Page 139 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

There was to be a huge “fly past” over London and planes for all over the World were
coming to take part.
RAF Coningsby were only hosting a selection of these, but sufficient to make it worth
taking a deck chair into the garden for the afternoon.

We always supposed it was because of the special roof of our “maltings” building behind
Ivy House, it was over 200 feet long and thirty feet wide, all covered in orange “pantiles”. It
looked impressive from the ground, so from the air must have made an excellent landmark
for planes approaching the fighter base at Coningsby.
All kinds of amazing aircraft of different vintages passed over that roof before the special
day and indeed on their return to Coningsby after the momentous fly past over London.

Picture of part of the very long Maltings building and garden.

a Barbecue now and again......
When the time seemed right and Ruth and I were in the mood we held a barbecue in our
attractive walled garden.
The garden faced south and was protected on the north side by the maltings building. To
the south it sloped down to the water filled basin and the whole was dotted with 14 trees of
various types and sizes.
Neighbours and acquaintances from the village were invited and participated in various
roles to make the event run smoothly. I had built a brick barbecue in one corner and
Rundles foundry foreman Ray Picker who lived in Stickney, had made me a steel tray to
hold the actual fire.
Visitors brought liquid refreshment and we provided hot dogs.
These evenings often ran on into the “small hours” and it was not unusual for one or two to
be transported home in that “navvy barrow”!
The clients we liked were invited too.

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