bird's eye
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view by the Hawk • Jungle call Reference to the old Jungle Cafe on Shap is particularly appropriate at this time of the year. How many drivers, I wonder, have had to abandon their snowbound vehicles and head for the friendly warmth of the -Jungle" and its bangers and mash? Many regret the passing of those days now that the new motorway takes the trunkers safely through Westmorland. There was something to be said for the friendships set up on the old A6 route. However, operators should be warned that if their drivers do happen to find themselves back on A6, prices at the "Jungle" are going to be dearer than they were a few years ago — and not just because ofinflation. The Lake District Planning Board is being recommended to approve the conversion of the old transport cafe into a new plush licensed club and restaurant.
• Wight Christmas
From Charles Yeates, chairman of Loughborough coach dealers W. S. Yeates Ltd, I learn of a Christmas party that was also a golden jubilee. It happened on December 20 when Jimmy Troughton, chairman of Moss Motor Tours, Sandown, Isle of Wight, and his manager Ken Guy, were hosts to nearly 90 people — the shareholders, employees and a sprinkling of guests (among whom the only one from the mainland was Mr Yeates), together with wives — who were taken for a round-the-Island tour in two Plaxton-bodied coaches with a lunch break at Niton.
For one of the drivers it was an extra special occasion; he has been with the firm since it was founded half a century ago.
• Giving it away
Charles himself was at least assured of a meal — in advance of his announcement of what he calls a "break-through" price list for used coaches; he tells me that he's knocked £40,000 off the sale price total, which is not a bad start for anybody's New Year!
• Missing link The case of the disappearing Christmas parcels backlog on the railways has made interesting reading over the past few days. Though piles of what appeared to be Christmas parcels have been observed in most of the London main-line termini, only one Region of British Rail — the Western — admitted that there had been delays to seasonal traffic during the holidays. The others have said that the packages stacked in BR utility trolley equipment — known appropriately as "brutes" for short — were just normal parcels traffic.
The Western Region, however, has provided the perfect answer to those railway enthusiasts and environmentalists who advocate taking traffic off the roads and putting it back on the railways. "We couldn't deliver them", said the Western region plaintively, "because we couldn't get any lorries".
• Disintegrated
Perhaps the parcels build-up is a topical matter for the Freight Integration Council? I see that Tom Bradley MP, the TSSA president, is incensed because the council has met only once since June 197i intends to press Mr John Peyton abo plans for the future of the FIC "as it i! that they are not doing the job they established to do".
The FTC was set up under the Transport Act to give the Secreta State advice about arrangements fc provision of an integrated freight s in the public sector. Some observers th FTC would recommend some scran together of National Carriers, BRS the Post Office and maybe the RI Express carriers' organ iz at i on s .
Now that BRS Parcels' and Na Carriers' joint marketing policies been worked out it seems highly on that John Peyton will wish to activ moribund committee. Of course, he ask it to look at the integration of t freight transport facilities in the EEC! that a job reserved for Brussels Euro(
IIIII Sporty award
Nobody who knows Kenneth Red' efforts for sport in the psv world w surprised at the MBE which he has awarded in the New Year Honours. 1 general secretary of West Midi Passenger Transport (Birmingham) s and athletics society and was the insti, in 1953 of the Midland area cricket petition — this is the 20th year in whil has been its secretary and treasurer.
Since 1958 he has been on the co of the National psv amateur foc competition — and now he is busy wo on the establishment of a national psv s and recreational association.
• Ti p from the top?
ERF chairman and managing director. Foden is, I forecast, looking forward fidently to good half-year trading re Well known for Aston Martin and enthusiasms as a driver, he has rec taken delivery of a new white Rolls-R Silver Shadow. Registration nun ERF 1 — what else?