Papav66

I visited today & it was great to see Alec's Ford GPA & the Schwimmwagen have a swim, I was surprised how quickly the Schwim went. Also great to meet Neil & his OT90, I just don't think it was deep enough once off the slipway & it just started churning up the mud & got stuck & possibly lost steerage, it made for very uncomfortable viewing to see someone with their pride & joy get into difficulty, thank fully no-one was hurt & vehicle unscathed. I think credit to him for having the balls to do it in the first place.

Latest count of MV's is now just over 350 & still plenty of time to book in. The MOD called today & are going to be bringing their latest Wrecker & a few other interesting pieces. And we've a great line up of performers with singers Ruby Lamont, Clare Challoner, burlesque performer Kitty Ribbons, lindy hop group Jazz-Jive-Swing & Forties DJ Woody, so bring your dancing shoes as well.

Looks like a great event, wish I could of attended, well done to the organisers.

Popped over to the camp yesterday & took some pics of some recent additions. Now have a 2nd Consol shelter (the slightly smaller one) which was lifted out of a garden in Windsor so guess it may have been outside a Royal residence. And in April these 20+ anti-tank blocks were salvaged from underneath the Abbey Road bridge in Evesham which is currently being re-built. I was expecting them to be taller like the one in the background, but guess they would still do the job once correctly spaced out.

Thank you Lee, I will do, cheers Paul

Hi, if you happen to know the contact details for this chap with his little Jeep & Teddies please can you pm me. I recall seeing him at Chapel Brampton Railway, Northants & at an event in Oxfordshire. And he kindly let my daughter have a go with the remote controls for one of the Teddies, who could nod his head & wave his hand, very sweet. I remember when a chap on a military motorcycle turned up and the Teddies drove over to take a closer look, two of the Teddies looked him up & down, turned their heads towards each other & nodded in disgust and then drove off. The motorcyclist fell off his bike in disbelief that he had been blown out by the Teddies, it was hilarious. cheers Paul

More treats for you guys. We've got more traders booked in than ever before, over 60 so do bring some pocket money. In addition to the four BBMF aircraft coming, I just took a call confirming that the Red Arrows are also going to be with us on the Sunday, admittedly in the excitement I forgot to ask if thats for a flypast or display, but I'm just thrilled that they will be there.

The vehicle count is now just over 260mv's. Just had a very nice BRDM-2rkh book in, so that will look good alongside the other GAZs, Kraz, Zils & UAZs & because we've now got quite a few East Block vehicles I will mark out a separate area for them.

Thanks to all those who have registered, over 200 mv's so far. I'm also pleased to announce that we have another new sponsor, Cherished Vehicle Insurance who are really getting involved & helping us, as they are keen to get closer to customers. And the number of new allied re-enactment groups continues to grow.

The rumours have been around for a while but it was confirmed on Mon 25/3/2013 that its to be sold... MINISTRY of Defence chiefs will sell off their Ashchurch base, it has been revealed. More than 2,000 new homes could be built at the site after the Government confirmed the sale yesterday. Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan announced the military would be withdrawing from the transport depot facilities, which is also home to the Army's bomb disposal team. It is currently home to 625 civilians and 29 military staff. The MoD would not confirm numbers of redundancies, nor a timescale for the base to close. Mr Robathan said the base was coming to the end of its life, and would need extensive refurbishment to stay in use. The number of vehicles it houses had also been reduced due to military cutbacks. However, the minister indicated a small number of buildings could be kept if this made economic sense. The site has space for up to 2,100 properties. In a ministerial statement, Mr Robathan said: "The MoD Ashchurch site is currently the central MoD hub for vehicle operations. "However, the Ashchurch Depot facilities are coming to the end of their life span and parts of the site are no longer used. "The facilities would need extensive renewal to continue effective operation, while the vehicle numbers that the site supports are reducing as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. "The MoD is reviewing a number of vehicle basing options and has identified opportunities for greater efficiency from relocating facilities, rather than investing in the infrastructure at the site. Consequently, MoD will be withdrawing from the site entirely unless retention of a small number of specific buildings proves better value for money. "This site has the potential capacity for up to 2,100 new homes. "A public consultation has been conducted so that wider views and opinions can be taken into account in any future development. "Service and civilian personnel at the affected locations will be briefed; we will also engage with the trades unions where appropriate. "This work will now be taken into detailed planning." Source: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Ashchurch-military-base-sold-Ministry-Defence/story-18521166-detail/story.html#ixzz2Ofht4FVO

And just had more paperwork through confirming that in addition to the Lancaster on the Saturday we will also have the Hurricane & Spitfire on the Sat.

Hurray, I received an email from the BBMF Ops Officer confirming that the Lancaster is scheduled to attend on the Saturday, shortly followed by another email that the Hurricane will be there on the Sunday, great news for us.

One of our local members Jim did buy & stored it at Bobs with a view to restoring but as Jim already has a number of vehicles he passed it onto Bob who did some work but he's also got a number of other projects so its up for sale. I'm sure if interested parties contact Bob he can say whats been done or needs doing. Looks like a bargain project to me. cheers Paul

Hello Bernard, Thanks for booking in, I look forward to meeting you & Robin, I'm sure it will make many people smile. cheers Paul

Probably easier to get it here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Fram-OIL-FILTER-OIL-CAR-CARTRIDGE-CH869PL1-/360574500405?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53f3ea3e35

The correct oil filter is a FRAM CH-869PL1, you can still buy them trade. I've got about a dozen if you get stuck. As for penthouse suite poles they are quite rare, though depending how the sale goes of my K9 (when I get chance next month) I might sell the penthouse suite separately.

Think best to wait to hear if its definitely off or not.

That's an unusual hijack as I thought your show was the weekend before!

That's puzzling, just spoke with Andrew Baker & he was booked 2 days ago to put on his CVRT/pyro display. Shame, I heard it was a good event.

Thought I would post a pic of his van, which has now been sold by the Patrick Collection in Brum for £63,000 complete with mannequins of the main characters & going to the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford.

Hi Pete, I'll certainly buy you a pint & as for booms the MOD have kindly given us a 2nd live firing 25 pounder on long-term loan so it should noisy enough for you. And we wait to see what else the Garrison will bring. Look forward to seeing you. cheers Paul

Hi Mark, Thanks for letting me know, sorry you can't join us. At least we coped quite well with the weather/ground conditions & certainly fared better than many other shows. Thanks for your support over the last few years. cheers Paul

Hello Smithy, I owe you & your Dad a few pints, especially after the article you wrote for CMV with some very choice words, so I look forward to seeing you. cheers Paul & pm on its way

Thank you Ray, very kind words, we really appreciate all the support, hope to bump into you at Stoneleigh. cheers Paul

Hi Ian, If you can make do come & say hello. cheers Paul