Junketing with a junta
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JOHN WELLS, national organising secretary of the Commercial Motor Lorry Driver of the Year Competition, who was admitted to the Carmen's Company when he was only a midshipman and is now its Master, confessed to slight apprehension on finding himself surrounded by a junta of generals. The occassion was "ACT night ... a splendid annual event in the Carmen's year."
John observed that a liveryman, Lt-Cdr R. W. Lockyer, was staff navigator to the British expedition that was on its way to show the other junta literally where it got off. "So, once again, it is a Carman who is in a sense delivering the people and the goods," he said.
Maj-Gen Bill Allen, director of the Royal Corps of Transport and director-general of transport and movements, the guest of honour, was, of course, deeply involved in the Falklands expedition.
Happily, he is better served than some of his predecessors. According to the history of the Royal Waggoners, as they were then known, they were recruited in 1794 "from the scum of London." Sir James Cray, chief of staff, went so far as to say that "a greater set of scroundrels never disgraced an army."
As their civilian counterparts were no better, it is natural that the Worshipful Company and the ACT should have forged common ties, which Bill Allen is greatly strengthening.
Ferry ships revert to type
HISTORY is reversed in the requisitioning of ferry ships to join the Falklands expedition. The first roll-on roll-off ferry vessels were converted military landing craft and I for one hoped
never to see the day when a civilian ferry would revert to type.
But, nevertheless, North Sea Ferries' announcement of the Government's requisitioning of MV Norland,which operated a Hull-Rotterdam service, contained a hint of optimism. It said that bookings on the days when the vessel normally sailed could not be "accepted for a limited period, possibly up until June 30, 1982."
I would like to think that the ship would be home sooner than that.
Temper the boss to the woolly sheep
A SMALL computer to help to defeat Southampton dock managers has been installed by the local branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union. "We will be able to feed so much information into the computer that the management will not be able to pull the wool over our eyes," Richard Pearce, chairman of the shop stewards' committee, is reported as boasting.
As the 1,370 sheep herded by the shop stewards already have so much of their own wool over their eyes that they cannot see that they are wrecking the port, a pair of shears might be more useful than a computer. What is more, management has been fed up with the dockers for so long that a few microchips with the customary fodder will make no difference.
Weekend for vintage enthusiasts
OWNERS of vintage commercial vehicles, including steamers, are invited to take part in the Chasewater Light Railway Society's sixth annual rally at Chasewater Pleasure Park, Brownhills, during the weekend of June 19-20. The event will include a procession of historic buses from Birmingham on the Sunday morning.
R. G. Bassett, the notable West Midland haulier and keen supporter of Commercial Motor Lorry Drive of the Year Competition, is the society's president and his company is presenting a cup in the concours d'elegance. The Rugeley haulage concern of C. Harvey and Sons is providing a trophy for the best pre-1946
commercial vehicle.
Other awards will be for the best post-1946 commercial vehicle, the best bus or coach, the best commercial vehicle under two tons and so on.
The organiser, R. J. Wormington, 50 Marlow Road, Sandford, Longton, Stoke-onTrent, promises an enjoyable weekend for enthusiasts, from whom he is anxious to hear.
BINGO on buses in Oxford and the South Midlands is a new experiment intended to bring back passengers. Its introduction coincided with a boomerang contest held in Dulwich Park, London, by the Horniman Museum, which runs boomerang construction courses. Perhaps London Transport could exploit the idea to bring back bus passengers.
May brings out golf celebrities
MAY is going to be a great month for golfers in the motor industry. Seve Balesteros, the reigning world match-play champion, and other top golfer: will take part in the £60,000 Car Care Plan tournament at Moor Allerton Golf Club, Leeds, durim the industry exhibition to be staged by Leeds City Council from May 19-23.
Then, on May 25, Associated Tyre Specialists will hold its eighth pro-am golf tournament at Woburn Golf and Country Club, for which the prize money has been increased to £12,000.