Eccentricity tends to reflect various aspects of a human personality and comes in many disguises.
There are various definitions of why we consider some people eccentric. People are known for their behaviour, which may be considered normal, extraordinary, or unusually odd. The official definition of eccentric is “a reflection of their genius by using intelligence and creative behaviour in a fearless and unusual manner.” There is no definition to classify someone as ‘eccentric,' and neither is there a limit to the very many facets of individual expression which may get labelled as eccentric. It is neither insanity nor a disorder.
My father, his parents and his siblings were all considered eccentric and had many eccentric traits, giving us a wealth of family stories to pass down the generations.
This story is about my father’s older brother, Godfrey Wicksteed. He was a lecturer at Leeds University but once retired he became a 'master rigger,' as one of the very few men with a long history of experience in four square sailing vessels. He was chosen to serve as the honourary rigging adviser on the Cutty Sark, a duty which lasted for three decades.
The Cutty Sark built in 1869 is the only remaining Tea Clipper in the world. This ship is preserved in dry dock in Greenwich, London, U.K., and open to the public. This was where Godfrey regularly attended to inspect and if necessary, repair the complex rigging. Seated in a Bosun’s chair with a safety harness installed he would shinny up the 153-foot mast to the top.
One day while high up the mast working on the rigging, representatives from Lloyd’s Insurance company were visiting. They noted Godfrey and innocently asked “how old is that man?” The response surprised them. “Oh that’s Godfrey Wicksteed, he’s been our rigging adviser for years. He’s 89 years young.” A shocked silence followed.
“ That is too dangerous. He could fall on one of the visitors and harm or even kill them. He must be replaced immediately with someone younger than him.”
There was no-one else.
“He is currently training an apprentice, a 65 year old so much younger, but he’s not yet ready.”
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After much discussion between the management, the insurance company determined in spite of bosuns’ chair, safety harness etc. they would no longer insure the ship if Godfrey went up while visitors were below. Hundreds of visitors toured daily bringing the income which paid for the preservation. Godfrey was on the phone relating this story of woe to his younger brother, my father, Ivan. “Oh Godfrey I am so sorry, you loved that job, what will you do?” My father was very empathetic. “Oh no problem, I solved it” Godfrey laughed … “I just go up at night with a flashlight!“ Now that is eccentric, unusual behaviour where intelligence and creativity were used to solve a problem. So the next year Godfrey continued to go up at night, until when he turned 90, his apprentice was then ready to take over the job. My father and his four siblings all showed signs of eccentricity in varying ways. Whilst I’m more ordinary and conventional than many of them, I’m delighted to have a touch of an adventurous spirit and maybe eccentricity in my blood. I am blessed to have one dear Cambridge friend of whom I’m very fond who is considered eccentric. He is refreshingly creative, concerned for our community, generous with his time and talent and marches to his own drummer. Because he doesn’t conform to normal expectations (which I hope he never does), he sometimes receives negative feedback from a few. Most probably from people who are jealous of his popularity. But he is learning to ignore the few who try to put him down as there are many people who really like him, with only a few who don’t . We are not all cut of the same cloth, thank goodness. The saying “variety is the spice of life” is true for me, eccentrics make our world more interesting. Long may they live among us. |
