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George Spenceley recalls his years as a long distance lorry driver, the friends he made and the incidents that happened along the way.
My wife's cousin Brian has kept in touch with us over the years. In the late fifties Brian would often stay with us and especially enjoyed the atmosphere of the local working mans clubs.
Brian was a lad that was always larking on with all of us especially me. One time while he was staying with us someone decided to wash the cars. With hose pipes and a bucket it all started off in earnest until someone splashed someone with water. Soon we all landed up soaking wet.
The following day we went on a trip to the countryside along side a river near Whitby. We hired a couple of rowing boats. It was decided we would have a competition to see who could row the fastest down the river.
Stephen, my son, got in a boat with Pat and Brian. Being a laid back person I was a little reluctant to take up the challenge. My crew was Doreen and and my other son, Martin.
Of course Brian was away before us as I set off at a more leisurely pace. Immediately Brian taunted me at my slow progress. Doreen was a little agitated at the slow progress we were making said 'Here George let me have a go at rowing' she said. Who was I to argue?
I manoeuvred the boat to the bank and reaching up took hold of a small ash tree, and placed one foot onto the bank to allow Doreen to move into the rowing position. As Doreen stood up the boat rocked violently causing her to sit back down again.
While I hung onto the sapling the boat slowly started to move away from the bank towards the centre of the river. My legs started to part wider and wider, with one foot on the boat and the other on the bank.
To the shouts and screams of amusement from others, I pulled onto the tree as best I could and slowly the boat returned back to the bank, and without further ado I climbed aboard.
On another occasion it was suggested we travel to Alburgh in Norfolk. 'We can have a day on the lake' Brian said with the usual grin on his face. When we arrived Brian suggested we should hire two small sailing boats. We all started to laugh and some one remarked that I couldnt manage a rowing boat never mind one with a sail on it.
Doreen suggested that I hire a rowing boat and Brian could get a sailing craft, then we set across the water. I ended up with a worn rowlock, (the bit that the oar fits into) so every time I tried to get a little extra purchase on the oar it came adrift and slipped out.
Brian came along side and asked to see the oar. Why I gave the oar to him I will never know, he looked at it and said it was no good and threw it in the water out of my reach, then sailed away giggling with his wife and sons, Terry and David.
The wind was getting up as I managed to recover the oar and looking across the now choppy water towards Brian I realised he was struggling with the sail and the boat was in danger of capsizing.
However after a few screams from his crew to be more careful, he managed to control the boat. He returned to us grinning like a cheshire cat and pretending nothing had happened.
George Spenceley, 2002
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