But he has raked up much engaging historic detail that runs from the mutton suet applied to Samuel Coleridge's leather walking-boots to descriptions of mock sea-battles staged on the lakes.
The story goes that those same settlers who were adept at making pie, were having some difficulty preparing the suet puddings they were used to from a lack of ingredients and equipment.
Brakes, which is based in Ashford, Kent, is the supplier for the House of Commons Catering Service and last month it withdrew its steak and kidney pie, beef and onion pie, steak and kidney suet pudding, and beef Italian meatballs as a precaution.