Page 30 SOUVENIR-CHARTERS TOWERS, 1872 TO JULY, 1950

PERSONALITIES

We'll always remember-Their names will never be forgotten

The late Harry Reddle-Cab Driver

ONE of the most well known of the early cab drivers, lived a very colourful life and his amusing sayings and ways made him popular and well liked by all. "Dash my jolly old rags !" this was his favourite saying. Many of you will remember the night that Harry Reddle made an attempt to ride the outlaw "Dargons Grey"; it has been said that this outlaw had never been ridden, although Harry put up a good performance he only ran a good second; "Dargons Grey" was still unconquered.

To write of Harry Reddle and not relate some of the amusing experiences he had with the old Rugby car which he ran for hire, after the old time horse drawn cabs had gone out of existence, would be unforgivable.

When driving the cabs, Harry was always in the habit of pulling up at the water trough at the corner of the Park Hotel, to let his horses drink. After he had been driving the Rugby for a day or so, through sheer force of habit he drove up to the water trough. This became well known to everyone and Harry used to say "Dash me jolly rags" fancy them saying I pulled up to give the car a drink, I only wanted to fill my radiator.

Left Grandfather Down Well

One day Harry drove with his grandfather out to a paddock where he used to spell his cab horses; on arrival he lowered grandpa down the well to carry out one or two sundry repairs that were necessary, and he himself proceeded to cut and load some hay, having loaded the cart Harry climbed aboard and was soon homeward bound. On arrival his wife called out to him and enquired where grandpop was. Oh dash my jolly old rags," said Harry, "I've left him down the well." Having returned to the paddock at a breakneck speed he found poor old grandpop still down the well calling plaintively "Haul me up Harry, haul me up."

Harry was usually in trouble with his car, and one day after cranking for about an hour he gave up the ghost and sent for his mate, Billy Bourke, to come' and start the stubborn engine for him.
Billie arrived on the scene, gave a casual glance here and there, gave the crank handle a half a turn and the old Rugby burst into life, of course Billie Bourke had taken the trouble to turn the engine on first; Harry had overlooked this small, but most necessary item.

One of Harry's greatest achievements was his trip to the Broughton to convey a cattle buyer to that place. The old Rugby was not behaving too kindly this day; one of the big ends was knocking badly and Harry asked Billie Bourke if he thought the old car would be all right to go to the Broughton. Billie replied "Well, I don't know Harry, old boy, she's not too clever; you had better take her steady." Harry said, "Oh I think the jolly old thing will get me there all right." However, away he
goes. When he reached the Broughton the car was in a bad state; she certainly was knocking, so Harry got to work. He took off the stump (he always referred to the sump as the stump), took out the whole piston rod and bearing, put back the stump and actually came back to town on three cylinders. How he did it, said Billie Bourke, is just another mystery; but I actually saw the piston and bearing at the White Horse hotel when Harry got home.

Mr. Herb Lee

The late Herb Lee conducted the corner cafe opposite the hospital and the bakery opposite for many years; with
the help of his good wife and two very., charming daughters this was recognised as one of the nicest cafes and fruit stalls in town.

Herb always sat outside the shop at night time and was ready to have a yarn at all times. His talk was always bright and many witty sayings seemed to come from his lips without any effort.