Globetrotting gnome pops up in children’s books
Eve Stuart-Kelso was stunned to find her leprechaun Murphy back outside her Gloucester home seven months after he was taken, carrying a note blaming “itchy feet” for his globetrotting.
The album of 48 photos showed Murphy abseiling down a mountain, standing in a shark’s mouth, swimming in the sea, and riding a motorbike.
His story gripped the world in August last year and now his adventure has been immortalised by children’s author Gordon Volke. His namesake in the tales visits Ireland, Thailand, South Africa, China and Australia, just as the real Murphy did.
Stuart-Kelso, 63, a Civic Trust guide, said the books were “lovely” and had received a rapt reception when she read them at a local nursery.
The first in the series is called Murphy and the Magic Passport and the stories aim to educate young children about foreign countries.
She said: “All the children loved the story of Murphy and how naughty he was running away.
“It is a fun book but it is also educational and helps children learn about different cultures.”
But the grandmother of three, from Longlevens, did not think Murphy would be jetting off again.
She added: “He will only be travelling to other countries in the books from now on.”
During his travels, Murphy attracted unwanted attention from customs officials and took up 25% of the party’s luggage allocation.
Student Simon Randles, from Reading, was later revealed as Murphy’s kidnapper.
The bizarre crime echoed the French film Amelie starring Audrey Tatou in which a gnome belonging to Amelie’s father is taken around the world and photographed, to show him how much he is missing out on in life.
Stuart-Kelso said at the time: “The leprechaun went missing many, many months ago and I had forgotten about it all. Then I opened the door on Thursday and saw he was back. It was such a shock.
“I thought, ‘Well, it’s a bit of mischief but at least he hasn’t been put through the window.’ Murphy was quite badly damaged and there was a tightly wrapped parcel next to him. My curiosity eventually overcame my alarm, because I did wonder if it might explode. Then I saw it was a beautifully bound photo album and opened it up.
“His feet were missing, but that’s no real surprise given that he was sent abseiling down a mountain.!
“It was the strangest gift I have ever received. I just keep thinking how funny it is. It makes me smile to see all the people he met on his travels. It was a wonderful surprise and of course it’s so nice to get some good news.”
