Return to Kirby Misperton - and a wonderful surprise!

I was so thrilled to be invited to give a talk about Prince George & Master Frederick in Kirby Misperton.  It's the place where the story began. My grandmother, Verna Twentyman, lived there from the late 1890s to 1920 and it was she who first told me of this mysterious family connection with King George III and his 'secret son', Frederick Blomberg, who owned Kirby Misperton from 1811 until his death in 1847.

On publication day, 30th January, I was interviewed on BBC Radio York. Rosemary Sellers, the churchwarden of St Laurence's Church, Kirby Misperton, heard it, was intrigued, rushed out to buy the book, read it, was even more intrigued and got in touch. I was delighted to receive the invitation from Rosemary to come to Kirby Misperton and share my story with people in the village. So, on 16th May I arrived at the church, the screen was set up for my visual 'show and tell' and people filled the pews to listen. It was great to give a talk about the book in place which was so important within the book.  Kirby Misperton is now Flamingo Land, a tourist destination for north Yorkshire.

But for me, the most exciting moment was when someone produced a picture for me to look at . Apparently it had been hanging on the wall of the church's vestry for 200 years. Nobody knew who it was. We turned over the picture and, sure enough, there was a lengthy note about the life of Frederick Blomberg and his signature.  

Ever since I began my research into the life of Frederick Blomberg I'd been aching to find an image of him as an adult. Well, this sketch - quite a caricature, really, must have been made when he was in his sixties. There he is wearing his academic gown, mortarboard, breeches, stockings and soft shoes. Small spectacles are fastened to his nose, his lower lip is quite pronounced and there's quite a tummy too!  What a contrast to the image of the beautiful boy with his greyhound which was captured by Richard Brompton when he was a young boy. The image of the child adorns my book jacket. 



Oh, but it is such a joy to finally have an image of Frederick in later years, and to have such a comprehensive biography on the back. I'm relieved that I got the story right for the book!  Now the picture can return to its place on the vestry wall and viewers can be content in the knowledge that they are looking at the 'secret son' of King George III.

---