Page 169 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

BDS (LINCOLNSHIRE BRANCH ) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Now on to the story, which is all based around our activities with the Lincolnshire Branch of
the British Driving Society in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Beginning during the time we lived at Ivy House,
New Bolingbroke, our main recreation became
carriage driving. Both ‘Juno’, Ruth’s old Dales Pony
and ‘Juno’s’ son, Jupiter were both well capable of
taking part in the summer BDS programme around
the county.

Between April and the end of September a
comprehensive number of Sunday Rallies was
organized by our Area Commissioner. County
members were encouraged to be a ‘host’ and
arrange an entertaining drive in their local area.

The drive would be about 20 miles long on average
and to include varied countryside particular to your own area. About half way round a
suitable stopping place had to be found to give the horses a rest and for the participants to
enjoy a glass or two, or three of sparkling wine.
At the end of the rally, the host provided a suitable tea for everyone. Again this comprised
some form of speciality particular to the host. For us we normally concentrated on Pork pie
salad and trifle but for a farmer host he would probably provide a meal including meat from
his farm.

Organising the rally took some time as it involved careful planning of the route including as
much off road as possible and arranging suitable stewards to assist with crossing major
roads or difficult sections. The half way stopping place also had to be suitably large to
accommodate up to 30 horses and their vehicles plus the humans too.
Then there was the location at the beginning to provide space for everyone to park and
unload their vehicles and assemble the horses and carriages. During the time Sue Goffin
was our Commissioner she was so well organized and popular with the members, there
were always sufficient families offering to host a drive that it would perhaps be your turn
once every two years.

We really loved these outings and looked forward to Sundays as the highlight of our week.
Of course the horses needed exercising during the week too to keep them fit to cope and
this, we managed in the evenings.
Even Helen enjoyed the rallies but became somewhat bored by just riding with us so we
bought ‘Jill of Marshtop’ a lovely full size Shetland pony mare who came from the East
Yorkshire stud of Diana Stavely.

THE TEAM
Jill was her foundation mare and very experienced, quite large enough to pull Helen and a
companion on the rallies and cope with any kind of terrain. Terry Pine our local mechanic
built her a two wheel cart with box body to provide space for wet weather clothes etc.
There was some casual comment the very first time we appeared with Jill and she stood

169