The Mad Vicar Caper

Some years ago in the early collecting days, we met numerous people, all mad keen and so desperate to talk about the hobby, visited us. (We live in an area most people in the UK have holidayed in at least once). 

All said "Come see us when you have time". Now after around ten of these visits we decided to form a weeks holiday around doing just that. You can imagine my wife's feelings - a whole week visiting collectors - horror, but an adventure. 

Amongst these folk was a couple, the husband, apparently involved in some religious group, was fanatical about Japanese swords, his nickname was 'The Mad Vicar'. This was to be our first stop. He had recommended a small pub in the village. Nice place he had said - obviously he had never been in the bedrooms!

Now I am pretty easy going but Moss on the walls and Ivy coming through the rotting window frame!!!!!!!!!!. Around eight we turned up at the large Victorian house and were warmly welcomed. 

This man had the largest wine glasses I have ever seen - three glasses full equalled one and a half bottles of Claret. Why just three, well his wife (obviously aware of what would happen) greeted us then excused herself and went to bed. We ate and discussed the serious matters of Auctions, knowledge and a book he was putting together on the subject of a sword school. 

At midnight I noticed Sue had dozed off and started to make the move to move, but each time I mentioned returning to the pub, he began another topic and always walked to the window, peered into the darkness, muttered and came back. 

I was now bored, a little apprehensive and not a little curious as to what was going on outside. This time as he walked to the window I followed him, a Police car had pulled into his drive, the door opened and a uniformed officer jumped out, ran to the boot of the car, retrieved a large bundle and then trotted up to the door of the house. 

"Ah, he's here" said the mad vicar and disappeared downstairs. The police officer was another collector, the mad Vicar told him of our visit and he had insisted on bringing his collection to show us at the end of his tour of duty. 

We arrived back at the pub around 3am, Sue vowing never to do this sort of thing again! Me, well I was so pleased to find that I was not alone in this splendidly insane world of collecting. 

Greyman