A Viking Burial
Novelist Roald Dahl asked to be buried with his favourite things including; HB pencils, red wine, chocolate, snooker cues, and a power saw. You never know when you’ll need one of those!
This newsletter focuses on what is local and special in the Chiltern Hills; the little details and stories that make for a distinctive landscape, one that is local and very special to me. I aim is to share the joy of finding new things somewhere that you think is familiar, and this week, it’s the turn of the master storyteller, Roald Dahl.
300 million and counting…
He needs no introduction from me, his name synonymous with some of the best adult and children’t books around. In fact over 300 million books sold, but it’ll be more by the time you read this. Of Norwegian descent, he lived in Great Missenden in the Chilterns for over 30 years where he did most of his creative work. A charming market town, he took his inspiration from the landscape of cutesy brick and flint cottages, country lanes, little doorways with wobbly windows interspersed with bland 1960’s architecture.
Walking along the high street, you will see the houses and shops into which the BFG looked, the library where Matilda loved to go whilst her mum went to Aylesbury to play bingo, Danny, The Champion of the World’s petrol pumps and nearby Angling Spring Wood where the Fantastic Mr Fox lived, visible from the back garden at Gypsy Cottage where he lived with his family. Gypsy Cottage is no longer open to the public, and it’s where Roald Dahl had his gypsy caravan to share with his children and include in his stories. He wrote so much in little writing hut in the garden. This makes it sound as though it’s some trashy theme park, but it’s not, it’s what he noticed was all around him. I realise I will have to write about these locations another time.
He is buried in the local church of St Peter and Paul in a simple grave near a tree with circular bench carved with the names of his children and a quote from The Giraffe and the Belly and Me. Follow the BFG’s footprints!
“We have tears in our eyes As we wave our goodbyes. We so loved being with you we three. So do please now and then Come and see use again, The Giraffe and the Pelly and me.”
A viking burial
As the vikings were buried with their favourite things, it seems only fitting that Roald Dahl asked to be buried with his favourite things: HB pencils, snooker cues, red wine, chocolate and power saw. You never know when you’ll need one of those!
His fans are still visiting his grave, leaving notes in the jar, pennies and toys . For such a prolific and famous author, the temptation could have been to “go large”. But his words and stories are still larger than life.
Quick Links
You can easily reach the church of St Peter & Paul Great Missenden from the high street, just follow Church Street up the hill. In the summer, you may be able to enjoy a cream tea from the local WI.
The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is right on the high street and popular with local families and school children. Cafe Twit usually has a good selection of cake.
A lovely pub and weekend country escape at the nearby Nags Head too.
Something else that is local and special is our range of locally inspired and designed Chilterns Gifts. Sadly, due to our now very complicated and onerous export arrangements, delivery is to mainland UK only.