A Long Road to Nowhere, Les Drew - Signed by The Author

The story opens in early March 1958, the main character; Samuel J. Bishop is getting ready to leave his winter quarter’s somewhere in mid-Hampshire. He is what most people would call a Tramp – a kind of wanderer, a gentleman of the road. An orphan since birth and with no place to call home, after his demob in ‘46 he embraced a life of wandering. His earlier years were spent working on farms near Sherborne, Dorset, where he developed practical skills that later served him well in the Pioneer Corps during World War II. The Army provided him with a structure and purpose, and when his service ended he continued roaming the English countryside, finding work where he could and living off the land.

Over the next few years, Sam travelled extensively across England and Wales, forming a circuit from the South Coast to Norfolk, through Kent, Sussex, and beyond. Equipped with the remnants of his Army gear, such as his greatcoat and cooking utensils, he led a life of simplicity and self-reliance. His journeys bring him into contact with varied landscapes and people and he would often winter in familiar places to escape the cold. His story tells of a life of resilience, hard-ship and quiet adventure.