MOONRAKERS

The Moonraker Legend

Most of Wiltshire (UK) claims a connection with the Moonraker legend, but Devizes is believed to be the birthplace. Here there is a plaque beside the town pond called The Crammer, it is named after German merchants, or Kramer, who used to erect their stalls beside it to sell their wares.

It tells the story of how a group of men from Devizes brought contraband brandy over Salisbury Plain from neighbouring Orcheston.

Hearing of excise officers being in the area, they wrapped the barrels of brandy in tarred paper and sank them in the pond. A few nights later, thinking the coast was clear, they returned to reclaim their goods by hooking the casks out of the water with large rakes.

They were challenged by a group of excise officers, who demanded to know what they were up to.

One individual, pointing to the reflection of the full moon in the water, replied: "We'm tryin' to get that girt big cheese out of the water."

The officers rode off, laughing over the idiocy of these country bumpkins, while the men retrieved the precious brandy.

The Crammer is now one of the focal points in Devizes. It is home to ducks, geese and swans who are always grateful for a good feed.

From a family perspective, part of my family grew up in Devizes, living next door to the Moonrakers pub. Many years later, and over 200km away, we lived in a house called Moonrakers, and now, the legend lives on!