Page 2. Shelvoke & Drewry Enthusiasts' Club Newsletter - Autumn 2011.
VEHICLES IN EXISTENCE.
It has been good to have such a bumper crop of news about SD's that have escaped the fate of the Breaker's Yard.
Shelvoke SPV's re-united at Derby.
On 18th & 19th June at the Derby Fire & Rescue Show ex-London Fire Brigade Shelvoke SPV Fire Appliances YHV 186 T and YHV 187 T were reunited some 32 years after leaving Letchworth.
YHV 187 T Photo by David Carpenter.
Terry Prince brought YHV 187 T up from Ruislip to the Show. I'm told that the vehicle looked magnificent following extensive restoration work. My son, David, was impressed with the comprehensive equipment carried by the appliance.
YHV 186 T photo by David Carpenter.
Sister vehicle YHV 186 T was brought from Stockport by the Robertshaw brothers. Both appliances carry wheeled escapes as originally supplied to London Fire Brigade. Sadly your editor was unable to attend the show but was delighted to receive photos from the weekend.
THOSE SD FORK LIFTS.
Kevin Green alerted me to the fact that an SD Defiant fork lift truck was to be found at the South Yorkshire Transport Museum and on Sunday 14th August I visited the Rotherham based Museum. Here I met Duncan Osbourne who is highly enthusiastic about the truck. I was able to give him information about the truck and S&D that was new to him.
This smart looking SD Defiant truck has recently arrived at the South Yorkshire Transport Museum at Rotherham. The manufacturer's plate tells us that the truck was built in 1972 for the military. It remains in full working order nearly forty years after leaving Letchworth. If it could talk it surely would have some good stories to tell. And if S&D were still in existence what a great advert it would make for S&D's legendary quality and long life. Photo kindly supplied by Kevin Green.
Even older is this 1956 Freightlifter pictured in Malta. The manufacturer's plate again reveals it to have been an ex-military truck. It was photographed by Peter Skerry in the yard of Bezzina.
ANOTHER SURVIVOR.
It's quite amazing how often another SD survivor is reported. Peter Johnston sent in this photo of a gully emptier owned by a Mr. Young in Cornwall. Clearly it needs a bit of work but looks to be a nice little vehicle. Anyone know any more about it?
ANOTER 'W' TYPE SURVIVES.
In the meantime Peter Johnson has been busy purchasing an SD 'W' type. He tells me that it was a fore & aft tipper but the body has disappeared. The vehicle is going to require extensive restoration. Light grey in colour the vehicle has a petrol engine and a crew cab with the registration number 2217 IJ. Peter is looking for an Instruction Manual for the 'W' - photocopies would do. Can anyone please help?
The vehicle had been stored in a hay shed for the last 30 years. It was supplied by McCreath Taylor & Co. Ltd. to Bangor Borough Council in County Down possibly in 1959.
A COUPLE OF FREIGHTERS.
There has been quite a bit of activity for anyone interested in purchasing a Shelvoke. Ralph Crow put his two SD Freighters up for sale as he no longer has space to store them. I understand that one is going to the Ambereley Museum as spares for their replica Tramocar whilst Mark Kennedy from County Down has purchased the other. This Freighter was new to Kendal Corporation and the other to Whickham Council which is near Gateshead. Ralph purchased the two Freighters in 1982. They had been used by Associated Lead Ltd. in Newcastle.
FOR SALE.
In Cumbria a Shelvoke SPV Fire Service Training Vehicle was advertised for sale in July. This 1982 vehicle has covered just 8,000 miles. With a V8 engine, automatic gearbox, 13 ton chassis and a crew cab the vehicle is fitted with high speed low profile tyres. Due to illness the owner is unable to complete this refurbishment project and is asking £8,500 for the vehicle.
A purpose built Shelvoke and Drewry transporter Reg No. ANO 169 X which was originally a Turntable Ladder in Essex with its 6 man crew cab and sleeper pod and has only covered just over 40,000 miles from new is for sale in Swindon. It comes complete with a very rare solid tyred 1918, ex London Fire Brigade Leyland Pump which is complete and awaiting final restoration. Hence the asking price of £20,000. See:- http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C215878
The owner reports that there is no urgency to sell and a "Good home" is the primary requirement for this complete kit.
Michael Cooper has informed me that he wishes to dispose of his 1958 'W' type Reg. No. 78 DNK to a good home. I can give you contact details. There is more about the vehicle on the Preserved Vehicles page.