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BIRD'S EYE VIEW By The Hawk

6th November 1964, Page 127
6th November 1964
Page 127
Page 127, 6th November 1964 — BIRD'S EYE VIEW By The Hawk
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Reminiscences The biggest gaffe and the biggest "cheek" in his life were among the reminiscences poured out by John Spencer Wills, B.E.T. managing director, when he attended the 10th annual dinner of the East Yorkshire Motor Services' " 25 " Association in Hull. Mr. Wills--now the company's chairman—was secretary and joint manager over 30 years ago and he spoke with pleasure on being at this function attended by 164 long-service employees, who "like myself are the real 'old sweats ', who have built the E.Y.M.S. company up ".

The gaffe was when, as a judge at a fancy dress dance at Withernsea, he awarded first prize to a man dressed as an E.Y.M.S. inspector—which the man in fact was! The "cheek' was when Mr. Wills wrote to HO Corporation suggesting that E.Y.M.S.—who were small fry in those days—should run the whole of the Corporation's transport. He intended the letter to be confidential but it was published on the front page of the local newspapers and, as he put it, "I had a few questions on the matter to answer to my superiors ".

Baptism of Fire Last week's R.H.A. Confer ence at Eastbourne was quite a triumph for national chairman, A. R. Butt, whose twin qualities of frankness and humanity shone strongly throughout. He had to conduct more business in one day (the Tuesday session) than most conference chairmen would care to get through. There were four papers, questions on each; three resolutions, and discussion on each.

But if there was too much business for the available time that day, it was certainly rescued from tedium by Mr. Butt's general handling and extremely pertinent comments. He also had to preside over several informal receptions (on other days) and make two major speeches. Quite a baptism of fire!

Many of you will know that the first car to arrive at Brighton in the veteran run last Sunday was a Century Tandem of 1902 vintage. But you probably won't be aware of the fact that one of the veterans which rhade up the distinguished field was piloted by Hatter Bros.' general manager, James Templeton. This was a 1903 De Dion Bouton which took Mr. Templeton's fancy when he spotted it in a builder's yard some 17 years Hatters' Old-timer ago. He tells me that he paid about £380 for it—and has since spent as little as E70 on the car to get in into " rally " trim. Now, he thinks, this French car with its Mulliner body is worth as much as £2,000.

Flying High The ubiquitous Hawk is dart ing off on Monday to Ilford Ltd.'s showrooms in Oxford Street, London, to see the work of a fellow "bird ". It is a display of aircraft photographs by Charles Sims, who recently retired as chief of Temple Press photographic department. His speciality was air4o-air work, and he was employed on photo intelligence during the war, but " C.N1." readers will have seen some of his pictures (without knowing it) in the journal, as he found time to get out and about with his camera as well as supervising the photo requirements of the Temple Press journals over the past 17 years. The display ends on November 30.

Sold Out Success can be embarrassing.

Dick Lyon, secretary of the London Transport Managers' Club, is acutely concerned right now with the sell-out success of their Ladies' Festival, to be held in London on November 21. Tickets were all sold by Monday of this week. So I pass on a heartfelt cry from Dick; please don't write in—there aren't any more tickets. If I sound a little complacent, it's only because I have two tickets, Jack!

Talking of the T.M.C., national secretary Bill Irons tells me the new Tees-side Club is firmly off the ground, with a membership of 41. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 8 p.m. in the Billing,ham Arms Hotel, Billingham. Roll up, you lucky people!


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