linked up to the crime of the century

‘night flying’ missions.

“It’s long been believed in my family that dad played a small part in the Great Train Robbery,” Laraine said.

“A few years before we moved to New Milton in the New Forest dad started having flying lessons, which was very odd.

“We had gone from living in his adopted mum’s house to him having flying lessons and eventually buying his own plane. He then bought a small bungalow when he had never had his own home before.

“The week of the robbery, he disappeared. He took me and my family to Butlins and left us there and said he had to go out for a week of night-flying. In reality, during the week of the robbery, he didn’t fly at night, only in the daytime – the latest time being 6.30pm. He had told my mum he was going night flying but he wasn’t.”

She added: “Before dad died he had married again and his second wife gave me his flying log books.

“They show during the week of the robbery he flew from Bournemouth to an airfield not far from Leatherslade Farm in Buckinghamshire where the train robbers hid out and which also had a disused airfield.

“There were thousands of pounds unaccounted for after the robbery. I don’t think dad played a big part in the robbery, I think he just moved some of the money around by plane.”

Peter’s flight logs show he flew from Christchurch airport to Scotland the week after the robbery, stopping in various parts of the country along the way.

Laraine said: “Dad was once featured on the TV news after he had to crash land his plane in a field. He said at the time he was worried about his fuel levels, but every pilot knows to check that before taking off.

“I think he was practising landing on uneven terrain.”

Laraine also recalls going on a caravan holiday around Europe with her dad and an unknown man when she was a teenager. Although it didn’t strike her as odd at the time, her father and the unidentified man spent most of their time going into various banks in every country they visited, including France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The family later moved back to the Bournemouth area where Laraine and her siblings attended a private school and Peter ran car dealerships.

“We seemed to have money when we didn’t before,” Laraine said.

“Years later when I was talking to my auntie she said that my dad and grandad used to go to London to trade in cars and I think that was with some of the train robbers. My auntie also said when the family saw pictures of the train robbers on the television, my grandad had said he knew one or two of them.

“I think mum was a bit naïve and never really questioned where all of dad’s money came from.”

Laraine also notes that one of the bank robbers, Roger Cordrey, was caught by the police when he was renting a flat in Wimborne Road, Moordown and renting a garage in Tweedale Road, Bournemouth. Other local connections include train robber Ronnie Biggs targeting a cinema in Yeovil and a train in Swanage as well as later serving time in Dorchester Prison.

Summing up the incredible story she unearthed, Laraine said: “I think it’s important for people to have the right to find out where they came from.

“There have been too many people who have lived their whole lives and died without ever knowing that.” n Laraine’s story is set out in her book Looking for Ivy, available now.

Jive talking: Dance group looking for hoofers

A modern jive class in West Dorset is calling out for new dancers to come and try tripping the light fantastic.

Dee Lanning and her team at Dynamic Dance want to see some new movers and shakers at their regular jive classes at Chideock Village Hall.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Although 2023 has brought many

Save the date for Candles on Hill

Preparations are already under way for this year’s Candles on St Catherine’s Hill event, set to take place on November 26.

new members to this popular Chideock-based class, these new members have now moved onto intermediate level so the Dynamic Dance crew will once again be welcoming new beginners. “Over a six to eight-week period, new dancers will be introduced to the fundamentals of modern jive and will learn around 18 to 20 beginner’s moves that can be danced in any sequence.

“Because there is no complicated footwork to learn, these classes are perfect for those with little to no experience and with two left feet.” Classes run on Mondays from 7.30pm to 10.15pm and are £6. Contact Dee Lanning on 07740 349393 or visit dynamic-dance.uk

Abbotsbury businesses and the village hall will be selling bags containing battery-powered tea lights for £2 which will be laid out along the path up to the chapel and in a wheel pattern.

Profits from the sale of the bags go to The Friends of St Nicholas, a charity established to maintain the fabric of St Nicholas parish church. Sponsors are still being sought for this year’s event. For more information visit abbotsbury.co.uk