I was actually assistant Whiffler with Neville Miller being Whiffler. In Norwich we have a Whiffler Road and there used to be a Whiffler public house. I believe it's still there although today it is a Weatherspoons.
It became a pub in 1938 when the licence was transferred from Mattishall Cross Keys. It subsequently closed for modernisation and re-opened in April 1965. It's licensee in 1964 was Gordon Cooke who was a wartime member of 617 Squadron - better known as the Dambusters.
In 1996 there were plans to demolish it and build a number of retail units. These plans were subsequently dropped. It closed in July 1998 and was then re-opened in 1999 as a J. D. Weatherspoons after a complete re-fit. It closed again in 2011 for another refit and then re-opened.
So where does the name Whiffler come from and what does it mean?
A Whiffler had ceremonial duties in Norwich. Norwich once had four of these whose job was to make a path through the crowds for all processions and especially for the Mayor. They did this by brandishing a short two handed swords.
The word goes back to the 16th century. When William Kemp was received by the Mayor at the end of his nine days Morris Dance from London in 1599 the Whifflers made way for him through the crowded streets. Apparently they made their last appearance on the streets of Norwich in 1835.
Will Kemp (1560-1603) is an interesting character, He was an actor and dancer specialising in comic roles and being one of the early players in dramas by one William Shakespeare. But Kemp fell on hard times and died in poverty
It was 1599 that Kemp Morris danced from London to Norwich. It is possible he decided to undertake the 125 mile journey after Shakespeare turned him down for a role in Hamlet. He wrote an account of his journey entitled Kemp's Nine Daies Wonder.
Actually it wasn't a nine days wonder as Kemp actually took 24 days to get to Norwich- having plenty of days when he didn't jig himself along.
I only worked on the Whiffler column for about eight months but it was an enjoyable time - writing small vignettes about local people and local things. Really it was just a chatty and easy going column that was nevertheless very popular. We hardly ever had to find stories as there was any number of people coming into the office to speak to Whiffler. Thankfully we never had to dress up for the role.