Is there anyone that has a rally or knows of one that the club could possibly attend in the 2013 season.  We are very interested in finding an event in the North East towards the end of July to enable us to go up to Scotland.  If you have any ideas then please contact Chris Smith, the Show Co-Ordinator on 07873 409303

Mark Jay, Burbage, Hinkley, Leicestershire

Duncan Milner, Weston Coyney, Stoke on Trent

Jenkins & Sons, Fecklin Fach, Lampeter, Dyfed

Keith Astbury, Sampleford Peverell, Tiverton, Devon

Mick Saunters, Battle, West Sussex

Gordon Bedwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Andrew Alcrodt, Accrington, Lancashire

Steve Parr, Pennington, Ulverston, Cumbria

W, Evans, Loggerheads, Market Drayton, Shropshire

D Lucas, Hailsham, West Sussex

Mark Paterson, Collin, Dumfries & Galloway

Rob Reed, Uckfield, West Sussex

Simon Philip, Denholme, Bradford, West Yorkshire

John Calcutt, Long Itchington, Warwickshire

F J Bowden, Basildon, Essex

Bob Farnes, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire

John Anderson, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire

David Pilcher, Felixstowe, Suffolk

Steven Rothwell, Wardle, Rochdale, Lancashire

Douglas Drake, Salfords, Redhill, Surrey

Mike Chandler, Llandrindod Wells, Powys

Keith Stanworth, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire

John Hetherington-Field, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln

Stephen Vernon, Wrexham, Clwyd

Chris Gullen, Burnham on Crouch, Essex

Andy Bickley, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent

John Morris, Altrincham, Cheshire

Ian Spencer, Ilkey, West Yorkshire

David & Ros Unwin, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

Hugh Jackson, Wroughton, Wiltshire

Michael Sellors, Buxton, Derbyshire

Robert Cotterill, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire

Dick Holl, Scotforth, Lancaster, Lancashire

Philip Hunt, Bishop Auckland, County Durham

Kevin Royan, Forres, Moray

Alan Phillips, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire

Andrew Dickinson, Chaddesley, Corbett, Worcestershire

Kenny Moffat, Bainsford, Falkirk

Brian McLean, Annan, Dumfries & Galloway

Ben Wright, Annan, Dumfries & Galloway

Alan Blair, Loanhead, Lothian

Kelsall is one of those shows where there is something for everyone, a massive turnout of all heavy commercials including ourselves and our friends with Foden lorries make a big contribution to the show. There are also military vehicles, cars, motorbikes, agricultural vehicles, steam engines of couse and lots of trade shows for those that have no real interest in things with four wheels.  Those that stay over on Saturday night are entertained by the Oom-pah (Umpapa) Band with their deep rhythmical sound and sense of fun, they get everyone present to join in and perform each year in the beer tent.

Congratulations must go to REVS member Geoff Newsome and his partner Marie and their many helpers for what is a great show.

Neil Cross

Bourne, Lincs

We were directed to the exhibitor's hall and given the choice of setting up inside or out - due to the predicted inclement weather we chose inside, after much deliberation by Philip and John we set up by the main entrance making sure the general public could see the trailer to draw them over to us.  During the course of the day the Show President and Chairman visited us and thanked us for coming and hoped that we would return next year.

Saturday proved to be the setting up day with vehicles and exhibitors arriving all day including old friends, Mr Jones of Bethania with 4 ERF's, a 1937 8 wheeler, 4 wheeler A series, 6 wheeler B series and a 6 wheeler tractor unit EC and of course all the family along with Alan Jones of Wrexham with his newly restored MMB 6 wheeler unit C series.  Amongst the other arrivals were a B series wrecker from Aberystwth, Mr Brockbank of Roch near Pembrooke with three ERF's, B series, E16 ex Lowes of Paddock Wood and an ECX ex Framptons Transport, R & B Transport EC11 Tag axle tractor unit R600 LOG and Mansell Davies of West Wales ERF 8 wheeler.  In total there were over 400 vehicles taking part, mainly modern.

Along with the main show ring there was a small arena where tractor pulling took place and on the Sunday the main day of the show, not only were the tractors performing there were also 4 ERF lorries taking part. Unfortunately John and Linda never got a chance to see these, but it was funny how many toilet breaks Philip took on the Sunday with his camera - it could have been something to do with the arena being next to the toilets!  Sunday proved a very successful day with many people visiting us, many enquiries were received about locating parts or any information on vehicles people were looking to restore and stories from many about how an ERF was the first vehicle they had driven or owned.

