Page 62 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

RALLIES
Once or twice each month in the summer season a drive was organised by one of the
county members.
Their responsibility was to provide an entertaining and attractive route of about 20 miles
around their own area, ideally on quiet roads and bridle tracks.
Half way round the route we would stop for liquid refreshment in the form of some type of
sparkling wine and at the end after the horses were duly cared for, a tea would be provided
before we all returned home.
The County membership being at this time fairly substantial, it worked out that each
member would have this duty once every two years.
Lincolnshire being the second largest County in England the routes we enjoyed were most
variable. We encountered steep short hills and hidden valleys in the south west, long flat
routes with endless roadside dykes in the fen country and glorious rolling countryside in
the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The tea’s largely depended on the occupation of the host family.
Farming families included something of the produce of their farm for example in the Wolds
we would enjoy beef from herds of traditional Lincoln red cattle, in the fens it could be
poultry and salads.

When it came to our turn, our particular occupation at the time was running lorries
distributing motor tyres throughout the UK, so we resorted to what we liked to eat best.

Pork pie or quiche with salad followed by sherry trifle. Members normally brought in family
and friends to help with the arrangements for the tea and provide traffic marshals if
crossing difficult roads en route as there could be 20 horses and vehicles attending and as
many as 40 or 50 guests.

All in all, having to organise one’s own event only once in two years while enjoying the
delightful hospitality at 15 or 20 other events provided by your friends was most enjoyable.

During the time that we had plenty of commercial vehicles available to us, we used one of
our delivery lorries to carry our horse drawn vehicle and it towed a horse trailer with initially
‘Juno’, Ruth’s dales pony cross who simply loved these events and despite her age
became very excited on Sunday mornings when she realised it was the day she would be
meeting lots of her horsey friends. Picture: Juno and the rally cart on the Horncastle rally
at halfway time.