Days off - the Social Side of Things.

 

Days off.

Since there were a good and useful number of days off as a lab worker the days needed filling and there was never a shortage of things to do.

In the early '70's I persuaded my pal Paddy Roe to buy an old wartime jeep as we would need said vehicle for a planned journey that would take us from North Africa, across the Sahara and on down to Cape Town.

A letter from the AA in response to my request for a suitable route for our journey began with a single sentence. It read....

"The journey you propose to undertake is fraught with danger."

(It was around that time that petrol driven vehicles were banned from the Sahara.)

The Jeep was the cheapest available from Guys' Yard at Exeter, advertised in the Exchange & Mart for the princely sum of £195.

The owners of Guys' Yard had started collecting ex World War 2 military vehicles in the early '60's. There were all sorts to choose from.

It was, without doubt, the worst of a collection of Jeeps and was at the very back and to one side of the large shed where it was kept.

They got the thing going for me and took the money (Paddys' money that is)

With neither tax nor insurance I began the journey back to Westward Ho! on a freezing cold March day.

I soon discovered a broken front spring causing the car to veer about the road after 

trans versing a pothole or bump in the road.

The hood was up but the hood bows were not tied together and the front bow kept falling on my head necessitating holding it up with one hand whilst struggling with the steering and the broken spring using the other. Brakes were on one front wheel and similarly on the rear but fortunately the thing could not be driven at speed.

I got as far as a few miles past Morchard Road junction when the vintage, gummy petrol clogged the carburettor and I came to a standstill right by a phone box (remember them?)

A pal of mine came to the rescue, driving out from Westward Ho! in his Land Rover and connected the two vehicles with a rope in length about 12 feet.

He then sped off with me trying not to run into the back of him.

It took two years to get the old Jeep in running order and to pass an MOT.

Poor old Paddy was frequently asked for more funds for various parts. It was never a restoration, just to get it going was all that was required.

The proposed journey was long-forgotten but the old car proved great fun and was used for odd jobs to help pay for its' upkeep and running costs at 20 miles to the gallon.

1973, a few weeks before the Willys' first M.O.T.
(photo: Bob Friendship collection)

PETROL PRICE INCREASE

Petrol Prices and the OPEC decision to raise crude oil during 1973.

From my historic notes I see that up until 1973, 2 star petrol

 (yes-two star "Regular" petrol was on the forecourts) was 54p A GALLON

(=4.456 litres)

After OPEC raised the cost of crude oil, petrol went up to 72p/78p a gallon by 1974/78

It doesn't seem much now but it caused mayhem back then and led to a recession

and a sudden hike in house prices as the result of massive inflation.

The Jeep, on a normal day, would consume a gallon every 14-20 miles dependant 

on use.

A soaking day on Bursdon Moor, here Paddy "models" the Jeep.
(photo: Bob Friendship collection)

off-road on a howling day on Exmoor.
a heater had been fitted by a previous owner-😂
Note the Perspex windscreen made from a lab gas cabinet.
-Sorry, Bob! (Bob Elkins.) - he never knew.
(photo: Bob Friendship collection.)

I took it to work on many occasions and on a couple of days I gave various workers, including some of the girls from the lab, trips out to demonstrate the cars off-road capabilities. The wood track at Watergate was a good place to try it out. When we got back to the dairy most of us were splattered in mud. Hilarious!

On many winters days myself, Jerry (Slator), Paddy and Eddie Heath would go in search of wood to cut for fire. Jerry would bring along a chain saw and, shortly after the Jeep was operational, a friend of Paddy's family kindly donated an old Land Rover trailer.
Quite often we would go to a farmer pal, Jack Wickett, who lived at Chiddlecombe farm half way up Fairy Cross hill. 
Some days we would stay in Jacks' parlour playing euchre (I was rubbish!) and drink Jacks' whiskey before trundling off home.
Other times we would repair to the Coach & Horses at Horns Cross for the same purpose.
One time at Jacks, down the bottom of a field and on a soaking wet day, the Jeep, with trailer piled high with logs, couldn't make it up from rise back to the farmyard.
This incident, which caused much mirth amongst the rest of the gang, was captured here by Eddie as Jerry borrowed Jacks' Fordson to pull me up.

How embarrassing! Cries of  "Jeepo stuck", Ha!Hah!
(photo courtesy Eddie Heath.)

Trips to Lundy.

There were a number of runs out to Lundy, usually a sponsored trip for North Devon Hospital.

The gang usually comprised Jerry, Tarbuk (Roger Talbot) Eddie Heath, myself and Paddy (Roe)

Tarbuk and I took a gallon of Taunton rough cyder for good measure.

From memory the trips were on board the Balmoral which was a decent sized boat.

Some pics from the mid '70's.....

Pirates off to Lundy, about 1975.
L-R: Jerry Slator, Eddie Heath, myself, Paddy Roe & Roger "Tarbuk" Talbot.
I am carrying the 6" to the mile map of Lundy
& Tarbuk carries the Cyder.
(photos: Eddie Heaths collection.)

Break time for Cy.

(photo: Eddie Heaths collection.)

We were late leaving the Marisco pub. The Capt'n was blowing the ships horn.

In the rush, shortcutting through various gardens, I left the map behind in the pub.

This was quite a special map I had bought whilst at school so I was fed up to have left it behind.

A few days went by and the postman arrived at my front door, at Queen Annes in Bideford High Street.

"This is yours I think" he said and sure enough it was my map sent from Lundy addressed to "Friendship, Bideford." 

Some great folk about for sure!

Lundy, 1982: long-time pal Simon Biggs, Janet F, myself & Jerrys' wife Linda.
(Think this photo was Linda's')
Remembering Simon - 01-10-2023

well, you gotta 'ave a larf!
(photo: Linda Slator, thanks Linda!)

Looking back over the years we had some great days out and a few good evenings at the Coach, Horns Cross, and after closing time, at Jerrys' house which was a few doors up from the pub and, later, at his new home at Portledge Place.

Good times, aye, Jerr!?

All a long time ago now.......good memories.....