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ON THIS PAGE -The sort of detailed versions I'll eventually get around to doing for Camberwick & Trumpton.
Completely over-the-top of course.But........
THE TRUMPTONSHIRE TRILOGY
CAMBERWICK GREEN,TRUMPTON AND CHIGLEY
Episode 1. Lord Belborough's Secret
IN BRIEF - an introduction to the main locations and new faces of Chigley woven around the arrival of Lord B's 'secret' -the Dutch Organ featured in the omnipresent end-of-episode dance sequence.
We start with a quick re-acquaintance tour around some of the people of Camberwick Village Green and end up with Doctor Mopp outside his house.We ride with him to Chigley Pottery.But this isn't a medical matter,he's an old friend of the Farthing family and wants to buy a flower vase for his sister,Millicent.Opting for one "that's the same colour as her drawing room curtains",he asks to see how they're made and gets a potting demonstration from proprietor Harry Farthing.And he'd like to see him make some others as he's not in a hurry that particular morning,but Harry has more pressing matters to attend to,and rings Winkstead Hall to ask if 2 crates of pottery can be taken to Treddles Wharf for him.And trusty old retainer Brackett takes the first of many calls and many walks along the hallway to inform,"his lordship" Lord Belborough -a man who's always happy to stop what's he's doing to fire up his steam train,Bessie.
So off they both set,accompanied by the 1st strains of the immortal "time flies by when I'm the driver of a train" (instrumental only).They load up at the pottery and with the Doc and Harry's daughter,Winnie along for the ride, head off for the Wharf -this time accompanied by the sung version of "time flies by"
Once there,Mr.Rumpling's barge arrives carrying a large packing case for Lord B which pleases him because he'll "be able to get it working today in time for the whistle".And we cut to Doctor Mopp driving back to Camberwick Green,as we're told all the unloading/loading was completed and he enjoyed his ride back to the Hall on Bessie.But he's puzzled about the significance of "the whistle" reference,and asks around the villagers before getting the answer from Mrs.Honeyman....
Cue the daily 6 o'clock end-of-day whistle at Cresswell's Chigley Biscuit Factory,when the workers all walk the short distance to the grounds of the Hall for an open air dance presided over by his Lordship.And where we get to discover his "secret".........a newly unpacked,brightly painted Dutch Barrel Organ,which provides the accompaniement.
TRIVIA: No mention of how Doc Mopp gets from the Hall back to his car at the Pottery
Episode 2. Bessie to the Rescue
IN BRIEF - a missed shipment at the Biscuit Factory requires everyone to pull together to get it to the station on time....
...or does it ?
We meet Farmer Bell at his farm and watch as he loads up his truck with a regular order for the Biscuit Factory of 16 boxes of eggs,1 box of butter & 4 milk churns.We ride along with him and he's met by Mr.Fletcher who supervises the unloading,and then the owner,Mr.Cresswell,who takes him on a tour inside.White walls,gleaming white machines and lots of talk of effeciency,but they emerge to discover a shipment of 3 cartons of biscuits that should've left 20 minutes ago. They have to get to Wintlebury Station to catch the 5.23pm train for London.But there's no van available and too much traffic in Trumpton at that time of day (!) for Farmer B to drive it there himself in time.So Cresswell rings round and enlists the help of Lord Belborough and Chippy Minton.And then gets a lift to the Pottery courtesy of Farmer Bell,where they rendezvous with Lord B and Bessie.It's then on to Treddle's Wharf minus Farmer B,but with Winnie along for the ride. Where they find The Minton's waiting to take the cartons on to the station,who just happened to be working there fitting a new counter for the snack bar.So the Wharfinger/Crane Driver,Mr.Swallow,loads up their van and they drive off with enough time to spare.Panic over.But he then informs those remaining that it could've gone directly there by road after all.Because the new summer timetable had kicked in the previous thursday and the train now left at 5.43pm and not 5.23 as Cresswell had thought.But there's a general air of 'nevermind,no harm done' and still just enough time to get back for that all-important 6pm whistle.Phew !
Episode 3. The Balloon
IN BRIEF - The Mayor is touting round for some fund-raising ideas for "the old people's holiday fund".But it falls to Winnie's small,yellow balloon to provide the inspiration of using a full size version.
We start with a quick re-acquaintance tour around some of the people of Trumpton Town Square and end up outside the Town Hall where we tag along with chauffeur Philby driving the Mayor to Winkstead Hall.
