THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Page 27
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This fine specimen is one of two Mercedes-Benz Unimogs that have been helping the French to see the light. The vehicles were brought in to restore power to the Dordogne region, which was badly affected by storms between Christmas and the New Year. The gales meant that hundreds of thousands of householders were left without electricity in the Bordeaux area.
Putting aside any petty beef we may have with our Gallic neighbours, a team of 40 linesmen and engineers from East Midlands Electricity gallantly came to the rescue using a Unimog U140L and a U2150L/38, both equipped with insulated aerial platforms.
"We took the Unimogs because the area we were going to was heavily forested with steep inclines." explains Steve Borondy. who was in overall charge of the operation. "They can go anywhere and everywhere. We were working 16 hours a day but we had no problems at all with the vehicles."
Suffice to say that all that hard work paid off. Not only was normal service resumed as quickly as possible, but the locals showed their gratitude by rewarding our boys with gifts of wine, beer and champagne.