A Horseman Riding By

First edition
(publ. Hodder & Stoughton)

A Horseman Riding By is a 1966 novel sequence by R. F. Delderfield that starts in 1902 at the tail end of the Boer War and is continued in the sequel to end in the summer of 1965. It is set in Devon in the early 20th century. It was to some extent an elegy for the traditional society which was blown apart by the First World War. Delderfield wrote at least one sequel: some accounts describe it as part of a trilogy, but this may be due to confusion because it was published in two parts in the USA.

After a three-part radio adaptation broadcast on the BBC Home Service and BBC Radio 4 in 1967, starring William Lucas, Josephine Tewson and Hilda Schroder, the first part of the novel was dramatised as a BBC 13-part television serial, starring Nigel Havers, Prunella Ransome and Glyn Houston, broadcast on Sunday evenings from 24 September 1978. The series was never repeated on any BBC channel, but was released on DVD in 2004. The BBC did not adapt the remainder of the series of novels, but a few years later they adapted two more of Delderfield's novels, To Serve Them All My Days and Diana.

Long Summer Day

The first novel is Long Summer Day. The novels are all set in south Devon, where the main character, Paul Craddock buys an estate after serving with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War. The first novel covers the years of the long "Edwardian afternoon" after the death of Queen Victoria, including the postponement of the coronation of King Edward VII, the Liberal landslide of 1906 and the coronation of King George V. The story follows the trials and tribulations of Craddock, and later his second wife and their growing family.

Post of Honour

The second novel Post of Honour covers the years from 1914 through to May 1940 with the Dunkirk evacuation. However the first chapter catches up with the main characters and events from 1911 to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. The second novel finishes with the "Miracle of Dunkirk" with Craddock’s eldest son Simon (his son from his brief first marriage) returning safely from France.

The Green Gauntlet

The third and final novel The Green Gauntlet is in two sections. Part one picks up the story of the Craddock family in February 1942 and runs through the rest of the Second World War to the culmination of the D Day landings. The story then takes us on to the end of the war just before V.E. Day. Part two gets underway with the V.E. Day celebrations in May 1945, then follows the Craddock family fortunes through the 1950s and up until the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.

A Horseman Riding By - BBC TV Adaptation

Broadcast Sunday evenings on BBC1 at 7:15pm. Produced by Ken Riddington.

Main cast: Nigel Havers, Glyn Houston, Madge Ryan, Pam St Clement, Glyn Owen, Alan Browning, William Moore, Milton Johns, Margaret John, Steve Hodson, Olaf Pooley, Prunella Ransome, David Prowse, Gillian McCutcheon and Fiona Gaunt.

Ep. no. (overall)	Ep. no. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	1	"Valley For Sale"	Philip Dudley	Arden Winch	24 September 1978 (1978-09-24)
Paul Craddock answers an advertisement and arrives in Devon, not realising he has made the most momentous journey of his life.
2	2	"The Party"	Philip Dudley	Alexander Baron	1 October 1978 (1978-10-01)
Paul has achieved his aim-Shallowford House is his. Now he must learn his job of being Squire. John Rudd is a help and so, in different ways, are Claire Derwent and Grace Lovell.
3	3	"An Outbreak of Romance"	Philip Dudley	Alexander Baron	8 October 1978 (1978-10-08)
Paul has married Grace Lovell. Will Codsall also has marriage on his mind, but with a mother like Arabella, he needs a lot of help.
4	4	"A Birth and a Death"	Philip Dudley	Alexander Baron	15 October 1978 (1978-10-15)
When Grace returns from London, there is a tragedy in the Valley and Paul has a most difficult decision to make.
5	5	"The Storm"	Philip Dudley	Alexander Baron	22 October 1978 (1978-10-22)
The relationship between Grace and Paul grows worse, particularly when Paul suggests Claire Derwent becomes nanny to their child. When Paul is called out to a shipwreck, Grace seizes the opportunity to resolve the situation.
6	6	"The Hollow Victory"	Philip Dudley	Arden Winch	29 October 1978 (1978-10-29)
With Grace gone, Claire becomes indispensable to Paul and when Smut Potter plays a dangerous game, Claire is there to help. Paul gets more involved in Liberalism, Lloyd George speaks in the Valley.
7	7	"The Last Hot Summer"	Paul Ciappessoni	Arden Winch	5 November 1978 (1978-11-05)
Nine years have passed and Paul and Claire have been married for seven. John Rudd surprises everyone, particularly Maureen O'Keefe , and the Potter twins meet a strong man who surprises them more.
8	8	"Call to Arms"	Alan Grint	Arden Winch	12 November 1978 (1978-11-12)
The Great War hits the Valley. Will Codsall is the first man to be called up. The war fever spreads quickly, taking everyone in its wake, even John Rudd.
9	9	"Death of a Hero"	Paul Ciappessoni	John Wiles	19 November 1978 (1978-11-19)
Who is sending white feathers? And who is putting flowers on Germans' graves? Will Codsall, back on leave, causes a lot of anxiety, and Claire and Rose both have emotional decisions to make.
10	10	"The Profiteers"	Alan Grint	John Wiles	26 November 1978 (1978-11-26)
The Valley has its first conscientious objector and most of the locals do not take it kindly. Sydney Codsall, now a solicitor, visits Paul and tries to involve him in a doubtful deal, which forces Paul to take a vital step.
11	11	"The Bad Season"	Paul Ciappessoni	John Wiles	3 December 1978 (1978-12-03)
Paul has joined up. Shallowford is now a convalescent home and very crowded -John Rudd suggests that Claire should move out. Elinor Codsall has a German PoW to help at Periwinkle, a decision which she has reason to regret.
12	12	"The Service"	Alan Grint	John Wiles	10 December 1978 (1978-12-10)
Who is setting fire to the hay-stacks? When Claire finds out she is faced with an impossible decision. The Potter twins have two new admirers, and Paul has leave and is surprised not to be spending it at home.
13	13	"The Old and the New"	Paul Ciappessoni	Arden Winch	17 December 1978 (1978-12-17)
With Paul missing and the army having vacated Shallowford, Codsall sets out to buy the valley.

External links

• A Horseman Riding By at BBC Online
• IMDB entry