BIGGLES
The author of the popular Biggles' novels, Captain W E Johns,
lived at
Pitchroy Lodge from around 1947 until 1953. He
wrote many of his books there, both in the house and in the fisherman's hut by the river.
Johns first came to Scotland in April 1944 for a fishing holiday. In later trips, he
travelled to Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands close to the Cairngorm mountains,
where he stayed at the Richmond Arms Hotel. Numerous references to the Richmond Arms and
Tomintoul appear in ' Biggles and the Poor Rich Boy ' (1961). Later, he came to live
at Pitchroy.
He entertained a lot at Pitchroy; his fishing and shooting parties were very popular with
his many friends. In the winter, Johns usually went to France or Italy to escape the Scottish
climate, but returned by mid-March. In 1953, he went back south to live at Park House, Hampton
Court until his death in 1968.
At least fifteen Biggles books were written at Pitchroy, but there may possibly have been
more since there are many references to the North East of Scotland in books published later. For
instance, a non-Biggles title - ' Where The Golden Eagle Soars ' published in 1960 -
is set in the vicinity of Ballindalloch Castle.
Most of Johns' Gimlet and Worrals titles were written here too, as were many short stories,
articles and editorials. His whole science fiction space series published from 1954 is set in
the Inverness-shire home, Glensalich Castle, of the main character Professor Brane.
Our thanks for this information are due to Marvel Wagenaar and the International Biggles
Association at www.biggles.nl.