After a busy day with the trailer packed and hitched behind Philip's Landrover, the team did a last swoop of the field for the last few photographs and then headed into Carmarthen for a well earned fish and chip supper before heading North back to Welshpool and Steve Davies yard. 

Thanks to Steve and Derek for allowing us the use of your yard.

Philip, John & Linda

Now back to Launceston, the trailer was taken down the weekend before by George and Graeme and they met up with member John Andrews at Micheal Wood services and he took it back to Cornwall ready for the event.  John Heath and I travelled to Cornwall on the following Thursday, the rally site is about six miles west of Launceston itself, we went to site on the Friday to assemble the trailer (in the dry).

Saturday we were joined by Graham and Kevin, the only problem was the low cloud descended it had that horrible fine mist with it the type that soaks you.

Sunday saw Graeme and Margaret Turner along with Jerry and Lizzie Cooke arrive.  Joining us on show in the ERF section we had the vehicles of James Voysey with is emaculate E series in the livery of Frank Tucker, the long time ERF agent from Exeter, alongside James was for me the show stopper in the form of a late two axle eight cylinder day cabbed B series in the previous owners livery that of G Cross & Son of Wincham, Northwich now owned and restored by Mike Hannay from Plymouth, another B series in the livery of Allen & Lock owned by Andrew Gifford from Kilkampton, we then had the C series of the Holman family from Tavistock along with the 1st E6 of Jim Sparks from Romsey, the 2nd E6 belonged to Ian Grinders from Falmouth, also present was an E series of Nigel Miles from Bristol, we had 2 E14's, M2 BJK owned by Aldridge Transport from Launceston and M12 TRD (was P970 BFT ex Brian Harris) now owned by Terry Doidge from Launceston, two LV's, the 1st that of Rod Thompson from Camborne, the other one was in the fair ground, UDV 749J ex White Legs now owned by Phil Vanstone from Bideford.  The weather did take up on the Sunday afternoon and the rain did not spoil the show and before we knew it, it was time to bid farewell to Cornwall, but as we all enjoyed our visit to the show I am sure we will return, if only to spend time with the many new friends that we have made.  Our thanks got to Jerry and Lizzie who having stayed on for a couple of days holiday before they brought P33 back up the M5 on route to Gaydon ready for the Classic Commercial Show.

Regards,

Chris Smith

52 ERF's did us proud in the line up of 170 trucks and the trailer appeared to be kept busy throughout most of the weekend manned on the Saturday by the Committee.

A huge thank you to all of the Marshal's who ran the commerical section, no need to mention names but you all know who are!  Even more remarkable is that you are all members of REVS and I never have to ask you for your help you all appear at just the right times.

Congratulations to the team as we won the trophy for "Outstanding Contribution to the Show", never been won by the commercial section before and boy did you all deserve it the line up was superb, thank you.

Jill Sardeson

Saturday morning Graham and I were surprisngly joined by Philip and his wife Linda who must have drawn the short straw as to choose what to do.  Kevin was also in attendance and as Mr Heath was unavailable so we had the extra job of the photograph sales.  Saturday evening saw us joined by Brian and his wife at the White Hart in Whittington for what was a very enjoyable evening.  Sunday saw Graeme and Richard Turner join us and I have to say that this is a very different type of show than we are used to, but as we have a lot of members with the later model ERF's it does give us a chance to meet them all.

Some other ERF's on show included Terry Evans CI5 twin steer (Chinese Six), Mervin Edwards EC14 and a beautiful ECX tractor unit of JNC Transport of Telford, there was also a very smart E series from Heads of Bridgnorth.  It goes without saying how surprised we all were with the interest that was shown in the clubs activities, which again kept us occupied all weekend. 

I must also say how nice it was to have the company of one of our very early members on the trailer, Mrs Doreen McCormack, we were trying to work out how long ago it was when we were asked to go to Andover for the AGM's  As another enjoyable weekend drew to a close the trailer was taken back to George's ready for the following weekend's trip to Launceston.  This being undertaken by George and Graeme to meet up with John Andrews to complete it's journey.

Chris Smith

Well, where does one begin? This is becoming a regular saying of mine but it is true, the weather forecast was good, the trailer had a new position overlooking the sea front and our line up along with the two vehicles fresh from our visit to the NEC.  These were joined by Graham Dale's 8 wheel KV, Callum Price Jone's EC14, Brian Jones's LV 6 wheel tipper blower and the two show stoppers being Brian Jone's C series twin steer unit in pale blue Dairy Crest livery parked next to another C seies which was the two axle unit exhibited by Chris Parry from Halfway House, near Shrewsbury, incidentally the garage once belonged to the legendary ERF agent Reg Blower, both these vehicles were only finished the day before the event.

