Page 32 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

CHAPTER SIX
“ACCIDENTAL BEGINNING”

These next years will be far more demanding to describe and equally difficult for the
reader to follow. But here goes anyway.....
Initially, after moving to Northcote, I worked for the Rundle Family back at New
Bolingbroke, as their relief lorry driver. This gave me a regular income and the work was
so interesting, it took my mind off the countless awful problems that still needed dealing
with.

After a year or so John Brooks their regular driver was well enough to begin work once
more. I stepped aside but straight away found another driving job with local Farmers
Merchants “Lindsey and Holland Farmers.”
This involved animal feed deliveries throughout the central part of the County, sometimes
in bulk using a tipper lorry, other times smaller quantities in paper sacks.

A CHANGE OF DIRECTION
Lindsey and Holland’s trade declined with the beginning of summer and by the end of
1985 I had been “head-hunted” for the first time in my life.
Digby Scott was a regional manager for the Lincolnshire Standard group and it was my
hobby of photography that initially brought him to my door.

Quite literally and to our total surprise, Digby appeared one particular lunchtime when
Ruth and I both happened to be at home together. He explained that the Standard
newspaper in Skegness was under pressure, they had ceased to publish their popular
midweek paper sometime previously and Morton's Publishers, of Horncastle had stepped
in and began to publish a weekly paper in the Skegness Standard circulation area.

The new Skegness News was beginning to eat into the Standard’s advertising revenue
and something had to be done. My task was to write and produce pictures and stories for a
new midweek Skegness Extra! An alternative midweek free paper and additional medium
for the Standard’s loyal advertisers.

I really loved this episode in my life, I was being paid a reasonable wage and expenses,
working freelance to produce the new Skegness Extra and pack it with general interest