Honestly, This Part of England Has the World's Biggest Liars
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 25, 2011

Glen Boylan

SANTON BRIDGE, England—In this tiny village last week, Glen Boylan came to spin stories in a local pub, as the English are wont to do. On a rain-lashed night, Mr. Boylan's tale involved being offered a mayonnaise and peanut butter sandwich by a good Samaritan—Prince Charles—who happened to be passing through. read article

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Way back in the 19th Century, a famous Cumbrian called Will Ritson (1808-1890) was the popular publican who lived at the head of the Wasdale Valley in the English Lake District.

In this remote and beautiful valley, Will always kept his customers enthralled with stories of the folk heritage of this delightful area.

The valley was already well-known for having England's deepest lake (Wastwater), the highest mountain (Scafell Pike), the smallest Church (Wasdale Head Church) and Will Ritson achieved its fourth superlative when he became -

" THE WORLD'S BIGGEST LIAR"

Of course, Will was a very sincere and genuine man, who insisted that all his tales were true. Perhaps the visitors simply didn't have the level of perception with which Will was bestowed. Will claimed that the turnips in Wasdale were so big that after the dalesfolk had "quarried" into them for their Sunday lunch, they could be used as sheds for the Herdwick Sheep from the fells.

Each year, in November, a contest is held to award the title of "The Biggest Liar in the World" to the person who is worthy of following in the footsteps of "Auld Will".

The contest, held at the Bridge Inn, attracts world wide attention, and in recent years the audience has learned facts like how the Lake District was formed - not by ice or volcanic action, but by large moles and eels!