Over the weekend the trailer acted like a magnet, following the previous show we were inundated with enquiries about club activities and the ERF memorabilia was much sort after along with the club clothing selling well.  The continual flow of people onto the trailer meant that Graham, John and I were unable to leave the trailer to have a walk around the show.  Also on duty over the weekend we had Phillip, Gerry, George, Graeme and Elfed.  Also giving a helping hand were Linda, Margaret and Kevin.

Saturday evening saw the traditional road run around Conway, followed on the Sunday by the drive arounf the Great Orme which is at the opposite end of the rally site.  Vehicles returning along the prom made it an absolutely fantastic parade.  Full marks to all our members that attended this rally and if we missed seeing anyone I think you will understand why.

Our next event will be the Shropshire Truck Show which we have not been to for several years, we were kindly invited to attend, added to this, it fits in nicely en-route from Llandudno to Launceston and we felt that it would be another great opportunity to show the members what REVS is all about.

Chris Smith

Regards,

Chris Smith

Please if anyone has any further information regarding any ERF and their chassis numbers then please contact Darren direct, his email address is to be found on our Committee page.

Jill

My first thoughts were what to put on the stand, who would man it and how an ERF stand would be viewed by the industry and the general public, but a call to Graeme Turner and Robert Leech soon put my mind at rest.  Graeme had the REVS unit in pristine condition ready to meet up with me on the M6 ready for the journey to the NEC.  When I arrived my first sight was Robert's immaculately turned out C15 on the low loader and as usual Chris Smith doing his excellant PR job for the club.

Inside the hall we were shown our stand which I must admit was a great spot, two stands down from MAN, all carpeted and ready for our vehicles to be set up, all that was needed was our array of club goodies which were to be set up on the Tuesday morning.

Tuesday morning arrived bright and early and Chris and I had out stand finished in good time for what was to be an exceptionally busy day, if I said we had people from all over the world this would not be an understatement!  The first visitor was the editor of a Russian truck magazine based in Modcow, the German truck magazine publisher and a New Zealand truck enthusiast all were very impressed with our stand and REVS as a club.  Thanks go to Darren Tapp for his help as without him we would not have had a chance to leave the stand.

Wednesday morning saw Jill Sardeson join Chris Smith and John Heath on the stand all day for what was another very busy day, answering questions from the never ending stream of visitors that we had.

Thursday, your truly was joined by Greame Turner and as they had such a good day on Wednesday, Chris and John came for an extra day, the day no different from the previous two days, questions to answer and many topics including the vehicles, the club and what we do for the members during the show season and how they can join us.

The show ended at 5.30pm and it was time to head North with our vehicles and reflect on what was a superb show for REVS and a chance to meet so many new people.

I must thank the following people for making the show such a success for the club, Chris Smith, Jill Sardeson, Darren Tapp, John Heath, Graeme Turner, Robert and James Leech and Bob Socki for his invitation to attend the show.

Graham Flack

Chairman REVS

I would also like to add a huge thank you to Graham Flack for also being part of such a great show. Credit where credit is due Graham. Thank you.

 Jill Sardeson

Website Support Officer

Our 1st show of the season and the maiden event with the new trailer was well received by lots of visitors that kept the crew busy all day, a day which had started at 4am, the team was made up of Graham Flack, Graeme Turner, Philip Hilditch, Darren Tapp, Jerry Cook and assisted by Linda Hilditch, Kevin Edwards, John Heath and myself. 

Our new trailer (Graham's baby) his forsight in coming up with the idea and producing the goods was again the envy of a lot of other clubs that I had been talking with.  Whilst it doesn't carry the amount of stock that is on the larger show trailer it has a selection of essential goods that the club has to offer and it was well received by the never ending stream that we had the pleasure of meeting.  It was also very encouraging to have so many enquiries about joining the club which is very good news.

A good selection of ERF's were on display for visitors to view on what was a very cold day.  By 4pm it was time to pack up and ten minutes later we were on our way home via Market Drayton where I had a table booked for 8pm, we were then joined by Rosemary, Nicola, Graham and Margaret Dale and their friends. Time to chill with a few lagers.

Chris Smith

If you have any information regarding chassis or registration numbers from any fleets of ERF's then please email to erfchassisnumbers@hotmail.com