He and Lord B are old friends and the Mayor's returning a book he's borrowed (unspecified) and picks his Lordship's brain about fund-raising ideas for "the old people's holiday fund" for a trip to the seaside -but he can't help.
So it's off to Chigley pottery to quiz harry Farthing- again no luck-but Lord B arrives in Bessie to take some pottery to the Wharf.So the Mayor and Winnie (with yellow balloon) go along for the ride,while Philby drives on ahead to meet them.The load is craned off by Mr.Swallow,but in the ensuing chinwag,next to Bessie,Winnie's balloon touches the hot funnel and bursts.Which triggers an idea for Lord B and the Mayor to pilot a big balloon so "people can buy tickets to see us go up",and his Lordship resolves to ring the ever-useful Mr.Dagenham on his return to the Hall.
We cut straight to Mr.D driving along to the Hall with the balloon packed away in its' whicker basket on the back of a trailer.And as soon as he arrives,the next shot we get is "3 days later",where it's already inflated in the Hall grounds. "Everyone from Camberwick,Trumpton & Chigley is there" (kerching),the Pippin Fort boys release the ropes and we get some interesting aerial shots of Trumptonshire before they land in Trumpton Town Square -giving Mrs Cobbit "the fright of my life".Philby's there to meet them,having tracked their flight,and drives them back to the Hall,minus the balloon which they'll pick up later.But we cut straight to the reason they're returning -the 6 o'clock dance.
TRIVIA: 1) Fund-raising ideas rejected by the Mayor......
Lord B,"Garden fete ? " "...having one for the paint-the-bandstand fund " Lord B again,"Fireworks Display ? " "....that's going to be for the new Town Hall roof "
Harry Farthing, "A Concert ?" "Mrs Honeyman will insist on singing.& I'm afraid she makes such an awful noise that no-one will come to our concerts anymore ! "
2) Balloon trivia -The big one looks like a beach ball which we're told is gas-filled,which neatly gets round the problem of animating a flame coming out of a hot air burner.Which also makes it a remarkably controlled flight & pinpoint landing !
Winnie's looks like a ballcock painted yellow with rigid wire for the string.
Episode 4. The Fountain
IN BRIEF - Harry Farthing gets a chance to show off his sculpting skills rather than his potting proficiency with a commission from the Biscuit Factory for a stone fountain.And all courtesy of PC McGarry.
We meet PC Mcgarry at the Camberwick Village Green just as he's about to set off for Chigley Pottery and we ride with him.Winnie shows him round the back as dad Harry is out in the garden doing some sculpture.The PC's just dropped by thank him for "the lovely jug" his wife received and invite him and his family round for tea.He's also surprised to see him working with stone rather than clay and Harry admits he'd like to do more if there was more demand for it.
The PC moves on to the Biscuit Factory and watches the vans load up with Messrs.Cresswell & Fletcher.And it's an opportunity for a quick Auntie Beeb speech about road safety as he compliments one of their drivers' (Pattison/Patterson ?) for his evasive action when 'Jimmy Rankin' ran onto the road after his ball a couple of days back.
Just before he leaves,he also praises the appearance of the Factory but offers the rather leftfield suggestion of a fountain as a way to set it off nicely and advises them that Mr.Farthing does sculpture as well as pottery.Seed sown,off he goes and Mr.Fletcher's assertion that "...it would look rather nice" wins Cresswell round.Harry Farthing gets the call,takes some "pictures" to the Factory to show Mr.C and a commission's agreed.
"3 weeks later" Mr.Swallow calls Brackett to let him know that the stone's arrived at the Wharf.And off we go in Bessie once again,picking up Harry and Winnie en route,loading the stone and steaming off.
PcMcGarry pops back to the Pottery to check on progress.And procedes to the Factory where he's just in time to see the foundations being dug by Farmer Bell and his "mechanical digger",watched by the builder Mr. Clutterbuck and several factory workers.A round of applause follows and we cut striaght to the unveiling where we're told "it took only 4 weeks for everything to be completed" (including the plumbing courtesy of Mr.Wilkins).The 6 o'clock whistle blows and with everyone in attendance the Mayor does the honours....and then it's straight on to the dance to round off procedings
TRIVIA: We don't actually get a very good view of the finished fountain but it's a fish or maybe two together (I think)
Episode 5. The Garden Wall
IN BRIEF - An interfering Lord B manages to demolish part of a garden wall with a lawnmower that's only just been repaired.But he always means well of course and quickly rallies the troops to put things right.
