bird's eye
Page 44
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
view by the Hawk III Four horse power
A vehicle 150 years old with four horse power will be starting on a 393-mile trip from Edinburgh on June 3 and should arrive at London's Guildhall about eight days later. It will not be using the motorway network nor any of the major roads but instead it will be covering country lanes and the "back doubles" of the early 19th Century.
Not that the owner is trying to dodge DoE spot checks on either the vehicle's condition or the journey record sheet because Mr George Bowman, from Cumberland, is in fact using a coach and four horses. He will use a total of 20 horses throughout the trip and follow the original route of the Edinburgh-London "Express".
• Cowboy bashing It seems that when BBC2 is short of topicality on its Wheelbase programme it returns to the old theme of beating the transport industry over the head with emotive words like juggernauts, pirates and cowboys. A recent programme followed the usual lines and, to support its antilorry campaign, the BBC had invited along Arthur Percival, of the Civic Trust, who spent valuable time harping on his theme of "designated routes". Willie McMillan, chairman of the RHA — and no one looks less like a pirate or cowboy than Willie — explained in calm and reasoned words how the vast majority of operators really work. But the men who must qualify for first prize were the handful of drivers in Cardiff who tied the interviewer up in such a knot that he broke off the engagement leaving the men with their opinion and adding that he would keep his. This means, of course, that he can come back again. These same drivers would be surprised to read in the London Evening News that they are spoonfed and at 21 they can be their own boss, own and drive a heavy goods vehicle, earn £100 a week and don't need to keep log sheets. A statement to this effect was apparently made to the newspaper by an unnamed traffic boss. I'm sure his colleagues in the industry would love to know his name, Jesse James or Long John Silver perhaps.
• The Initiation
Last, weekend was the annual "shindig" of the Scottish Area Road Haulage Association. I understand it cannot rightly be described as a conference because of the large social content of the programme nor can it be properly termed a party because of the amount of business that is conducted. It has been described as a marathon due to the degree of stamina it requires.
It is used to initiate the area chairman. I understand they work on the assumption that if he can stand up to a weekend of non-stop activity then he has no excuse for missing any of the hundreds of meetings which he will be called upon the attend during his term of office.
• Black Velvet Friday
A bouncing, bawling baby celebrated its first birthday last Friday with a party in London. But this was no ordinary party. It was held at the City Golf Club and instead of cake, chocolate biscuits and pop it was cornflakes, bacon, sausage and egg, and black velvets — that's champagne and stout. But then this youngster had something to celebrate as Derek Redfern of Godfrey Davies Truck Rental was quick to point out.
In his first year of operation he has opened nine truck rental depots in the UK and planned another seven during 1972. His 2000 vehicles have covered 28 million miles and produced a turnover of £2m. Derek said that GD would not be breaking its tariff agreements to get more business; in other words no rate cutting. I can't see how he could rate cut — after all "champers" for breakfast takes some maintaining and it was a lovely way to start a wet Friday in go-slow London.
• Meet Tina Lea
When I heard that the trade unions had a pin-up girl whose name was Tina Lea a rapid investigation seemed called for. Alas for my disillusionment. Here is no lissom, bosomy creature with classic dimensions. The initials compiling the names Tina Lea stand (how many guessed it?) for "This is not a legally enforceable agreement".
A recent agreement between Calor Gas Ltd and its transport drivers, yielding a 10 per cent plus rise in conjunction with a reduction in working hours from 40 to 38, with lump sum payments in lieu of backdating, was subject to Tina Lea. The agreement dresses up Tina in formal language: "It is understood that this Collective Agreement is not a legally enforceable document but both parties agree to take all reasonable steps to ensure that both its spirit and letter are observed".