John Trunley

John Trunley (14 October 1898 – 30 September 1944) was known during his lifetime as "The Fat Boy of Peckham". As a child he gained weight rapidly and by the age of seven months he weighed two stones. By the age of four he weighed 12 stones and was taken to be examined by the eminent doctor, Sir Frederick Treves. When he started school at six he had a 44 inch chest and 46 inch waist [ [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sheilawb/john_trunley.htm Trunley Family Web-Site] ] . He achieved national prominence when Lord Northcliffe [ "Tabloid" BBC3 18th June 2007 20:00-21:00GMT ] ran a critical story about London County Council’s decision to extend an existing tramway a further 400 yards because Trunley could no longer walk to Reddins School. Shortly after this he began to tour England under the management of entrepreneurs such as Fred Karno [Beasley, J.D. "Who Was Who in Peckham". London: Chener Books, 1980.] . After the First World War he negotiated a film contract playing small character parts. He married and had children, before dying during an air raid in 1944.

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