We meet Mr.Crockett at his garage as he's loading a large lawnmower he's repaired,and is about to return to Winkstead Hall.We ride with him and he's met by the gardener,Mr.Bilton,who's glad to have it back.Crockett drives off and we're left to watch Bilton go about his chores before trying the mower.Lord B soon turns up though,pleased at the thought of tidy lawns for the weekend visitors.But.......disaster ! He starts it up accidently and it careers off on its' own,demolishing part of a brick wall and wooden garden gate."Oh dear !" says his Lordship with delicious understatement and he's soon on the phone to the builder,Mr.Clutterbuck,to see if he can put it right by the weekend.And,undeterred when told about the delayed arrival of a shipment of bricks,he rings the Wharf himself and finds they've arrived.So he heads off in Bessie to collect them,stopping at the Pottery to pick up Winnie for the ride.Mr.Swallow cranes them off Mr.Rumpling's barge and it's off back to the Hall.Although we cut straight to the scene of the original accident,where the brick's have already been unloaded,the rubble cleared away and Clutterbuck is seen supervising his 2 bricklayers,Horace and Cyril,as they're about to start work.And Lord B soon turns up to watch.
By the time the Mintons drive up with the new garden gate that they've made "in record time",the brickwork's been finished and the frame's in place.And to round things off nicely,Mr.Crockett returns with the mower that he had to repair for a 2nd time of course.
It's all as though it never happened,and when Lord B starts getting too near the mower again,Bilton warns him to stay clear to make sure it doesn't again.But fortunately it's nearly 6 o'clock anyway,so there's a certain something that requires his attention elsewhere.
Episode 6. Binnie and Bessie
IN BRIEF - Steam engine's can run reliably for years with good maintainence,but they can't run without coal and his Lordship needs all hands to the pump as he runs low.
We meet Roger Varley just emerging from a job at Doctor Mopp's house,and ride with him as he goes to Winkstead Hall.It's a "regular weekly visit" where he also helps to look after his Lordship's 2 steam engines-Bessie,and an old static engine used as a water pump called Binnie.Brackett directs him to the Pump House where Lord B is already giving her a spot of oil,and he starts her up just to check she's problem-free.Which indeed she is,but they're running very low on coal,with just enough to either run Binnie for half a day or fuel Bessie for a return trip to the Wharf.At which point Brackett arrives to inform them that he's just discovered that the Hall's water tank is very low,so the decision's effectively made for them and they fuel up Binnie.
We cut to Mr.Rumpling's barge as it makes its' way to the Wharf laden with Lord B's coal.Mr.Swallow rings through to let them know it's arrived,but with no coal left for Bessie they need to borrow some to get her there.So Lord B & Brackett seek out Roger,who's now cleaning Bessie,and he suggests trying Pippin Fort as they've got plenty."Excellent ! says Lord B,and we can use the soldier boys to help us unload".So a quick call interrupts a Captain Snort inspection and Armitage & Lumley are immeadiately despatched to the Fort's cellar (unseen) to fetch a sack full.
We ride with the full contingent to the Hall,where Bessie's stoked up and everyone piles on board for the trip to the Wharf,where Mr.Rumpling's barge is ready waiting.Mr.Swallow cranes it off and it's straight back to the engine shed where Roger and the boys shovel it off and into the bunker.
A good job done,and they're happy to accept his Lordship's invitation to the 6 o'clock dance as thanks.
Episode 7. Lord Belborough's Lucky Day
IN BRIEF - How can his Lordship acquire an old vase,smash it and yet end up with a matching pair ? Well,with the help of a lots of willing hands and plenty of helpful coincidences,this does indeed prove to be his "lucky day"
We drop in on Thomas Tripp the milkman just as he's finishing loading up to start his round,and we ride with him to Winkstead Hall.2 pints are handed to Brackett and Thomas informs him that his wife has told him it's his lucky day today because his birthday falls in February -"it's a sort of fortune-telling game she plays" (?) And when Brackett tells him his Lordship's birthday is also in February,Thomas declares that it'll clearly be his lucky day too.
Brackett passes this on to Lord B with the morning paper,but he replies that he was in fact lucky yesterday when he bought a "very,very old vase" at an antiques shop.However,just as he's bemoaning the fact it wasn't a pair,he drops it ! ! And as we cut to the dustmen pulling up outside on their round,Brackett gives them the broken remnants to dispose of.
