Page 108 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

Robert's machine was the thing that saved the main stable block. Using its large all metal
front loader, he was able to dismantle the burning building and take it away still burning
into the field where the second team of firefighters killed the flames.

It was all a horrible mess and although the back walls of the stable block were destroyed,
the roof was saved.

Everything inside the stable block was burnt to a crisp. This included the photographic
dark room that I had built in the centre small stable in the 1980's for processing all the
photographs I took for the local press. Nothing was left of it but charred plastic and twisted
metal equipment.

COULD THERE BE A SILVER LINING
Out of the ashes of that dark room though we managed to generate sufficient money from
the insurance to fund the building you see today.

The budget was small compared with what we really would have liked to erect, but we did
find that second-hand building frame. A single span roof was essential and that was the
largest available locally for our money.

Professional builders had to be found who could work to our fine budget. That was Steve
Andrew from Halton Holegate. They had to dig deep holes and pour cement to provide
footings for the steelwork.
By now it was winter time and the weather was dreadful, everywhere was deep mud.

Then we had to find suitable roofing material at little or no cost!!

Steve found it at Skegness! Butlins were replacing all their chalet accommodation and we
agreed to buy all the sheets that were not damaged in the demolition. There were quite a
large number and they were very heavy roofing sheets.