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BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 85
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By The Hawk
Traffic Confusion The annual dinner and dance of the London centre of the Institute of Traffic Administration is justifiably earning a reputation for being one of the friendliest and most genuinely informal transport' "annuals ", and last Saturday's was no exception. The only disappointment was the inability of Mr. Leo d'Erlanger to attend as chief guest we had all expected to be brought thoroughly up to date on the latest behind-the-scenes Chunnel (ugh!) moves.
But the London centre chairman, Mr. F. C. Simpkins, injected a lively domestic note when he threw out a suggestion—in the presence of the national chairman and the president—that the Institute's name might profitably be changed. He said people have a tendency to come up to Institute members and say: "Traffic administration? Oh, yes, you're the chaps responsible for all this chaos on the roads, aren't you?"
He isn't the first to raise the point, and doubtless won't be the last. Personally, I've always thought that use of the ambiguous word " traffic " results in the Institute's value being rather underestimated and undersold. But, please, not the Institute of Transport Administration. There is already confusion enough with I.o.T., Lo.T.A. (or Inst.T.A.) and I.T.A.
Worth Ogling? A small bird with a Yorkshire
accent this week whispered in my ear that something very new in coaches is likely to emerge from a coachbuilding company not a thousand miles removed from Scarborough, some time this year—possibly for the Earls Court Show. The story has it that David Ogle Ltd.—best known for sleek and attractive car bodywork—is busily at work with a very sharp pencil on the new season's range. This I await with great interest.
He is Chairman My head is bowed with embarrassment. Writing about Castrol's Albert Searle last week. I referred to his nomination by the London Transport Managers Club as national president. I should have written "national chairman ". Sundry friends have reminded me that the T.M.C. has a permanent national president in H. T. Dutfield. Sorry!
Whilst on the same subject, I said the T.M.C. national conference was on April 10th. It isn't. It is on April 11th.
To the best of my knowledge, these end last week's transgressions. Lots of Sherbert ! Colleague Norman Tilsley tells me there was plenty of " sherbert " (the Northern Area term for " booze ") knocking about at the Tees-side R.H.A. sub area's annual dinner and dance at Redcar last Friday. When he arrived at the Coatham, he found certain hotel rooms marked "Mr. Durham's private room ", and "Mr. Williamson's private room" etc. However, before the proceedings got underway he discovered, in Bob Durham's private room (Bob is Northern Area chairman, of course) a table loaded with free sherbert. The same happened in the Williamson's room. Both" Big Joe" and "Little Joe" (father and son to the initiated) were busy dishing out the sherbert. "Little Joe" was also making a big hit with his easter eggs—he seemed to have an unending supply of them to hand out to the ladies.
The V.I.P.'s room was doing good business too, both before and after the dinner. Busy with the sherbert were Campbell Wardlaw and Mrs. Campbell (they have been coming to R.H.A. " do's " for 25 years now); solicitor Brinley Montgomery and his dentist wife; two old head office pals—Eric Russell (deputy sec. general) and Dennis Le Conte (Northern Area secretary); old stager Bob Clifford, and, of course, the sub area chairman, Gus Bell. This was Gus' second year as chairman.
Norman tells me this was a good do—when he turned in at 3 a.m. they were still at it—drinking coffee, not sherbert!
Brisk Business
Everybody Happy There were many favourable
comments from guests at the Met. and S.F. R.H.A.'s banquet and ball at the Grosvenor Home Hotel on Monday. Unlike previous years, numbers were restricted to just over 900—and there was adequate breathing space. Even so, there was a tight squash on the floor whenever The Chimes —the "beat group" who augmented the dance orchestra— went through their top-twenty repertoire. And it was the old timers who were doing most of the twisting and shouting!
A 41-seater coach was hired by air freight haulier Frank Carroll to bring his guests, and it was refreshing to see Frank and the youthful Roy Bowles (his London airport rival) enjoying each other's company.
Peter Driessen, director of Konig Transport of Rotterdam, who was present, was the guest of " Monsieur " John Murly (Continental Ferry Trailers). When Frank Wheeler, the chairman, introduced the top table there was loud applause for Phil Turner—an indication of the way voting will go for the new national chairman?