I refer to Stephen Nunn’s sentence: “A modern interpretation board tells the story of adjacent Church House and its most famous resident Edward Bright (the so-called ‘Fat Man of Maldon’)” in last week’s Standard .

Why does Mr Nunn soon lose track of his tomb theme? Among his several diversions, it could be said he cannot resist any opportunity to tell us readers that Fat Man (1721-50) lived at Church House.

Fat Man did NOT live there. It did not exist in his day. It was built c.1770 by his son Edward (c.1746-90).

The time has come for him and the relevant Maldon authorities to cite the evidence and then update the blue plaque and interpretation boards to state that Fat Man lived at 57 & 59 High Street.

Mr Nunn could have kept to his theme by telling us that the tomb of Fat Man’s grandson Edward (1781- 1852) and his wife Elizabeth (c.1791- 1862) is also “well worth a look”.

It lies almost within touching distance of Church House which, un- like Fat Man’s shop, definitely was their home.

This Edward sold groceries, spirits and coal from part of the building where the town hall now stands, and was a manufacturer of soap, salt and lime.

He was a JP, an alderman and, like Mr Nunn, Mayor of Maldon for a year (1837).

PJD Wilkins (Fat Man’s great x 4 grandchild)

Canberra Australia