BIRD'S.

1st May 1964, Page 86

1st May 1964

Page 86

Page 86, 1st May 1964 — BIRD'S.

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EYE VIEW

By The Hawk

Learning Language It has always surprised me

that Britain has made such a success of exporting when we are such a linguistically insular lot, by and large. If we intend to keep up with world competition, there's obviously going to be a special future for the bright young men who can command several languages fluently. So, in an issue with a title like this week's, it's good to be able to report a novel development in the teaching of language. This is the travelling language laboratory—an idea that originated in America.

In England the scheme has been taken up by Pye U.D.T. and the National Extension College of Cambridge. Pye were asked by Dr. Michael Young, chairman of the College, to fit out an old double-decker bus with the necessary recording and film-projection equipment. The "language bus" is now fully functional in Cambridgeshire.

Step the Drift Bus operators forced to raise

fares to make ends meet are in a very difficult situation, but I'm glad to see that this year there seems much less fatalistic acceptance of the premise that higher fares inevitably mean a big loss of passengers—as if this were some immutable law of nature. • Many general managers seem now to accept the idea that more comfortable, brighter and (where appropriate) warmer buses can help to halt the drift. Another possibility is raised by the news that Belfast Corporation transport committee, concerned that public complaints from passengers about fares increases and the like can go unanswered, has called for a public relations officer to be appointed.

,‘ Bedford Cavalcade" The exhibits in Vauxhall Motors' 1964 Bedford Cavalcade got off to a good start last week, when they formed part of the big Autorarna of commercials and cars staged by Shaw and Kilburn at Luton. There were about 500 people present to hear Vauxhall's chairman and managing director, Mr. William Swallow, open the show, and I was among the throng which then spent the following day probing happily among vehicles of all shapes and sizes. The York Truck-Van made its debut at the show. A very fooriveary Hawk rested himself contentedly for a while in the Duple-bodied ''AL

coach, fresh from the British Rally, complete with cocktail cabinet and goggle-box.

The Cavalcade itself actually "hit the road" this week, 04

Swindon being its first port or call. After my coachcomfort rest I was among those who went on a conducted tour of Vauxhall's Bedford works; strange how exhausting it can be watching other people work: Cross-country Fun Last week-end the Land

Rover Owners' Club held its ninth Annual Rally, and was blessed with particularly good weather for the crosscountry events on Sunday. •These were held at Rectory Farm, Fenny Compton, Warwickshire, for the third year running. The enthusiasm of Land-Roverists has to be seen to be believed, and there was an impressive pile of detachable equipment--including complete roof assemblies —that had been removed prior to the mud-plugging.

The Sunday tests consisted of a cross-country trial Over some very muddy, steep slopes, followed by timed and knock-out hill climbs. The winner in the "experts " (Class A) category was Mr. J. B. Radford of Tiverton. Mr. Radford, with his brother and Mr. C. H. Gollop, also

won the team prize, which was presented by Total Oil Products (G.B.) Ltd. Second in this section was Mr. R. Swinfen, from Kelmarsh, Northants, who, in addition, won the timed and knock-out hill climbs. Mr. T. Duffy won the Class B event, this category being for entrants who had not previously been prize-winners at a Rally, whilst the

Services prize went. to Sgt. Clamp and Tpr. Topley, of the Staffordshire Yeomanry. Radford and Swinfen also took

the first and second Oass A awards for the driving tests held at Packington Park, Stonebridge, on the previous day.

Rally Reel Members of the club travelled

hundreds of miles in some cases in order not to miss this popular annual event. There was quite a strong Scottish contingent who, despite the great distance they had travelled, the bard work involved by the tests, and the distance facing them to return home, put up a splendid show at the dance held at the Rover works on the Saturday evening, working off what appeared to be surplus energy during the course of a vigorous eightsome reel—which had the Sassenachs really reeling. The organizers of the Rally had been worried that heavy rain would make it impossible to carry out the full programme planned for the Sunday. Fortunately, the ground dried out nicely and there was no one section of the trials course which was not completed successfully by at least one contestant. And no one section was cleared by every competitor.