Fortunately,Harry Farthing rings the Hall to ask for 2 crates of pottery to be taken to the Wharf,and it's just what his Lordship needs to take his mind off the vase.They set off,pick up the crates,and Winnie goes along for the ride accompanied by Harry too because Mr.Swallow wants a chat with him.And they arrive at the Wharf just as Mr.Rumpling's barge pulls in with something he'd like them to see-a vase given to him by an old aunt that he has no use for.
Lord B is amazed and delighted-"But....but it's exactly the same as the one I smashed this morning.It must be the other one of the pair".They agree to chat about a price later and Harry tells his Lordship that if he can have the pieces of the other one he'll repair it for him.So Brackett then has to explain that he thought it was too damaged to save,but just as they're talking the dustcart pulls up.And not only that,but the 2 dustmen also had the presence of mind to put all the pieces to one side because they thought it was too good to throw away.For which,Lord B promises the "splendid fellows" a handsome reward each and letter of commendation to the Mayor !
And to end an amazing sequence of coincidences,Mr.Tripp turns up on his round and gets confirmation from his Lordship that it was indeed his "lucky day" after all.
Just time to unload those pottery crates,offer thanks all round and get back in time for the 6 o'clock dance.
TRIVIA: - 1) Harry Farthing's vase repair methoddates the series a bit.......rivets !
2) Obviously the storyline dictated that they had to get Harry Farthing to the Wharf somehow,but we never do find out what Mr.Swallow wanted to chat to him about that couldn't be said over the phone.
Episode 8. The Broken Bridge
IN BRIEF - Chigley Bridge is put out of use following high rainfall (yes,rain).And with Cresswell's vans needing to leave on time,everyone quickly rallies round to build a temporary alternative.
We meet Mr.Carraway outside his shop and join him on a delivery as he takes 3 boxes of plaice to the Biscuit Factory for their restaurant.In a conversation with Mr.Cresswell we learn it's been raining so much recently that rivers are swollen and fields are under water ! And PC McGarry turns up to inform them that Chigley Bridge "is unsafe and closed to all traffic" and that the only alternative,"Trimbridge Road",is also impassable.
Unfortunately,Cresswell's vans have to leave in a couple of hours time.But Carraway says he overheard Captain Snort talking about "army bridge building exercises" the other day.Cresswell rings him about the construction of a temporary bridge and he's happy to oblige of course,but has to ring Lord B because his equipment's at Treddles Wharf and the floodwater means he can't get to it.So it's Bessie to the rescue once more.Stopping off at the Pottery so Winnie can go along for the ride,it's a quick turnaround at the Wharf where Mr.Swallow cranes the bridge sections on board and then off to Chigley Bridge.But we cut instead to the Pippin Forters,and ride along with them in their army truck.
Shortly after they arrive,Bessie pulls up and so do Messrs Carraway & Cresswell in the fish van.
Unfortunately,the soldier boys are on one side of the river and everyone else on the other.And there's no crane either. So it's just as well that Mr.Carraway had had the foresight to stop off at a phonebox on the way to call his old friend Mr.Dagenham,who duely arrives in his helicopter.
Meek,Lumley & Armitage are carried across hanging on to the end of a rope.And we cut to a view of the new,temporary bridge that's been completed in "under 2 hours" with the help of ground-to-air radio communication between Dagenham and Cptn. Snort.Problem solved.Mr.Carraway has the honour of being the 1st across as it was his idea,when Lord B suddenly realises it's that time of day again and we cut away to the 6 o'clock whistle and dance.
TRIVIA:- Carraway crosses Chigley Bridge to get to Cresswell's & there's a very visible crack when he does.So it could easily have ended up with the Fishmonger 'swimming with the fishes' -now there's a thought.
Episode 9. Clay for Mr.Farthing
IN BRIEF - When Harry Farthing's phone plays up he finds out about a new source of clay for his Pottery.But there's far more involved than just one man and a shovel.
We meet GPO men Mr.Wantage and his assistant Fred finishing a job in Trumpton Market Sq. And ride with them to the Pottery,where Harry Farthing's embarassed to find the fault with his line is due to "clay in the receiver rest" as "people will ring me when I'm busy at the wheel".So he's happy to oblige when Mr.Wantage asks for a potting demonstration
And,before they go,they tell him that a lot of clay's just been dug out to build "the new automatic telephone exchange,near Bell's Farm on the Camberwick Road." And as it's much nearer than the "clay pits near Pippin Fort" that he usually uses,Harry hitches a ride as it's their next port of call.
They arrive to find the clay piled up next to the new building and,despite the fact the exchange isn't up and running yet, Mr.Wantage emerges with a phone so Harry can ring Lord B. to ask for some help transporting it.
