Running with the Hounds
Page 41
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Ingenious Conversion of a Trojan-Perkins Personnel Carrier for Use by a Master of the Hunt
CAPABLE of carrying up to 40 beagle hounds and five huntsmen, and of towing a .two-horse trailer, a Trojan Perkins-engined van has been put into service with Mid-Essex Beagle Hounds, Norton Heath, near Ingatestone, Essex.
. Capt. A. C. C. Hawkins,. M.H., head of this ménage, attends, on an average, three beagle-hunt meetings a week during the season, and earlier this year .expressed a requirement for a special vehicle to meet his transport needs in this connection, The Rornford Motor Co., 181 South Street, Roinford,'Essex, supplied the Trojan' and modified it from its standard form as a personnel carrier. An oil7engined version was chosen for its economy, as long journeys
are frequently involved. ' Since the beginning of July, the vehicle has covered over 6,000 miles.
Bodywork . was converted . by Overton's Coachbuilcfers, Ltd., Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, to the Romford company's direction. A bulkhead was placed across the body behind the front cross-bench seat. The lengthwise bench seats were cut to accommodate this fixture and to allow two grocims to be seated facing each other in the front compartment.
To allow them to gain access to these seats from the near-side door, the squab of the front seat was divided and the section to the near side arranged to hinge. There is a sliding door with a glazed panel in the bulkhead. . This allows the grooms ' to enter the rear should the hounds require attention in transit. .
Detachable trays are fixed over the seats in the rear compartment for the hounds, and the floor, sides, front partition and rear doors are lined with
galvanized-iron sheeting. This . can easily be washed after every. trip., -Grilles have been placed over the windows.. The glazed rear doors were replaced with those of the Trojan van type, incorporating ventilating louvres. Two rotating ventilators were fixed in the roof, and a towing hook was attached at the rear for a horsebox trailer.
-The van was painted hunting green atid carries a chromium-plated hare mascot on the bonnet. Other extra fittings include a roof luggage rack and Trico windscreen-washing equipment. The vehicle is used during the summer for taking hounds to various shows throughout the country and collecting meat. from farms. It is capable of quick conversion into an estate car for domestic purposes.
A typical meeting was one attended recently at Purleigh, Essex. At 10.30 a.m. Capt. Hawkins arrived in theTrojan -with attendants and 34 hounds (spoken of as 17 couple) at the 600-year=old Queen's Head Inn. After refreshment, he and a companion mounted horse and the attendants stood by with crops as one .of their number opened the rear doors of the van.
Out rushed eager yapping hounds, the horn sounded and the beaters rounded up the pack which followed the riders down the Toad to a nearby farm. The hunt turned off down a lane, and the driver of a following petrol tanker waa'-e-nabled to change up.
On this occasion, the horses were brought in a Rice trailer towed by a private tar. The Trojan is often used to tow the trailer, especially when fox hunts are attended and the beagle hounds are not required. .
After the day's sport, in which several hares were pursued, notwithstanding the unsporting diversionary activities of a local fox, the hunt returned to the inn for tea.
A sidelight was thrown on British Railways' branch-line closure policy in the course of the hunt. An abandoned line ran across the 'farm and the wily hares made good use of it to outrun the hounds and disappear into the-hedge to safety, the pack being put off the scent by the strong smell of the oil and tar impregnated in the sleepers..
Tired after their exertions, the hounds returned to the Trojan and fell asleep on the way home. The beagle hounds, who bear names such as curious, Gossip. 'Graceful, Lancer, Locket and Mariner, are smaller animals than foxhounds and are quite comfortably accommodated.
Capt. Hawkins is highly satisfied with the varied utility of the Trojan, which is probably unique. He obtains 45 m.p.g. from normal use and 50 m.p.g. on a long journey.