Page 6. Shelvoke & Drewry Enthusiasts' Club Magazine - Autumn 2010.
NEWS
OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO FORMER EMPLOYEES.
Two Long serving former S&D employees have died recently. A reminder to us of the long years of service given to the Company by so many people.
We were sorry to learn of the sudden death on Saturday 22nd May of Reg Day. Reg was employed by Shelvoke & Drewry for about 31 years, firstly in the Accounts Department and finally in the Personnel Department. I believe he was responsible for organising outings to the theatre etc. for employees and was well known and well regarded. I remember him from my time at S&D.
In recent years he wasn't in particularly good health and had been cared for by the Wymondley Nursing Home for the past year.
Reg Bowles died on 17th June after a short illness. Reg worked for 33 years in the Service Department and was a Chargehand. He was aged 85.
Shortly before his death he had kindly, and at some inconvenience, put two former employees back into contact after they had lost track of one another.
On your behalf I have offered our condolences to his widow, Jean, and the rest of the family.
Ten former S&D employees attended Reg's funeral at St. Faith's Church Hitchin on 15th July. One of them has written: "Reg was liked by everybody very kind and always willing to help. Reg was a great family man and loved his dancing, that's how he met his wife, Reg spent his two years National Service in the R.A.F. at Henlow."
WEFREIGHTER CONTROL PANEL.
We were sorry to learn that a control panel from the Welfreighter submersible was being offered for sale by auction by Cheffins of Cambridge with a guide price of £600 to £800. Conferring with other SD Enthusiasts we were of the opinion that the proper place for this item was in a museum, possibly the National Maritime Museum where it could be displayed alongside the superb model of the craft that was donated to the museum.
This view was communicated to Cheffins. The result of the auction sale isn't known.
We wonder where the panel had been all these years?
BURIED WELFREIGHTER?
Josh Tidy, the Curator of the First Garden City Heritage Museum gave an illustrated talk in Letchworth on 24th May about the Garden City in the Second World War. During the discussion after his talk a member of the audience told of the local rumour of a Shelvoke & Drewry built miniature submarine buried in the recreation park at Westbury. Have any of our readers heard this rumour, or know anything about it? Please let me know.
THE DEFIANT FORK LIFT TRUCKS.
John Johnson, who was part of the fork lift truck drawing office team, has generously donated some 23 sales brochures relating to the Defiant range of fork lift trucks. These are all in excellent condition and give a full account of the Defiants. An article based on the brochures will appear in the next magazine.
MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH.
In the last issue we carried a mystery photograph. This one is related to it.
This SD Model 72 Freightlifter carries a very wide fork carriage with four extra long forks. What was its purpose?
The answer will appear in our next issue.
OXFORD DIECAST MODELS. 1/76th scale.
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Oxford Diecast have now released the West Lothian version of the Shelvoke & Drewry 'W' type Fore & Aft tipper. You should now find it at your local model shop. Oxford Diecast have also announced two further examples of the SD 'W' type Fore & Aft tipper model. The West Bromwich version should be in the shops at the end of September, whilst the Manchester version will not arrive until the end of December. |
People say the nicest of things.
Some comments on our previous issue - Number 30 (Summer 2010).
"Yet another great magazine!" K.S.
"It's always good to read the magazine." P.B.
"Thanks for another lovely magazine." S.L.
"Keep up the good work." D.F.
"I do appreciate the work and effort you put in to running this little enthusiasts club." I.W.
Simon Powdery of the City of Dublin Civil Defence has written:- "A Shelvoke & Drewry Fire Appliance was based in Marino. It was an absolute workhorse of a machine and was operational for many years. It was bought from the UK some time in the early 90's and used for a decade with us in DCD. By far one of the favourite appliances in the organisation, it outdid any Volvo or Dennis on its day!"
Simon is trying to find out where the appliance moved to after its service in Dublin. It was great to hear that the appliance gave a further ten years of service after being retired by its first user. For a picture of the fire appliance go to:- http://www.dublincivildefence.com/gallery.php?mghash=ce7e1caa67c81a1d885b3aec546f3c30&mggal=12
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Vintage Roadscene Magazine
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Since the Summer issue of this magazine there have been two further editions of Vintage Roadscene which have contained articles by Malcolm Bates. In July he was writing about cesspool and gully emptiers and also reported on the HCVS London to Brighton run. On that topic he questioned why so many preserved vehicles appear in a livery that they never carried when in service. I understand that his views have ruffled a few feathers at the HHCVS. August's issue featured an article about roadsweepers. It's been good that Vintage Roadscene have given prominence to municipal vehicles.
Shaun's Shelvoke Site.
Have you visited Shaun Taylor's Website yet? If not I'd recommend that you do. And why not sign up as a member and keep up to date with
SD news? 
Click to join shaunsshelvokesite
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