & was encouraged by Paul Myers, a naturalist who lived in the village. He spent most of his free-time roaming the countryside & learning from farmers & gamekeepers. He enjoyed imparting his knowledge to others and in the 1930s was invited to give talks locally on natural history. These talks were reported in the local press & the Sunday Express wrote an article about him.
c1940 - Taken on as a gamekeeper on Burley & Bingley Moors which were owned by Major Liscombe's Syndicate. (Their younger gamekeepers had been called up).
1944 - Took up residence on Booth Street, Burley in Wharfedale along with his sister Alice.
1946 July - 469th Meeting of Yorkshire Naturalists' Union - Col. J. B. Grotrian of Burley Moor - walk leader Walter Flesher.
1949 Mar - Joins Norman Ellison on his BBC Children's Hour radio programme "Wandering with Nomad". Walter Flesher used the pseudonym "Ted Brock - the gamekeeper". Weekly series continued for about 14 years.
1957 Oct to 1958 Jul - Saturday Night on the Light, BBC Light Radio Programme. Hosted by Roger Moffat & Charles Richardson. "Nature Notes" - Walter Flesher
1959 May to Aug - Monday Night at Home, BBC Light Radio Programme, presented by Rene Cutforth 60 minute programme including the "Countryside Column" with Walter Flesher.
1959 May - Children's Newspaper - How to Tame A Fox with Walter Flesher - BBC Children's TV programme "Out of Doors".
1959 May to Aug - Monday Night at Home, BBC Light Radio Programme, presented by Rene Cutforth 60 minute programme including the "Countryside Column" with Walter Flesher.
1959 May - Children's Newspaper - How to Tame A Fox with Walter Flesher - BBC Children's TV programme "Out of Doors".
1960 - retired as gamekeeper for Bingley & Burley Moors.
1961 Jan - Children's Newspaper. BBC Junior TV's Out of Doors includes Walter Flesher - Detectives at Work in the Snow
1962 Sept - BBC TV - Look: Urchin of the Hedgerow. Presented by (Sir) Peter Scott (1909-1989) with guest Walter Flesher
1968 Jul - Yorkshire Television weekly series "Country Calendar" with Walter Flesher.
1969 Aug to 1970 April - BBC Radio 4 - Home This Afternoon - "A Breath of Fresh Air" from Walter Flesher.
1970 Oct - Article in Daily Express by Geoffrey Mather - It's a good time for the man of all seasons - watching Winter creep in. Walter Flesher ponders the changing season beside the River Wharfe at Burley in Wharfedale.
1972 - Article in Wharfedale & Airedale Observer
1975 - Community Care - Holdaphone - Telephone adaptation demonstrated by Walter Flesher
1984 - Walter Flesher dies on December 26th, aged 90.
2022 Jan - Walter Flesher Bench on Burley Moor. Old one & now a new one.
2022 Jan - Walter Flesher Bench on Burley Moor. Old one & now a new one.
Burley Community Library & Burley Archive, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire England LS29 7HD
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Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us
Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us