So who was Doug Thacker ? The answer to this one is known by everybody who lived in Saxilby in the seventies. He was Saxilby's biggest ever railway freak. A short bald man with a severe limp and the worst wig ever made, he was constantly teased by the village children. He lived opposite the undertakers, now the old people's (fogie's) home. His bungalow, which faced onto the High Street, had a rather impresive semaphore signal in the driveway, used to signal wether he was in or out. His car, which had been adapted for him, was a "B" (1964) registered Ford Zephyr 4 (one with great big wings on the back), yankeefied. In a nutshell, he stood out, his car stood out, and his house stood out.
Doug, the son of a signalman was born and brought up in a railway world, and this remained his greatest ( and possibly only) interest. Polio as a boy took away the use of one leg, resulting in the limp which gave him more than physical torment over the years.
I once found a cast plate with the word "SCRAP" in the undergrowth behind the fire station. I plucked up courage and took it to him. He refused to believe I had found it in Saxilby, as he had searched the area many times. He went inside, returning rather quickly and pressed five bob into my hand, followed by a "Be off with you", (or was it "now bugger off" ?). The sign appeared in his window some time later, black with white lettering, and looked superb. I rather wished I had kept it now. |
