SJT Riley
The Editor
Paul Kombinski
In his early sixties, Paul Kombinski was born amongst the dying embers of the previous century, in a land of hope and glory; the son of Polish emigrants. A born observer and commentator, Paul Kombinski followed the frenzied and fearful events of the first half of the twentieth century without any other thought than to report them faithfully. Inspired by occasional flashes of insight, and pushed along by a love of risk, Paul Kombinski flourishes in his world of newspapers, headlines, copy, and printing presses, seeming to embody in a single person every facet of the newspaper he runs, The London Herald. His only regret: an increasing awareness of his own mortality and the certainty that he will not live long enough to see his century through to its end.
The (Undeclared) Fiancée
Victoria Beaumont
Art lover and charity enthusiast, Victoria Beaumont has little time for Lynnford’s mundane investigations. Still, Victoria’s insight helps him unravel more than one of them and, occasionally, something about a particular story sparks her interest and curiosity.
A widow since the death of her French husband in a road accident shortly after the War, Victoria is very fond of Lynnford, and may one day consider marrying him. But, for the moment, and despite the rumours that abound, they are just good friends. Victoria first met Lynnford before her marriage when, after he had crashed his plane in a Suffolk field on return from a mission in the early years of the War, she picked him up in the Auxiliary Transport Service recovery truck she was driving. Impatient with Lynnford’s restless search for new challenges, and understanding his character very well, Victoria secured a job for him as The London Herald’s crime reporter. Something she was able to achieve through her family friendships with the newspaper’s editor and proprietor, both friends of her father. And, Victoria knew, more than Lynnford himself, that he would excel in the job. Still, sometimes, Lynnford’s obsession with his investigations makes Victoria regret her initiative, and she teases him endlessly about it.
The Office Colleague
Stephan Maxwell
The London Herald’s sports writer, Stephan Maxwell shares an office with Lynnford, who has to suffer his colleague’s heavy smoking. But, it’s a price Lynnford willingly pays for Maxwell’s friendship and readiness to provide a helping hand whenever Lynnford needs it. Far from being as well heeled as Lynnford, Maxwell gambles on the races to make ends meet, using the information on horses and riders that he picks up from his sources in the stables, racecourses, betting shops, and almost anywhere.
Much of Maxwell’s sporting information comes from customers of The Golden Fox public house, close to the offices of The London Herald, where he drinks, a little too regularly in Lynnford’s view. Maxwell has a good nose for a sound tip, particularly on the dogs. But, some of his tip-offs are not exactly above board, and betting on these gives him a particularly rich supplement to his monthly pay packet; something which also worries Lynnford, concerned that his friend might one day lose his job, or worse, if he is found to have made money from rigged races.
Maxwell owns and rides a motorcycle for the thrill, unlike Lynnford who prefers his four-door Morgan motor car.
The Young Apprentice
Jack Worth
Jack Worth lives with his mother in Hoxton, north London. His father was killed in the War. Messenger boy-cum-clerk at The London Herald, this is Jack’s first job since leaving school at the age of fifteen in 1949. As bright as a sparrow, someone describes him, referring to both Jack’s spirit and size. It’s true, Jack looks like a boy of fourteen, to compensate for which he wears a buttoned-up waistcoat, but which, unfortunately, only serves to exaggerate his youthful appearance. Jack aspires to become a crime reporter, one day, like Lynnford, and is always more than ready to help him out in his investigations. Jack’s even taken to learning to type in his free time on Sundays!
The Source
Mrs Tunn
One of Lynnford’s sources for his investigations, Mrs Tunn is always ready to give him a tip-off at the drop of a hat, and this despite her holding a grudge against him (and his class) for the ease with which, after the War, he was parachuted into his cushy job in the newspaper world. Mrs Tunn knows all about life for London’s ordinary working class men and women, but her specialist knowledge is the city’s underbelly, and its dubious and criminal activity; not serious crime though, and often no more than the shady dealings of those simply trying to make ends meet any which way they can in straitened times. Mrs Tunn works as a school dinner lady in a local junior and primary school in Hoxton, as well as cleaning in several big houses in nearby Camden. Mrs Tunn is, however, nostalgic about her time on the London buses as a ticket collector during the War when she was recruited to replace the men who had gone off to fight, and bitter about losing it when they returned. Lively and affable, Mrs Tunn, nonetheless, looks on others as if passing judgment. Mrs Tunn knows best, she seems to suggest when speaking. She also maintains a high wall around her, as if on guard against people getting too close, and from which her demeanour seems to shout out, you’re not controlling me! I’m controlling you!