On 10/10/ 2008, new ‘information’ was given on Wikipedia: that Jim Perrin had, ‘before turning to writing, worked as a shepherd in Cwm Pennant,’ (with, should it therefore be presumed, all the specialist’s knowledge which is entailed in this ancient calling?) We do not believe that he did.
He wrote once, in an article, of how he had watched a farmer delivering a ewe of her lamb; later, he wrote in a book of this experience as his own and it was he, as he graphically described, who had aided the ewe. Now, on Wikipedia, it is said that ‘he worked as a shepherd.’
The two Welsh farmers, with whom recently, and separately, we discussed this, expressed their doubts as to the probability, or even the likely veracity, of his claim. Continue reading