This is an anecdote from Pop concerning Albert Knights (keeper of the saddlers shop in Ludham) and the Pulk Dyke which was a stream running nearby.

In 1940, when I was 17 and we had settled into Hillview for the duration of the war, my mother needed a clothes prop for her washing line. She asked me to go to see Albert, who was helpful and could usually provide most things.
I set off on my bike for his shop. "Of course my dear" said he, "Come you along to my garden and we'll cut one." His garden was alongside the Norwich Road, where the Pulk Dyke emerges from under the road. There is, or was, a row of poplar trees there.
Albert got a ladder from his garden shed and put it against a tree.
I must say that there were rumours at that time that Albert's wife had tried to kill him in that very garden and I was aware of this.
Albert went up the ladder and was sawing at a suitable branch for a clothes prop. He was quite high up. As he sawed, the branch split and started to break off. It was quite large and the end of it hit him hard under the chin and he literally flew up off the ladder in a beautiful parabola and dived into the dyke....
I was horrified, especially as he took time to surface. his head emerged, mud-covered and with blood from his mouth. "Where am I?" he said, bewildered as I lugged him out of the dyke. I could only think that he must imagine that i too, was trying to kill him.....
he was dazed and bleeding, so I took his arm and led him up the road back to his shop, but I couldn't think what to do for the best. By great good luck we met the District Nurse, Mrs Leadsom, coming down the road. I thrust him into her arms and tried to explain.
Albert soon recovered, but we never did get a clothes prop.

Albert's Garden in 1937