Francis Collinson collected one song – a rather fragmentary version of ‘I’m a man that’s done wrong to my parents’ – from Bill Rolph at St. Nicholas at Wade in Thanet on 19^th May 1948. This was just a few weeks before the BBC radio programme Country Magazine was broadcast from the Bell Inn, St. Nicholas at Wade on 13^th June 1948.

I’ve been unable positively to identify this singer. Possibly – just possibly – he was Frederick William Rolf (or Rolfe), 1888-1981, who lived at Monkton, just a couple of miles from St Nicholas at Wade. Born at Boughton Aluph, near Ashford, he was still living with his parents at the time of the 1911 census, working as a grocer’s assistant. When he married in May that year, his occupation was given as Milkman. By 1921 he and his family had moved to Thanet – the census gives their address as 3 Parsonage Cottages, Monkton, St Nicholas At Wade & Sarre – and he was working as “Cowman-on-farm” for H.T. Willett, Monkton Parsonage. He was still living in Monkton when his eldest son – also Frederick – got married in 1942, and his death in 1981 was registered in the Thanet district.

Songs

I’m a man that’s done wrong to my parents (Roud 1386)

Francis Collinson collected one song at St. Nicholas at Wade, Thanet, on 19^th May 1948. This was just a few weeks before the BBC radio programme Country Magazine was broadcast from the Bell Inn, St. Nicholas at Wade on 13^th June 1948.

It has not so far been possible to identify a Bill or William Epps living in St. Nicholas at that time.

Songs

• Bold Princess Royal (Roud 528)