My Grandad, Eddie Enguell was Joe Wiggins’ first cousin. During my childhood he told me how Joe could have helped him and his Dad in the great deprsssion, but chose not to. Grandad said he (Joe) would not give you the drippings from his nose if he passed you in the gutter. Grandad rejoiced for weeks when Wiggins the builders went bankrupt in the 1970s.

In the late 70s I belonged to a House Church in Leigh to my amazement and chagrin I discovered this man received financial support from Joe. In the last couple of years I have researched the ‘ Pecuiliars’ and their early history is wonderful. Far removed from the hard hearted callous man you speak of on the interview I heard on radio 4 recently. Oddly my wife remembers him as a kind man from her time at ‘Sunshine club’ during the late 60s. My Grandad was a gracious atheist, loving kind and gracious; Joe was the reverse of that. Ironically Grandad’s love helped me to find faith for you the opposite. The reason for this email? To let you know that your perspective on Joe is correct.

Kevin