Boston Gasworks

In the war years I used to fetch a measure of two strikes of coke. We had some very bad winters in the war time. I had to get in a long queue to get served. To carry it home I would put it under my bike frame. One time I was going home past Mr Simpson shop in High Street opposite the Robin Hood, he said "I'll give you threepence to fetch me a bag". I said "I'll ask my Dad". I didn't fancy going and getting in another long queue. When I got home I told Dad what Mr Simpson had said. He told me to go. I went to the shop, and Mr Simpson gave me a sack. I went in another long queue, the man started to shovel the coke in the sack, after two shovels, He told me to shake the bag so he could get more in, but I could't lift it. He lifted the bag up sharp, all the coke fell out, the bag was rotten. I went back to the shop and told Mr Simpson, he told me he had got another bag, I said, "You can keep your money, I'm not going again".