Which he gets of course,and with the railway line right next door,his Lordship arrives to find Harry starting to shovel it into 2 metal bins,with Winnie looking on.Hard work,and just as well that Farmer Bell happens to pull up in his truck. Because he explains he's got his digger parked nearby,tells them to load the empty bins on to Bessie and soon makes short work of filling them.So Lord B,Brackett,Harry and Winnie steam off back to the Pottery,where they're met by Mr.Crockett,who arrives to winch-off the heavy loads using his tow-truck -courtesy of a phone-ahead by Farmer Bell we're told. And the job's completed with enough time for everyone to get back for the 6 o'clock whistle and dance.
TRIVIA:-1) No clue as to how Harry Farthing's "metal bins" or WInnie appear at the telephone exchange.
Episode 10. Trouble with the Crane
IN BRIEF - A crane malfunction at the Wharf signals a watery grave for Lord Belborough's crate of valuable books.But things are rarely as bad as they first appear in Trumptonshire.
We hitch a ride aboard Mr.Rumpling's barge as he sails to Treddle's Wharf laden with "2 crates for Tumpton Town Hall,a package for Munnings' the Printer and 1 crate marked 'books,with care' for Lord Belborough".And,as he arrives,so too does Farmer Bell with a crate of scrap metal to take their place.Mr.Swallow cranes off some of the packages,but leaves his Lordship's one on board as it can be hoisted straight on to Bessie,and phones through to let him know it's arrived.
Lord B and Brackett turn up,having stopped at the Pottery to take Winnie along for the ride,and Mr.Swallow lowers the hook down to the barge.But Mr.Rumpling's preoccupied,as he's just noticed some paint that's been scraped off the side of it,and absentmindedly hooks up the wrong crate.And as it's hoisted up,there's a problem with the crane's brake and it crashes into the canal."My books,my valuable books.They're ruined ! cried Lord Belborough" .The crane's "completely broken" and a chastened Mr.Swallow quickly puts a call for help through to Pippin Fort.And we cut to the truck hurrying to the scene with Private Armitage already in his frogman's outfit as he's "the best swimmer".
As soon as they arrive,he jumps in and hooks the crate up to Mr.Crockett's tow truck,who'd also got a call.And it's winched onto the quayside,still intact.But when opened they find it wasn't the books after all but only Farmer Bell's old scrap metal.And a relieved Lord B has to laugh,but encourages everyone to help load Bessie up so they can get back in time for the 6 o'clock dance.Job done.
Episode 11. Apples Galore
IN BRIEF - When a bumper apple crop at Winkstead Hall seems like it could present a problem,a lot of hard work and co-operation turn it into a positive for everyone
We meet Mickey Murphy outside his bakery,as he loads up his van ready to set off on his rounds.And we ride with him to Winkstead Hall where he gives Brackett his Lordship's "2 white loaves and a cherry cake".
Just as he's about to leave though,Lord B turns up to ask if he can find a home for any of this year's imminent bumper apple crop.Because he knows there'll still be plenty left over even after he's stored as many as he can and Mr.Clamp's taken some.But Mickey can only take a few for some apple tarts,but promises to ask around as he continues his round.
So,off he drives and we cut to his arrival at Colley's Mill,where Windy gets his walnut cake and suggests he can solve the apple problem by turning them into juice using his cider press."Just the thing for those 6 o'clock dances",provided he can have some help and get some sugar.So,when he gets home,Mickey phones Winkstead Hall and Lord B decides the first thing they'll need is some men with ladders to do the picking.
Brackett knows just who to phone and we see Captain Flack take the call and Trumpton Fire Brigade set off for the orchard.Where they make short work of the harvesting using the hoist and ladders.
Lord B had also arrived in Bessie,and with the railway line once more conveniently placed,Farmer Bell forklifts the boxes onboard.And with the firemen in tow it's off to Windy's barn where he keeps his press.
Mr.Cresswell is also there,along with 4 helpers from the Biscuit Factory,and the sugar requested.And after a concerted bit of pressing and barrelling,the job's done.Lord B offers thanks all round and invites them all back for a 6 o'clock dance awash with apple juice !
Episode 12. Willie Munn
IN BRIEF - Biscuit 'stamper' Willie Munn has the chance to prove himself as a Cresswell driver,but being 'a dreamer' is a hard habit to break.Although with the help of Lord Belborough he manages to pull it off.
