'Phone tap leads to fish-tea fiasco
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THERE have been complaints of telephone tapping by the police in Much Griping. Fred Grass, the local coach operator, said that 10 minutes after he had arranged by telephone to take the local Darby and Joan Club on its annual outing, the police at Southend-on-Sea called him, demanding to know where the flying pensioners were having their fish tea.
They were met at the celebrated mudflat by 50 riot police. The Derbies were SAD to say, Marks and Spencer never thought to send us the above photograph of a renovated 1931 Beardmore Cobra and trailer till I phoned them, when our files, I learn, played a crucial part in the restoration research. The unit, the forerunner of today's articulated lorries, will carry a replica of Mr Mark's original Penny Stall as part of the M & S centenary celebrations.
Gerry Stokes, a director of Neate Brake Controls, of Hanworth, Middlesex, had to visit our archives department in order to research what the drawbar looked like.
A report of the Paris Salon in CM in October 1919 showed that the FAR train was designed by Chenard-Walcker. "The trailer bar is forked at its forward end, deprived of boots, braces, belts and mufflers, and the Joans had to surrender hatpins, nail files, dentures and other offensive weapons.
They were then taken to a fish and chip shop and held under guard until it was time to go home. Meanwnile, the crates of stout that filled the back of the coach had been confiscated.
The MP for Much Griping, Mr I. M. Fuller-Hotare, has tabled a question to the Prime Minister. He said the incident was very fishy and he dismissed the police explanation that they were expecting a horde of DJs.
the fork embracing a vertical post on the tractor and resting on a collar which can be raised or lowered by a worm shaft rotatable by means of a handle," explained the report.
"By winding the collar upwards, more of the weight of the load is thrown on the tractor." So this gives added manoeuvrability and it's a forerunner of today's artics.
Fashionflow is maintaining and operating the vehicle. It doesn't seem to be my week — I'm still waiting for a phone call back from them. But full marks to Neate Brake Controls, who obtained a copy of the original French patent in order to help restore the unit to pristine condition. You will be able to see it, I am told, at various county shows.