BIRDS EYE
Page 13
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By the Hawk
On right Lines for heroism
WILLIAM LINES: a 57-year-old tanker driver employed by James Hemphill, of Glasgow, did not let his company know that he had risked his life in trying to save a driver from a burning van on A94 near Meigle, Perthshire.
The man was lying half out of his van with flames licking around him when William dragged him clear and wrapped him in a carpet in an attempt to put out the fire. This prompt action minimised the burns, but the driver was dead on arrival in hospital. William's courhe was recognised by the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire on whose behalf Vincent Mathieson, Provost of Bellshill, presented him with an award. It was only then that George Macdougall, director and general manager of James Hemphill, knew he had a hero on the staff.
He promptly organised a ceremony at which he presented William with a cheque from the company in the presence of his workmates.
Haulage should sell itself
)NE OF THE FEW haulage ompanies with any understaning of publicity, Cave Wood Transport) Ltd has set up its wn public relations office and .roduced the first issue nof a uarterly tabloid, Cavewood )irection, for distribution to friends, staff and customers".
highly professional four-page heel in two colours, it is clearly Itended to sell the company's el-vices to customers.
In this it differs from Atlas .xpress, one of the other rare aulage company newspapers, thich is produced mainly for a taff of more than 2000 in the
Atlas Express Group. Each does its own job equally well and should encourage other hauliers to examine their methods of communication with the public, customers and staff. They might then stop bleating about bad publicity and try to create goodwill.
Advertising can move Mountains
A TWO-DAY conference on outdoor and transport advertising has been approved for grant by the Road Transport Industry Training Board. Michael Mountain, of London Transport, and John Nunneley, of British Transport Advertising, will read two of the 12 papers to be submitted at Nottingham University on April 17-18.
But operators have a double interest as advertisers and as providers of advertising sites for others, Attendance at the conference costs £99 plus £20.70 for two nights' accommodation at the 'university. The conference secretary, Construction • Industry Conference Centre Ltd, PO Box 50, Nottingham NG2 7JP, can supply further information.
Life in a pigeon-hole
THERE is noting like a few trips to the Armitage inquiry to underline the horrors of bureaucratic life in the Civil Service.
The oral hearings have been held in the old Admiralty building in London's Mall, which houses the staff of the Civil Service Department. Conversations reek of pigeon-hole life.
Receptionist: "You're a verbatim writer? I can't give you anything until I know what you come under. Is it office services? Must be central reproduction services, I suppose," Verbatim writer: "Oh, am I?"
Eventually the poor woman is compartmentalised and gets her petty cash. How glad I am that I am a mere transport journalist.
Ship that built an Empire
THE 18-year-old cross-Channel ship, Free Enterprise I (2606 tons gross), on which the European Ferries Group was founded, has been sold to a Greek company. It deserved a better fate. The group now
operates 23 ships on eight routes, owns the ports of Felixstowe, Larne and Cairnryan, and has a substantial property division.
A single-track railway tunnel across the Channel, already a century out of date, would have as much impact as a paddle steamer on a dynamic empire like European Ferries.
Look out for Miss ATV-HGV
AMANDA PEARCE an 18-yearold dental nurse turned "model and promotions girl," wants to be Miss ATV of 1980 and, like her father, to hold a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence. According to ATC Network, she is a "green-eyed brunette, 3424-35.'' This, I understand, means that she has three axles with a somewhat eccentric track configuration.
She has attracted the attention of Mrs Dee Tizard, who, when not being the mother of 11-year-old twins, runs schools for lorry drivers at Lechlade and Tewkesbury. Dee has promised that if Amanda reaches the final of the Miss ATV competition she will teach her to drive an artic. She will then be Miss ATV-HGV.
Sponsor for one over the eight
ALAN FIELD, managing director of Dorada Brockholes Ltd, Huddersfiled, believes so strongly in standing and falling with his staff that he is to lead eight of them in their first parachute jump. They will be risking their necks in aid of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund at Elvington airfield, York, on May 11 or, if the weather is unsuitable, the following weekend.
Alan would appreciate a call at Huddersfield 29675 from anyone Who is willing to sponsor this hair-raising event for the good of a great charity.