We meet Mr.Clamp outside his greengrocers in Trumpton Market Square,loading his truck ready for some deliveries.
And we ride with him to the Biscuit Factory where Mr.Fletcher supervises the unloading of the consignment of fruit and veg for their canteen.
Clamp informs Mr.Cresswell that his nephew,Willie Munn,is working there,and is invited inside to meet him as he operates "the biscuit stamping machine".Back outside Cresswell tells Clamp that he's a good worker but "a bit of a dreamer", although before leaving,Clamp informs him that he's actually a good driver which they may find useful.And spookily prophetic as Mr.Fletcher immediately walks over to inform his boss that the man who operates the boxing machine is ill and "driver McGregor" is the only man who can take his place.So Mr.Cresswell decides to give young Willie a chance and reasons that a temporary replacement for his job would be the least difficult to find.
30 mins later and Willie's driving along in the van mindful of the tasks Messrs Cresswell & Fletcher have set him 1) Fill up with petrol at Crockett's Garage 2) Deliver 2 boxes of biscuits to Mrs Dingle at the Post Office 3) Deliver 3 boxes of biscuits to Winkstead Hall and 4) Return to the Factory.
But he's so happy to be out driving and away from the noisy stamping machine that he forgets to stop at Crockett's to fill up and drives straight on to the Post Office.And,whilst driving along the Chigley Road en route to Winkstead Hall,the inevitable happens and he runs out of petrol.Just as well that a phonebox and the railway line are both nearby then,so he decides to ring Lord Belborough,who knows him because he helped paint Bessie when she first arrived.And sure enough his Lordship is happy to help,instructs Brackett to get a can of Mr.Bilton's lawnmower petrol and they quickly steam to the rescue.Willie fills up the van,takes some advice about always writing things down and persuades his Lordship to take his 3 boxes of biscuits there and then so he can get back to the Factory without being late.
And so Mr.Cresswell's non-the-wiser and everyone makes it back in time for the 6 o'clock whistle.
Episode 13. A Present for Lord Belborough
IN BRIEF - Lord Belborough's gets a new steam engine as a gift from the people of Chigley for the 6 o'clock dances.And it's put to very good use helping Mr.Bilton to keep the grounds looking nice.
We drop in on Mr.Antonio,the ice cream man,as he's doing good business on a hot day in Trumpton Market Square.And we ride with him to Winkstead Hall where he gives Brackett a large tin of vanilla for the Hall's tea room,and is accosted by Mr.Bilton who often gives him help and advice as Antonio's "a very keen gardener".There's an exchange of some wallflower plants for a tub of peppermint ice cream and they pop off round to the greenhouse.But all is not well.Mr.Bilton explains that pushing his wheelbarrow around for miles is causing problems with his back ("rheumatics") and he's been trying to get his Lordship to get him a motorised one for ages.Mr.Antonio helps him out there and then by cutting the grass for him while he eats his ice cream.And back at his van he meets Lord B who explains that the long-awaited "motor barrow" is expensive and will have to wait.Although it would help if they had an added attraction or two to get visitor numbers up.
Next stop is the Pottery,where Harry Farthing's interested to hear about the problem because the people of Chigley are going to present his Lordship with a working model of "a very early steam train" found at an auction by Mr.Rumpling- as a 'thankyou' for the 6 o'clock dances.When Mr.Antonio moves on to the Garage for petrol Mr.Crockett is aware of the impending gift but not Mr.Bilton's rheumatics,and it's duely noted.
It's one week later and Mr.Swallow rings Brackett to inform him a crate has arrived for his Lordship marked "not to be opened until the 6 o'clock whistle".And an intrigued Lord B steams off to the Wharf where it's craned on board from Mr.Rumpling's barge and we cut to the usual 6 o'clock exit of the biscuit Factory workers.But before the dance can begin there's that package to open.Which proves to be the small steam engine gift as promised,and Lord B is just expressing his thanks when Mr.Crockett pulls up towing a small trailer.And once hooked up to the little engine it provides Mr.Bilton with his very own ride-on barrow to help keep the grounds looking nice.Cue some organ music !
TRIVIA -1) How did Lord B manage to get the small steam engine off Bessie when back at the Hall ?
2) Just in case you're wondering,the steam engine was the very small mobile type and with normal wheels rather than railway ones obviously.But that ride-on barrow scoops the Trumptonshire award in the category of "theeee most impractical,over-engineered solution to a simple problem" Although "good intent" conquers all of course and,as such,it's probably a fitting way to end the 39th and last episode of the Trilogy.
