ANGUS BOADLE FORMERLY OF FLIMBY

Published at 19:40, Thursday, 15 May 2008

A FORMER Flimby man who helped to bring 1950s thief and prolific prison escapee Foxy Fowler to justice has died at the age of 78.

Angus Boadle, formerly of West End Farm, Flimby, died peacefully at home in Blackpool.

The tale of how he helped to nab Foxy Fowler started in June 1957, when Mr Boadle was walking home after a night out in Workington with Joe Hodgson.

They were almost hit by a white van being driven in an erratic manner.

The men were later picked up by Billy Twentyman and eventually came across the van again outside Long and Small’s in Flimby at about 2am and saw someone inside.

Mr Boadle ran to get Norman Watson, one of the owners, and the four men surrounded the building.

The West Cumberland Times, of June 19, 1957, reported: “One shouted ‘We’ve got you covered; you had better come out quietly.’

“A man came to the door, and as he mumbled something, Boadle grabbed him.

“Boadle shares the initial credit with Mr Watson.

He says: ‘Watson and I grabbed him as he came out of the door. He let out a flood of curses and started lashing out with his feet and fists, but we eventually overpowered him.'

“But shy, retiring Angus Boadle had nothing to say of the wrestling-style tactics he used on the escaped prisoner. Watson said: ‘He surprised us at first, but Boadle got him in a half-Nelson and eventually I held him down with my knee at his throat.”

On the way to Maryport police station, Fowler said he would get the men if it took him 20 years.

William John “Foxy” Fowler had escaped from Dartmoor Prison and police around the country had been searching for him for over a month with no sightings.

It was later discovered that Fowler had been living with two sisters in Salterbeck, Workington, who had no idea who he was or that he was a thief.

Maryport sculptor Colin Telfer said Mr Boadle used to drink at the Wheatsheaf in Flimby.

He said: “There was a call box outside. As a prank, people would go out, call the pub and ask for Angus. They would then tell him they were Foxy Fowler on their way to get him.”

Mr Boadle eventually left Flimby and for a while organised donkey rides on Blackpool beach.

He was buried in a family plot at Brigham after a funeral service in Blackpool.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk