Page 15 - It's a Rum Life Book One "In the Beginning 1947 to 1960"

constantly catered for more than was necessary and a dozen
eggs would never be thought sufficient. Also we were still in
strict rationing time and farms owned by relatives were the only
place to get around that.
Returning back towards the town in the Ford V8 Pilot by the
country roads, I was seated in the rear with Grandmother
Munford when a most unusual and unpleasant smell began to
drift around the interior. It did not take long for smoke to begin
oozing from behind the roof lining. Then quite rapidly the roof
inside began to glow and the decision was made to stop and
abandon ship!
Fortunately the item of most immediate importance the
eggs, were in the boot and quickly accessed by opening the drop
down boot lid. By now we were all out of the vehicle and stood
in amazement as flames began to engulf the bodywork where
we had been sitting only a few moments before. In later years
and with some more knowledge I could probably have saved the
car by disconnecting the battery, but as I was only four years old
at the time my interest in cars was still purely that they were
great fun to ride in, and look at, even if they were sometimes in
flames!
This was the very first time I remember grandmother being
on the receiving end of the fire engine, but not the last! The Ford
quickly became
a burnt out
wreck!
(Picture of
me, shows the
V8 Pilot in the
background at
22 Bilton Grove
Avenue.)

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