Le Plongeur

The rise and demise of Armitage J Crocker

When does a passion become an obsession? For example, what causes a football fan to name his firstborn after each member of his team’s cup-winning side of 1967? Why does a woman with the correct complement of fingers and no particular liking for sewing have thirty assorted thimbles, each in a tiny pigeon-hole in a wooden display case, with over a thousand more in the garage? That’s for the psychologists to decide.

While there are many stories of people and their obsessions, the following is a most curious tale of one man’s rise, and his sudden demise.

Remaining years

Armitage J Crocker was a plumber who retired in 1974. After hanging up his pipe bender for the last time, he prepared to enjoy his remaining years doing what he liked, perhaps gardening or playing bowls at the local park.

As he settled into his new life, he found one habit from his working days difficult to kick. He didn’t miss bleeding radiators or plumbing in washing machines, but he yearned for the satisfying glow he got from plunging waste pipes. It became an obsession.

As soon as his wife poured washing-up water from the bowl into the sink, Armitage would nudge her aside and begin vigorously plunging the plughole until a strong vortex was achieved…