Calne woodsman stunned by rumours of his death (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Calne woodsman stunned by rumours of his death

11:20am Monday 6th July 2009

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Woodsman Michael White had the shock of his life when he rang an old friend and discovered a rumour had been circulating that he was dead.

The 63-year-old, known as Bodger, of Bradenstoke, has made his living for many years from coppicing ancient woodlands and could not believe it when he found out his friends had been told he had died of a heart attack.

He said: “I have been living here for about four years and I fell out of contact with the country folk I met when I was coppicing.

“But about a month ago I called a friend who used to be a traveller and he was so shocked to hear from me.

“He was just gobsmacked. He said 'you've risen from the dead'.

"I asked him what he meant and he said the gypsy I used to be with had told him I had died of a heart attack."

He believes the rumour was started by an Irish traveller named Josie Williams, with whom he had a rocky relationship for about five years, ending in 2001.

When Mr White called Alan Jones, owner of a Gloucestershire wood where he used to work, he found that word of his ‘demise’ had also reached him.

“Alan said to me ‘it is a terrible thing she is doing’,” said Mr White.

“He goes to a lot of country shows where people know me, and when people ask how I am he has been telling them I had died.

“Like Mark Twain many years ago I want people to know that rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am still very much alive."

Luckily Mr White has seen the funny side of the story, and is happy to have made contact with old friends again.

“I was gobsmacked at first, but I can see the funny side now,” he said.

“As soon as my friends knew I was alive they got another couple I know and came straight to see me.

“We are going to have another get together next week.”

Mr White lived with Josie on and off for five years, and they travelled around the country together as he pursued ancient woodcrafts, making tent pegs, walking sticks and rustic fencing from tree branches.

The relationship ended around 2001 after her drinking got the better of her and Mr White said he does not know where Josie is now but suspects she is in Gloucestershire somewhere with the "rest of the travellers".

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