| Pickering’s
WW2 Weekend, or Railway in Wartime to give it its correct title, in mid
October was the last major event of the year in Yorkshire. Whilst the
focus of activity is in Pickering, there are vehicles and events at all
the village stations on the line best visited by travelling on the
crowded trains. Le Visham, usually occupied by the Germans, even
featured a V1 rocket and launch pad! |
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Blessed with excellent
weather the crowds were out in force to see highlight, the Saturday
parade. This winds itself through the town squeezing through the narrow
gap between the shops at the top of the High Street before descending
past thousands to a light hearted commentary by Paul Harper. The new
feature of a scheduled stop at the main road traffic lights to let
frustrated ordinary motorists get through the town was held up longer
than planned by an emergency ambulance attending the scene pulling up
alongside me within a couple of inches of my offside wing. The parade
had to reverse up so I could extricate my Bedford and be ready to roll
on command.
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Rather amusingly we were
treated to another siren and flashing light attending the scene, but
this time the paramedic was on a bicycle! Quite bizarre.
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A
lovely Ford WOT 15 cwt, which had been driven over from near Amsterdam,
joined us this year as did what must be a unique pre war Albion
Ambulance in RAF livery spotted by Colin Carr but which I failed to see
over the weekend. Who does that belong to? Colin makes large scale
models and would like to make one of the Albion. |
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If you can help him his
no is 01904 763194. On a personal note I was delighted when Mike
Shackleton bought my Bedford OXD at Pickering and am pleased to report
it will, therefore, be staying in Yorkshire. Just prior to leaving home
for the weekend I had received an offer from Italy and really wanted it
to stay in Britain given its’ rarity and so it has. On the same day
Graham Golder also sold his Bedford OY which has returned to Essex.
Graham’s ‘fleet’ has, in fact, changed completely with the sale of
his 1/2 ton Dodge WC43 in late summer and he now owns a Dodge WC54
Ambulance.
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Garforth town centre was
blitzed by mv’s in support of the annual Poppy Appeal with Simon’s
AEC Militant towing Mel’s 5.5” gun, Dave’s Series 1, John’s
Defender, Stuart’s K2, and Ken Pugh’s GMC.
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Dave reports on a very long successful day, despite the rain, with
everyone supplied with plenty to eat. “Simon must have told all the
cafes to supply sandwiches, tea, fish and chips, and cakes.” Meanwhile
Simon Roberts was doing the same in near the Cenotaph in Harrogate but
on his own which he says was not good on the bladder. |
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If
he can secure this busy location again next year then this would be an
ideal chance for other members who live nearby to support him. |
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the mv front Denis has bought a partly, but immaculately, restored
Morris Quad from Mel Bean and has since been beavering away in his barn
with his new project. With Denis’s penchant for canvas and mobile
sleeping arrangements it will be interesting to see the interior when it
rolls out. It’s big enough for an en-suite Denis! |
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A friend of mine, and
rejoining member, Ashley Walker, has now got his Scammell Pioneer and is
keen as mustard to get on with the sizeable task of restoring it with
the help of his sons Sam and John. Bill Hodgson is building “a loose
copy of a 1940’s Fordson Armoured Car” whilst Mel Bean can now start
the restoration of another AEC Matador that I helped him collect from
Holland. Both the AEC and Quad feature in the MVT 2012 calendar.
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Stuart Wright is making
rapid progress on the restoration of his rare International M16
halftrack which he bought on the Continent - he really does get stuck
in. One of the last things to be done will be the refitting of a M45
Maxim Quad turret. With half tracks being my favourite wartime vehicle I
hope we can see the finished article at Elvington.
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If you have projects on
the go, or have bought something new please let me know so we can
feature them in future. I would encourage you to add your vehicles to
the Members vehicle pages of our website by sending photos to Steve
Carr. If you would like me to do this on your behalf please ask at any
show and I will take the photos and send them on.
Our annual Christmas
party at the Wetherby Sports Association building saw our biggest
turnout ever and went on until after 11pm. The raffle was a huge success
and the prize table looked like it was about to collapse with so much on
it, so thanks to one and all who brought prizes along to donate. Brian
“We were treated to lovely fresh pork pie and peas, followed by the
edge of your seat game of 'higher and lower' from Brian Fox, where the
tension was unbearable. Thanks, Brian. A small, but teasing, letter quiz
from me and then a mixed Christmas and military quiz from the ex
university challenge team of John and Helen Gray. Total points available
42, with the winning team of Ivor and part of his table (I think?)
getting 33 points and pulling off the win with a very tense tie breaker,
well done!”
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Over the Christmas
holidays, Wednesday 28th December to be precise, our last run of the
year took place, quite miraculously, in decent weather. The start was
from Lotherton Hall, Leeds to Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, where the
NAAFI was open to refresh everyone with hot food and drink.
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20 vehicles took part and after lunch we were invited to see a film
called Flight Path, made by Ian Reed of the Museum about Phyllis
Pattismore of York who was in love with a Henri Martin, a French airman
based at Elvington ( sadly K.I.A. ). She operated in occupied France for
the SOE and later became Churchill’s French translator. She died in
2011.The film was shown in the new 50 seat cinema. |
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Our annual show at the
end of May, also at The Yorkshire Air Museum Elvington, promises to be a
much bigger and better event and will have the added benefit of use of
the adjoining runway. Please see the separate feature in the Green
Sheet.
Ken
Pugh and Stuart Wright are organising a new show in the Area just
off J26 of the M62 between Leeds/Bradford,
off
Hunsworth Lane, Hunsworth, BD4 9RN. The name is The Yorkshire Wartime
Experience and it will cover all periods from WW1 to present day. Their
website is www.ywe-event.info
and
is live as of 13th January.
Entry forms are also available to download from the YMVT Events
Diary page.
On a final note I am pleased to report that Brian was re elected as
Secretary and Treasurer at the December meeting so we can look forward
to another year in his very experienced and safe hands.
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Mike Humphreys.
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