including
Woolwich & Districts
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Stubborn
Horses
I
had worked for the RACS, which was based in Woolwich. They also
had depots in Plumstead and other districts. I worked from the
Catford Depot on the bread rounds which took us as far away
as Greenwich where we used to meet up with our friends from
Woolwich. This
was when pig bins were well and truly set up in great numbers
in all the roads throughout the London Borroughs and, I understand,
were maintained by the Police Force.
My
driver (a lady) and I had a horse named Nemo. Nemo got to know
that certain goodies were often dumped in these smelly bins.
Nemo realised how much more tasty these goodies were to munch
on, compared with his humble nose bag.
With
a full van load of bread we used to walk beside Nemo when going
up a hill, to ease his load for the hard day ahead. The bread
van had pneumatic tyres and a very good handbrake. However,
when Nemo spotted a pig bin he would make for it, ignoring anything
that might be in his way.
If
my driver or me spotted one, we would automatically put the
handbrake on to keep Nemo from moving. But, with enormous strength,
he used to be able to struggle up to the bin, remove the heavy
lid with his nose and munch away!
Once
he got to the bin we used to let him eat, that was until he
was spotted by a member of the constabulary who, on these occasions,
would often threaten us with all sorts of punishment if we did
not remove Nemo from his banquet. This we would do, but it took
a great deal of effort.
Bob
Kentsley.
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