The team from SPAR was raising money for the NSPCC in 2010. Picture: Justin LycettThe team from SPAR was raising money for the NSPCC in 2010. Picture: Justin Lycett
The team from SPAR was raising money for the NSPCC in 2010. Picture: Justin Lycett

The year Happy Harold had to be replaced

Happy Harold, star of the annual Trolleybus Pull in Hastings, had to be pulled out of the trophy competition 10 years ago due to a last-minute problem. It was only the second year of the competition and the absence of the double decker trolleybus could have scuppered the event but thanks to a local building firm, seven beefy teams were able to take the strain for a trolleybus pull with a difference.

At short notice, R.E. Morgan stepped in with a replacement, providing a truck and two tonnes of ballast so the competition could go ahead. The teams of six put their blood, sweat and tears into the contest, with The FILO pub claiming a double victory in 2010, winning both the men’s and women’s categories, and £200 was raised for Prostate Cancer UK. The Trolleybus Pull had been started the previous year because Hastings Trolleybus Restoration Group wanted to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the boat race.

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