Page 70 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

eventually.

Way back in the 1960's I had created advertisements in the Boston Standard for a small
garage at Sibsey on the main A16. The garage owner was Joe Amos and he specialised in
those small three wheel Reliant Cars. Joe had been the local agent but was now retired
and a long standing member of the District Council.
It was Joe who pulled our chestnuts out of the fire. He could see that most of the problem
was lack of understanding, sour grapes and in some cases just jealousy.
Joe motivated the Council to actually help us and sorted out all the initial furore.
We did end up with “by laws” for this and other local control for that, but we did managed
to open in July 1989, only a year and three months later than we had first intended.

The building alterations had been organised by Tony a friend and husband of a lady who
worked with Ruth in the local nursing community.
It was the fact that work could not start until planning had been granted that caused the
major delay. We worked literally night and day in the end to open before the summer
holidays started and at least try and earn some valuable income volume in the first year.

Over at the other side of the fields from the house there was an excellent concrete access
road and this was to be the main entrance to the Centre. Buildings were altered and new
metal frame buildings were constructed.

Above the Carriage Building/workshop. Below Ebony and the new Harness room.