THE LAMB AT NETTLESHAM Now available as an ebook. Go to:  PITCH This story has some basis in true life, as I was once a tenant of a thatched country pub, sold by the brewery to a third party. Although the characters are my own invention the tale is as common and as old as man itself: childhood sweethearts grow up to become total strangers as they seek happiness in different ways.
Set in the late eighties, early nineteen nineties, the story follows the adventures of Henry Bagshot, a quiet unassuming man and Jackie Meadows, briefly, Mrs. Bagshot, a vivacious young woman obsessed with sex from a young age. Leaving university without graduating, they find themselves at a relatively young age, tenants of a country inn, the ‘Lamb’ at Nettlesham. The brewery later, citing economic reasons, relocate them to the town of Bustington. For Henry, the Brewery’s strategy of selling off its country estate represented a blow, a slap in the face for all he’d achieved in the village, but to Jackie it was an opportunity to broaden her experience and stretch her legs in more than one sense. As an example of how their lives diverge, Henry goes to Royal Ascot with his regulars on a pub coach outing while Jackie, and you’ve never met anyone like Jackie, mingles with Royalty in the parade ring. However, nothing is straightforward in life as they both find out the truth of the popular refrain: It's the same the whole world over, It’s the poor
that get the blame Aint it all a bloody shame!
Innkeepers are more than just traders, licensed dispensers of alcoholic beverages. They are also witnesses to the unfolding drama of life. They see tragedy and comedy, in equal measure, played out in front of them. Quirky and fun, this is one such story. Watch a video of the author talking about the 'Lamb at Nettlesham'. SYNOPSIS
The story begins when Martin Dwyer, the son of a wealthy industrialist meets a Middle East potentate at Epsom Downs on Derby Day. They team up to facilitate the growth of both party’s business interests and seek a suitable premises from which to operate within an hour or so of London. Henry Bagshot is a mild mannered and genial giant. Whilst at University, his attractive girl friend, later to be his wife, Jackie, has plans to make them some money; firstly hiring him out as a male escort and then persuading him to become a publican. The machinations of his resourceful partner result in Henry abandoning earlier hopes of a career in sports management and their becoming young tenants of ‘The Lamb’, a small traditional thatched inn in the pretty Saigh Valley village of Nettlesham. Their impact is immediate, as Henry throws himself into the role of pub landlord, instigating various functions, such as the boat trip and pumpkin show, whilst Jackie allows her eclectic tastes and ambition to lead her to diversify her prurient interests.
When the brewery announces the closure, for economic reasons, of their country pub, they move a few miles down the road to take over a larger, town pub. Jackie, however, has another agenda and is quick to seize a business opportunity when unbeknown to her husband she buys the ‘Lamb’ with the help of the ruthless Martin Dwyer. It is not long before his wife, Jackie, lured into the world of high society with high powered clients, finds herself struggling to maintain a relationship with her more mundane husband and leaves him after being exposed on television on Gold Cup day at Royal Ascot. However, Jackie discovers that sometimes wealth is not always all it seems and she becomes enmeshed in a world of arms dealing, people smuggling, kidnap and pornography.
The problems start when her brothel is used by her businessman partner, acting on behalf of a motor industry pressure group to kidnap the Minister of Transport and take compromising photographs in a bid to get him to change policies. The police investigation leads to her and her business associate Arthur Dennison, a man of dubious background and even more dubious sexual proclivities. In the meantime, Dwyer introduces her to another of his associates, a Middle Eastern potentate who, after taking her to Royal Ascot, mistreats her so badly she decides to follow a route of revenge and retribution. Her plan backfires and the Arab Prince orders Dwyer to murder Jackie with the aid of a senior Scotland Yard policeman who ‘advises’ the potentate. It is left to Henry and the local chief of police, Chief Inspector Ben Tooley, to rescue her as her life ebbs away. Following her experience with the Prince, Jackie re-evaluates her life, leading to a happy renaissance with her new lover, the Master of Foxhounds.
Following his separation from his wife, Henry is comforted by an old acquaintance, Tara, a young prostitute he met whilst at university and one of his wife’s current working girls. Slowly, she restores his vitality and self confidence and when she offers to look after his bookkeeping, previously the province of his self serving wife, quickly returns the business to profit and a smile to his heart.
The story traces how childhood sweethearts marry for convenience, divorce for necessity and follow spectacularly different paths to find happiness in the beautiful Saigh Valley.
Kevill Davies
Copyright © Kevill Davies 2008 Novel length: 122,000 words
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