Page 124 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK TWO "BOSTON 1960 TO 1970"

CHAPTER 14
FORD ANGLIA versus THE BUS
I was now into my second year with Firestone, it will have
been 1968 and the Ford Anglia was into its third and last year
with the Company. If I might digress here with a couple of
stories while we have the “Anglia” with us.
The 1 Boston Sea Scout Unit that Ruth, my wife and I were
st
leaders in during the late 1960’s had purchased a bus to give
them better independence with taking the Scouts and Cubs on
local outings. The bus was an ex Lincolnshire County Council
Schools affair with sideways mounted wooden seats; all very
“agricultural” but inexpensive.

“IT WON’T GO!”
On the day in question, it was an outing that the Cubs were
to go on and the bus just would not start. Eventually the
battery was flattened and thinking caps put on to find a
solution.
Being a Sea Scout unit, the Scout Headquarters was located
on the actual bank of the River Witham just north of the town.
Vehicle access to the headquarters was by going under a
railway arch and travelling a quarter of a mile or so down a cul
–de- sac behind a long row of houses. (A minor, no through
road, for those who have never encountered such a place).
We needed to tow start the bus, so my firm’s Ford 105E
Anglia being the only other vehicle available was “pressed”
into service.
Ruth and I once carried a complete Cub Football team to a
venue; all packed carefully into a Renault Dauphine. There
were just too many this time to even contemplate such a
solution.
I should think the bus must have weighed three tons or so,
perhaps a little more. We had plenty of rope available as the
troop were pioneering experts.

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