The lost soul of Norfolk

On a wet and windy afternoon in late 1977 I was working in Norfolk close to 'The Wash'.  At around 3 o'clock my boss and I decided to pack up for the day so we packed or tools in to the vanand headed home for Cambridge.  After a short while travilling along the narrow Morfolk lanes we found we were lost and rather low on petrol.  Fifteen minutes later we came across a small hamlet which consisted of a few houses and a run-down old garage.  We parked at this garage and an old lady came out and asked if we wanted petrol.  Too right.  I got out of the van to have a fag and wander around the ajoining barn.  Through the huge windows you could see it was crammed with old furniture.  My boss spotted something he wanted and the old dear went and feched her husband.  As they were looking at an old desk I wandered around to see if there was anything of interest and sure enough I soon found some records! Just move a pile of chairs here a bookcase over there and before you know it a box of US soul imports.  I couldn't belive it! They were all imports many on labels that I knew such as Golden World, Goldwax, Revilot, Ric Tic, Brunswick and loads of well known others.  "Are these records for sale mate?"  "Yes 10p each" I knew for a fact that some were worth £5 - £10 each so I found myself an empty box and started piling them in. "That'll be £30, young man" I only had £20 so a quick sub from my boss was in order. On our way back to Cambridge my boss was rather pleased with the bargin he'd picked up-an old desk! I just couldn't believe my luck. I wanted to go back again at a later date and pick up some more-so did my boss. He'd spotted a few more furniture bargins and promised we could return anothe time. At home I sorted through the records and found a good 90% of them were northern dancers, and I even had a few unknowns! I sold some for between £3-£5, but kept some of the special ones for myself. Sounds like Rita Dacosta "Don't bring me down (Mohawk WDJ) and Gloria Jones "Come go with me" (Uptown WDJ)  There were a few copies of Barbara Jean +The Lyrics "Any two can play it" on Big Hit, but I had trouble getting rid of those. Funnily enough I saw a copy for sale recently - at £300! And the old barn? Well, we returned to Norfolk the next week but just could not find that place - it was almost as if it had disappeared! I've been back a few times on my own, but still no joy. Could be a case for the X-Files!

By Nigel Caulfield