Page 112 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

We were all sick with the thought that all the time we had taken to source the harness we
needed was all for nought. On top of this we could not offer wagon rides to our visitors.

That first day, I was especially overwrought by a particular unpleasant and outspoken
Scottish lady visitor, who told me we should not be open if we could not offer a complete
program. She was in no way compassionate for what had happened that morning, in fact
she was downright unpleasant. It was the very first time I had lost my temper with a visitor
and told her to leave!

The insured total came to just over £10,000.

WHAT TO DO
We had to think hard about the future and make sure this would happen again, as our
insurers warned us could be very much the case.

Initially we ordered basic new bridles and reins from our local saddlers Robinson's. The
traditional English heavy horse collars were unobtainable now as the craft had virtually
died out. We bought American imported Heavy collars, wagon saddles and all the
accompanying bits and pieces. It was all new but the collars were stuffed with saw dust
and not comfortable for the horses. We had to make do.

I reinforced the harness room, Charlie Johnson our local digger driver had an old
galvanised steel door with weldmesh. I mounted this over the original door and then
connected it to the 240 volt mains electrical supply. This meant that anyone touching the
door with their feet on the ground would receive the full mains supply through their hands.

I was told this was illegal but the thieves who had stolen all our harness were not within
the law.

“The door had a suitable notice warning folk not to touch.”

The building was also alarmed.

BURGLARY TWO

In our main building at the Centre we were still exhibiting an extensive collection of horse
drawn carriages. Most of these belonged to Paul Tointon who had been our British Driving
Society County Commissioner and asked me to look after his carriage collection after he
relocated from a large property near Louth.

I had a long talk to Paul and explained that I thought his carriages were greatly at risk and
reluctantly, he should think about finding them a new home. Many of the collection were
over 150 years old and very valuable. They had been an excellent plus to our centre for
over three years and I had developed a special “tour” for visitors explaining some of the
basics of carriage design and development.