Page 95 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“JUPITER AND THE AIRFIELD GHOST”

From the very first Spring at Northcote in 1984 we had taken every opportunity to use the
quieter country lanes to exercise the horses and enjoy the chance to ride without constant
traffic problems.
What we did not realise at the time nor even associated with our location was the
problems we were going to encounter with ghosts. Readers will be aware that horses of all
sizes and types have this sixth or even seventh sense; something extra that most humans
just cannot normally tune into.
Juno our old original dales/cross mare had been joined by Hebe a pure bred Dales lady
we had bought from an owner at Hebden Bridge. She was more skittish than her owner
had left us to believe and this fact perhaps helped to cover the greater problem which we
were trying to overcome.
The wedding hire business was still flourishing and helping our much depleted income,
hence the decided investment in Hebe or “Ashwood Claire Louise” as her proud “papers”
stated was her official registered “Dales Pony” breed name.
Old Juno was fast showing her true age and we realised that although her spirit was
willing, her “flesh” was certainly not up to serious regular work and she could not for much
longer be expected to cope with trailing a wedding carriage around to earn her keep and
help the family coffers.
Her son “Jupiter” was fast becoming our ‘mainstay’ horse. Not only did he love upstaging a
bride by behaving like a prima-donna at all the weddings, but from time to time decided
that after working at weddings throughout the County for several years he knew best!

Lancaster Bomber pictured at Spilsby Airfield