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Owner of Diss record shop Wildflower Records strikes gold after discovering rare Lightnin’ Hopkin’s 1971 release Let’s Work a While




The owner of a Diss record shop has struck gold after finding an extremely rare blues album in a box-full of old records.

Last week, William Porteous, who started Wildflower Records in Church Street earlier this year, was invited to a house in Diss to take his pick from a collection of old country records that were being thrown out.

The 40-year-old bought 15 of the old vinyls at £1-a-piece, only to discover that one of them was country blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkin’s 1971 release Let’s Work a While – an extremely rare pressing worth upwards of £150.

Will Porteous with the copy of Lightnin’ Hopkin’s 1971 release Let’s Work a While. Picture: Mark Bullimore Photography 2022.
Will Porteous with the copy of Lightnin’ Hopkin’s 1971 release Let’s Work a While. Picture: Mark Bullimore Photography 2022.

Mr Porteous said that he only discovered how valuable the album was once he returned to his shop.

“I got a call from a guy who said he was clearing out his father-in-law’s house in Diss,” said the father-of-two.

“He said a friend had already popped round and picked out all the good stuff.

“There was an album there that I didn’t know and I thought, ‘that might be worth something’.

“It looked cool, but it’s wasn’t legendary album cover stuff.

“I got back in the shop and looked online and thought to myself ‘oh my god – it’s really rare’. It came completely out of nowhere.”

It was just six weeks ago that Mr Porteous began visiting homes across south Norfolk to buy old records, in the hope that some may have a sell-on value.

“Nine times out of 10, people don’t have anything of value,” he added.

“I’ve only been doing this for six weeks and this could be the best find I have for a good few years.

“It keeps my chin up – it’s like a really cool little jewel.”



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