BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 71
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BY THE HAWK
11 The Faroe Islands are only 300km north of Scotland, and if hey cannot properly be
ermed remote, they have ;eemed removed from the nainstrearn of European life. According to the English rersion of Scania World Wide, ;ars were a rarity back in the iixties. But, alas, not any nore. There is now one
'chicle for every three inhabiants, including 100 large buses .nd 600 vans and trucks over L5 tonne GVW. Scania's and Ilazdas do very well out here, apparently.
Be that as it may, driving in he Faroes is hazardous. The Ider generation grew up withait experience of motor
• ehicles, while 90,000 sheep two for every islander — re free to wander about all iver the islands including its oads. And that's not all. There re complicated speed limits n main roads — for cars Olun/h, buses 701m/h, trucks rithout trailers 501un/h.
In Britain, we have our own oad/animal problems. Take hodri, for instance, a lovern one-tonne bull who — reorts the Western Mail -frustated and separated from eifers by a wire fence, wanered on to the M4 where he ias soon surrounded by three olice patrol cars, no less. iter being fed straw he was ventually lured into a cattle -uck.
Think I'd rather face those heel).
I Cricket fans please note la June 19 is the date set athe first of the annual twotatch series between the reight Transport Association ad Commercial Motor. As ith last year's 'bash', the veLie is Cheam Park, in Surrey ;hich, appropriately enough, 3cks on to historic Nonsuch ark, of Henry VIII and Eliza!th I fame. I mention this !cause I gather ('cause 1 asn't there) that last year's ries was something of a misuch event for CM who, ire I record, lost.
There was one saving grace r CM, though. Its 'man' of ie match was sporty Karen files who not only scored 30 LOS, but bowled one of the FTAs star players out.
The beer and sandwiches party following CMs home match will again be at The Harrow in Cheam (of Tony Hancock fame). Let's hope that this year's series will be not prove so harrowing for the FTA, although Karen is contemplating putting in some practice for the big day.
• Mention of our lady cricketer leads me conveniently to Austin Rover's 'hard hitting' (their words, not mine) video aimed at encouraging more girls to take up a career in industry.
Entitled "Do put your daughter into industry, Mrs Worthington," the project is part of Austin Rover's continuing commitment to Industry Year, depicting the role of women in industry and seeking to point out the opportunities open to them.
It features 15 women working for Austin Rover in a variety of jobs including — the press release says — "design, engineering and production, demonstrating that if you are well trained and the right sort of person, there is a job for you".
The case studies feature just a few of those women who have chosen the company as a path to the future and Austin Rover hopes it will encourage many more girls to consider joining industry. Obviously things have changed since this old crow was last at a car manufacturing plant in the Midlands. At that time the ladies were sweeping the floors, making the tea and driving the lift trucks; but that apart, who, one wonders, will want to buy or hire Austin Rover's video — unless, of course, Samantha Fox is one of the 15 subject matters.
• Partakers of John Smith's Yorkshire ale will be pleased to learn that after being thrown on the scrapheap no less than three times, Lady Betty (no relation of Princess Di but a 22-tonne steam engine built in 1902) takes to the road again on Saturday, June 28 as John Smith's entry in the Tadcaster Carnival. 'She' is claimed to be the oldest Fowler Showman in existence.
Built initially with a short wheelbase, so as to be more manoeuvrable in the brewery yard (presumably when the driver has had a skinfull of 'Taddy'), the engine gave 20 years of good and faithful service before being committed to the scrapyard for the first time.
She was then purchased by Chris Johnson of Wakefield in 1922 and returned to her builders (the said John Fowler of Leeds) where she was converted to 'showman's specification'. She became a common sight at fairs all over the West Riding.
Sent for scrap again in 1938, she was saved by Bakers of Kellington, who converted her back to a long wheel-base road loco and put her to war work and there-after for a further 25 years, threshing corn, bailing, and so on.
The lady then retired in 1963; but 19 years later (in 1982) was restored by her new owner, Jack Gillam of Tadcaster, who fitted a new boiler, fire box, tubes and so on.
Like the addage that old soldiers never die, Lady Betty, now a sprightly 84 years old, is good for a few years yet. (Glad she's not my mother-inlaw!)