Page 129 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

Our business with Uniroyal continued after the financial exchange rates had steadied but
obviously things were never quite the same.
Steve had been running the Loughborough operation giving excellent service but at huge
cost. On top of this he had been burgled.
Police investigations proved that the thief had been one of Steve’s own drivers who had
managed to steal tyres right under his nose as it were.
The problem was serious as we were not insured for theft by employees. We had not
overlooked the problem, it was just that over so many years we had come to trust the folk
who worked for us. We gave them a good deal, they earned far more than we ever did and
working conditions were excellent.
Despite all this we were £10,000 short. It was owed to Uniroyal.

Ruth and I decided to “off load” Loughborough, If one mistake had happened, then others
could follow.
We negotiated with a local old established haulage company in Loughborough, to transfer
the lease for the buildings to them and draw a nominal amount for the business and good
will.
Brian Daltry assisted with negotiations and smoothed the transfer to the new owners.
Steve was out of work and tried to take me to industrial tribunal.
Initially he had used our own accountants to propose a take over of the Loughborough
business for himself. The amount he offered a £1. We continued with his dismissal and
also dismissed the accountants!
Steve eventually went to work for Uniroyal as a salesman.

We continued with The Lincolnshire distribution and due to huge consequent stress and
friction at home moved the whole venture to the old station premises in Horncastle.

(Picture of British Driving Society Rally hosted by us in Horncastle Station yard in 1980.)

Next, Uniroyal began to close the existing U.K. “entrepot” sites one by one. The writing

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