Page 50 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

THE BIG IDEA.......
was to hold an auction in the open air on the village green. I must put my hand up and
admit it was another of my “brainwaves”.
Our committee thrashed out the fine details and I set out to find a willing “tame” auctioneer
who could draw the crowds.
I found him in the form of Michael Emitt, the best known local auctioneer, who had
managed to set up his own Estate Agency Business in the local town of Boston.

Michael was know to me personally, in his early career he had worked for the local firm of
auctioneers and estate agents, Messrs James Ely.
Michael had been one of those Auctioneers working hard every Wednesday on Boston's
Bargate Green.
Michael was a charismatic, very well known, respected and accomplished businessman.
He was also a fine very low handicap golfer.
He agreed to be the “voluntary” auctioneer for our mammoth fund raising auction for the
New Bolingbroke Town Hall Restoration Fund.

Mammoth it really turned out to be too. “Lots” were invited to be sold with either a suitably
large percentage of the proceeds being donated to the hall or better still the whole
proceeds.
I incorporated my own not unsubstantial publicity ability and with the aid of the local press
we attracted over 300 lots.
Michael was not amused.....he was even less amused at the end of the day when he was
truly on his last legs and totally lost his voice.
It took a great deal of liquid “Highland restorative” to bring him back to life!
Ruth and I bought two things at that auction, firstly an upright piano for daughter Helen to
practice her music and secondly …....the Navvy Barrow.

THE BARROW
The barrow you see in the picture take recently here in France is of that very same item.

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