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That was the year...
Page 13
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CM was launched in 1 905; for our centenary year we're bringing you stories from years gone by. This week we're back in 1938 and 1988.
1938
Piece of paper
Hitler invaded Austria and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from Germany with his infamous piece of paper. Steam locomotive Mallard set a world speed record at 126mph. In the US Orson Welles' radio adaptation of HG Wells' The War of the Worlds caused mass panic. Action Comics issued the first edition of Superman comic.
Tough blacktop
A new type of road-surfacing material, said to cost about an eighth as much as concrete, was developed in the United States from residue left in pre-heating stills. The residue — a form of asphalt — was mixed with a diluting agent, gravel and crushed stone to produce a hard-wearing road surface.
"irresponsible" hauliers
"Young, vigorous, untrammelled and entirely uncoordinated and with no sense of national responsibility" was how George Mills, Scottish Divisional General Manager of the London and North Eastern Railway Co, described road hauliers to Aberdeen Rotary Club.
Taxi trucking
An illegal long-distance lorry "passenger service" between Glasgow and London was revealed at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Prosecuting in the case of a young driver found to have had two passengers in his cab, it was stated: "There are numerous complaints of young people being found destitute in London and this is the method they take when getting to the South."
1913R
Peace broke out
It was a good year for ending conflict as the Soviet Union committed itself to withdrawing from Afghanistan and the Iran-Iraq war ended, having cost a million lives The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea was destroyed by fires. killing 167.The SAS killed three unarmed IRA members in Gibraltar.
Major review
The Department for Transport published its long-awaited consultation paper on revising Britain's driving licence system. Proposals included mandatory medical checks for truck drivers from 45 instead of 60; scrapping the appeal system for drivers who had lost their licence on medical grounds; and lowering the HGV licence threshold from 7.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes.
Brits rejected
Germany refused to co-operate with Britain by allowing more British hauliers on its roads.The Germans would not move on the liberalisation of European road transport until complete harmonisation of taxes was achieved.
Hero's reward
A heroic lorry driver who saved the lives of at least three children in the Zeebrugge ferry disaster was awarded his union's highest honour — the "workers Victoria Cross". Alan Hawkes, 54, of CB Chastney Transport, Co Durham, was presented with the Transport and General Workers Union Gold Medal at a ceremony in Newcastle upon Tyne.