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www.TruckNetUKcom
Page 15
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Last week, I wrote about how TruckNet UK comb rled being a community site and providing business-tobusiness networking.
Industry professionals come to the forums not just because itsar industry tool, but because it's also entertaining and enioyable. It is the community side of the forums that attracts the web user, encouraging them to stay and start to use the huge wealth of knowledge and experience on offer.
Last week, the forums passed the half-a-millionmessages-posted mark. They are, in effect, a massive database to which all levels of our industry can and do contribute.
However, not all of the messages posted on the site are industry-specific. As with any community, discussions vary, and on TruckNet UK non-transport discussions are posted in the 'Bar' or the 'Health and Family Room'.
One member, who has been active on the forums since 2003, was very 'vocal' in postings about his work, and we followed with interest his first move from employed driver to owner-operator.
Unlike most of the 11,000 members of the forums, I actually knew this guy before he started making contributions to TruckNet UK. I worked with him at Murfitts many years ago, and had met him many times on travels through Europe.
'Bolton Steve', as he was known at Mutts (or 'Biggusdickusgblon the forums), posted in late 2007 in the 'Health and Family Room' that he had been to his doctor with what he thought was an Infected insect bite. This turned out to be leukaemia and from then on his fight was not to survive as an owneroperator, but to survive full stop.
With eloquence, grace and courage, this truck driver told the ongoing story of his fight against the disease and how he repeatedly managed to cheat death. However, he not only told his own story — he used the forums to support others who found themselves in a similar situation.
On 2 April, Bolton Steve lost his final battle.
On TruckNet UK, many people who only interacted with him over the internet are posting tributes, along with messages from his friends and family.
Steve Hope, was an industry professional and true gentleman. You will be missed by many. Muppets forever