Page 103 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

these products, as our resident County of Lincolnshire was almost entirely farms.
We move on to 1971, all went swimmingly for Hugh to begin with, although on the odd
times when I called in to his new office, nothing much seemed to be happening.
We move on a year or two, Ruth and I had been at Ivy House for some time, I was still
working for Firestone, that London Road Hospital orthopaedic unit had been closed, Ruth's
boss Peter, had already moved to a better position as Matron of a group of hospitals in the
North East, and Ruth moved to the new District General Hospital as a theatre sister. Then
Hugh’s wife decided to change her husband and strangely enough the wife of the ‘other
chap’ moved in with Hugh.

A CHANGE OF WIFE
Hugh’s new companion was great, Ruth and I both thought he had the best bargain.
She was self motivating, public school educated, good looking and had a lovely nature too!
With the change in his marital circumstances, Hugh’s now ‘ex’ father in law decided that
changes had to be made. He set up a new company for Hugh but doing the same thing in
the same premises. Hugh’s new partner began to help in the office and things began to
change very quickly.

We jump forward now to 1973, Firestone was a memory, ECYB Transport had started
properly in earnest and Ruth still at the new District General Hospital. Hugh as yet did not
have his own lorry and our business was engaged to collect the weekly supply of axles
and other bits that Hugh needed from the Birmingham factory every Friday.
Well actually as you may guess, all these changes in Hugh’s life had brought him the most
amazing saleswoman and office organiser, this was Jenny. Their company began to grow
and our share of work grew too.

EXTINGUISHERS
Now we come to the fire extinguishers.
Hugh’s partner was revising the situation in their warehouse and it was decided to renew
all the fire extinguishers. I just happened to call in as the old ones were standing in the
corner of their office looking for a new home!

As usual, not wishing to pass up a bargain, I asked if they were for sale. They were not
quite time expired and we did not have any fire extinguishers on the premises at Ivy
House! A good price was agreed and I took them home with me.

Back at home, Michael, Ruth’s youngest brother was servicing my lorry, the KM Bedford
long wheelbase, hero of various excursions to darkest South Wales in recent weeks.

I parked the fire extinguishers close to our spare parts and oil store and explained to
Michael where they had come from. They were all big dry powder extinguishers, capable
of dealing with almost any type of fire, there were six of them.
Within half an hour there were only four!

It was January and cold, the maltings building we were using for servicing the vehicles was
enormous. Tall inside with pan tile roof that let in the draught, it was over 200 feet long and
over 30 feet wide, consequently Michael had a stove going to try and keep himself warm, a
‘salamander’ stove.

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