bird's eye view by the hawk hat would you do
Page 27
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if, buried away in an old shed, you found a rusting, 50year-old, ex-brewery lorry that looked as though a breath of fresh air would cause it to fall apart? Naturally, you'd shut the door quickly and forget all about it. Why trouble yourself by nurturing an obsession likely to take up the next two years of your life and beyond?
Any sensible folk would agree. but not RJ Gummer and three of his pals from Tonbridge, Kent.
Having located a dilapidated 1946 Dennis Fax brewery lorry the four enthusiasts, all railway workers, set about breathing life into the old warhorse.
They heard of the lorry in July 1995 from a friend in Canterbury and tracked it down to a tractor shed on a farm in Bethersden, near Ashford. They quickly came to a deal with the owner and set about clearing rubbish from and around the vehicle.
RJ takes up the story: "We found a 1946 Dennis Pax run by a 1960 Perkins P6 diesel
with everything seized solid." The first job was to have the diesel pump overhauled by Cav Lucas in Tunbridge Wells and fill the engine with freeing oil. The pals only had one day every two weeks to work on their pet project so drastic action was called for. They put a large socket on the starter dog and sat their heaviest member, 19-stone Ray, on the extension bar.
"After 15 minutes of constant pressure the engine moved and was barred over," says RJ, who had been busy barring the road wheels and cracking the wheelnuts. The diesel pump was refitted and they attempted to start the engine but without success. By now it was December 1995 and lack of daylight was limiting progress of the part-time restorers. Finally, however, their faith was justified. On the last day of the old year the engine fired and ran for the first time in 25 years "in a very large cloud of smoke and very unevenly".
By February last year the Dennis was mobile. "We very gingerly ventured onto the
country lane to turn the vehicle around as there was not enough room in the yard," says RJ. By now the pals had found a location nearer home and, in April 1996, borrowed a tank transporter to bring the veteran brewery lorry to a more convenient location, Since then, they have located the original registration number, IIKT 964, from the original logbook with the aid of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society and the MIA.
"We are now having the brake cylinders overhauled and reconditioned and we have tracked down other bits such as a silencer and bumper," says RJ, adding that the Dennis has been invited to four rallies this year, where the pals hope to exhibit it in "as-found condition". The painstaking process of restoring the livery will come later. in this end, RJ and his dedicated band would welcome information, including photographs.
The Hawk looks forward to learning of the further progress of this faithful old brewery wagon. In the meantime, I shall raise a foaming glass to the memory of bow little beer cost when old Pax first went on the road. Those were the days...
Send any info or pictures to RJ Gummer at 40 Judd Road, Tonbridge, Kent TW9 2NH.