Page 11 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK TWO "BOSTON 1960 TO 1970"

VEHICLE FLEET
The Lincolnshire Standard “Head Office” vehicle “fleet” at
that time, (1963) comprised the Ford Thames of four years
vintage and a relatively new mini-van.
There was a big “But” coming now. There were various
departments within the newspaper company. The newspaper
itself had numerous editions and several branch offices within
the County.
Based at head office in Boston were reporters (6),
photographers (2), advertising staff (4) including myself and
office staff.
Eddy the office and circulation manager needed to keep a
close eye on his newsagents and pay them regular visits to
collect dues. Eddy didn’t drive, and never did right up until the
day he died in 2007. Always cheerful and amusing he seldom
mentioned his particular skill as a wartime Lancaster bomber
navigator. I was his regular chauffeur, in one of the van fleet.
We became good friends.
All these good folk needed a vehicle to get out to their
various engagements and functions. Private cars were still
very few in number compared to the years to come.
So you can see that getting one’s hands on either of these
much maligned four wheel chariots was a work of art.
To add to the chagrin of the initial problem of actually
finding a van was the additional complication of keeping
accurate records of where, what, how, when and why you went
in the said vehicle. All on the Department of Transport
approved “vehicle log book” which had to be produced to an
officer of the law on request!
Finally there was a general printing works. They frequently
needed transport to deliver their finished goods and collect
raw materials. Who was their driver of choice? I will leave you
to guess!

11