A town in Lincolnshire, England.
Inspector Morse - A Stamfordian
The Young MorseThere isn't much mention of Morses's childhood in the novels by Colin Dexter but the fictional character was born in Stamford in 1930 and attended Stamford School during the 1940's. Let's indulge a little and imagine some of the events of Morse's formative days.
Morse's father was a taxi driver and his parents went through a divorce which may have had a traumatic effect on the young Morse and would have no doubt been a scandal in its day. It may be that his home life contributed at lot to the dourer elements to the Inspector's character.
A youngster in the 1930/40's transported to the present day would recognise much of Stamford, thanks to the preservation laws a lot remains intact, but he might be alarmed by the amounts of traffic and the pace of life. Stamford helped make Morse the man he was and still today it inspires the minds of the young - a far better childhood than many bigger towns and cities with a more modern and culturally blunt outlook. You can't grow up in Stamford without a little of the beautiful town crystallising in your soul, you don't realise it but you feel it later on, always proud to be a Stamfordian, whatever your future and wherever you go.
A young boy in the 1930's would have found his way to the meadows and other open spaces, perhaps to fish for tiddlers in the River Welland near the spot Boadicea chased the fleeing survivors of the Roman 1X legion north across the river. Looking back across to the town across the fields splashed with drifts of flowering buttercups the young child might have sat forming dreams for the future, or imaging the battered remnants of the legion as they passed, events a long time ago and far from the pastoral scenes of the meadows in the 30's. He would have stared up to Easton on the Hill across the fields that would one day be ripped apart by the A1 by-pass. In the future he possibly would pass this way either on business or pleasure, a thoughtful expression drawn on his features as he crossed the valley and gazed towards the spires of the town, that often sits with its limestone constructions looking so mellow in the sunshine. Memories gazing back, the past, present and future still flowing in the River Welland.
Traditions and events that continue to this day would have been the backdrop to his life, the clock of St Mary's ringing out each quarter-hour across the town, the musical chimes sounds to filter into the thoughts. The market would come on Friday's like it has done for centuries, and the traders would bring in their produce from the country. Morse would have headed home from school and like many youngsters he might have been seduced by the hustle and bustle of the market. He might even have earned a few coppers helping a trader to 'pack-up'. He would have witnessed the animation coming from the bars that remained open until 4pm to serve refreshment to the traders and citizens.
He would have saved up his spare cash to spend at the week-long 'Mid-Lent fair', again just like kids do today in 2002, how his inquisitive young mind must have enjoyed the arrival of the brightly painted caravans and rides and their mysterious proprietors and workers. He would have noticed the twang of other accents and places.
And so to Stamford School where his tastes for the classical were to be nurtured, where he was to commence an education that would prepare him for his days in Oxford. It is ironic that the grounds of Stamford School contains the site of a former attempt at a breakaway from Oxford University (1333-5) - the breakaway was a failure and thus Stamford by another accident of history didn't become an important regional capital and seat of learning like Oxford or Cambridge. Perhaps in later years Morse would have a sly chuckle about that as he supped his real ale. A taste for ale that might have begun in Stamford as a teenager. The town had enough pubs and the celebrated Melbournes brewery was still in its heyday. He might have been aware of the connection between John Clare the peasant poet who often had a pint or two in the Hole in the Wall Public house.
Wartime came to Stamford and suddenly the town must have become very cosmopolitan: Polish forces, Free French, Americans, the many RAF bases in the area and later on the German POW's. Wartime traffic would have increased on the Great North Road, which in those days ran through the centre of town. Morse's father would have been very busy ferrying officers and men in and out of town from the dances I suspect. Imagine the hustle and bustle of all these people in the town - you can even let your mind wander to a young Morse overhearing some important information and taking action that saved lives or uncovering the culprit to some dastardly deed committed by a serviceman billeted in the town.
History has always flowed copiously through the streets of Stamford and some generations witness more than others, the events towards the end of Morse's time in Stamford and his departure for other pastures would have been very eventful indeed.
Morse is the invention of author Colin Dexter, himself a Stamfordian and a former pupil of Stamford School. Apologies Colin if this page does any injustice to your character.
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