Through friendship with the Marconi family, Benjamin Pond became interested in radio and received the last night's message of the S.S.Titanic on a receiver that he owned. He was a highly respected figure of the community so much so that he was also known as 'Lord Goathorn' - 'Goathorn' is a peninsular opposite side water from Sandbanks. In 1939 with the outbreak of WWII, his boat was confiscated as part of the war effort and he became the river keeper for the Countess of Brecknock in Wherwell. Whilst there, he was on several occasions, asked to help with the fishing at Broadlands, Lord Mountbatten's home in Romsey. There he fished with the Queen Mother and had dinner with the Queen. Benjamin Pond passed away at the age of 83.
Ben Pond's book, Longshoreman, recounts his many adventures during this varied career and reveals him as a natural story-teller. His knowledge of and love for the Purbeck heathland between the wards shine through as he vividly evokes that place and that time. It makes for a fascinating story, well told. - Hamish Murray, Dorset Life.
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