Page 161 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK TWO "BOSTON 1960 TO 1970"
P. 161
Normally, trailers and caravans over a certain size have a
braking system operated when the towing vehicle brakes.
A slide is actuated pulling cables on the trailer which put its
brakes on, sort of.
As we were going to pull fairly heavy loads we needed
reliable brakes and introduced a powerful hydraulic system
instead of the simple cable on the trailer did the job.
UNDER THE CANOPY
By midday I was approaching Harrogate the town of my
birth and in need of fuel. My trusty series two, petrol engined
land rover was a thirsty beast especially pulling four tons of
boat and another ton of trailer up hill and down dale.
There is a “Total” Petroleum site in Harrogate, it is still
there, on the Knaresborough road between the Hospital and
the town.
As one gets older and more mature, unexpected
coincidences tend to flow like water from the proverbial duck.
In 1969 I was about 25 and not so used to coincidence.
I had filled up the truck, glanced up at the lovely canopy
above me and judged that there was plenty of room for my
exit.
I had arrived at the pumps without incident, why should
leaving be any different?
As I paid for the fuel I glanced into the office area and
straight way noticed that sitting there was a previous client
from my days working for the Lincolnshire Standard
newspapers. I had not seen him for over 5 years.
Bernard was small in stature and a very shrewd gentleman
with a lifetime’s experience in the motor trade. Always
immaculately dressed he had arrived in Boston in the very
early 1960’s to breathe new life into an old established garage
business.
161