father ted

 

 

The third, JUV833, is barely known about. I only know of it because it used to be mine! The chassis number indicated that it started life as an ambulance and at some stage was given the 'fire service' body shown. I acquired it circa 1987, as a teenager, from a chap near Hook Norton - so presumably just down the road from Jules and Tobin! It had been sitting in the vendor's front garden for many a year and took ages to start, which should have been a warning sign; as should it boiling up about half a mile from the vendor's (and all the way home!). But what did I know, I was young and I'd wanted a Humber FWD for ages. It soon became apparent that it was very un-roadworthy; almost everything was worn out; and the decision was taken to strip it down and re-build it back to ambulance guise. However life got in the way and it moved to the Portsmouth area and I subsequently heard that it had been given a 15cwt body. I'm fairly certain this and the French 15cwt are one and the same vehicle. From other pictures I've seen they both have the early concertina air filter. But the chassis number or a closer examination of certain tell-tale features would confirm for sure.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]85012[/ATTACH]

 

As an aside, the inside of the rear body had been red at some time or other, suggesting fire service use but the vehicle's history was unknown. And then during or shortly after ownership an aeroplane disaster movie from the 50s/60s was shown on the gogglebox. One scene showed some crash tenders being scrambled - WOT1s etc - at somewhere like Heathrow. Amongst them was a Humber with a JUV registration a few digits away from this one and a similar body. So my FWD may have indeed have had a (post war) fire service history at an airport somewhere. But given the style adopted, you'd have thought it would have been much easier to convert a PU than an ambulance!

 

 

Hello Runflat, I think I have a few photos that may interest you.

JUV 833 shown in service with Birmingham Airport Fire Service in the '60s.

My Grandfather was Chief Airport Fire Officer there, for many years and often used this vehicle as his personal station car. (My uncle has many fond memories of driving this - even when he shouldn't have!)

Hope you find these interesting?

Hello all, new member from Solihull.

Primarily interested in airfield fire fighting vehicles (I'm co-owner of two Thornycroft Nubian Majors) but have always had a huge soft spot for mil and ex-mil vehicles.

44 year-old aircraft engineer, based at Birmingham Airport.

Glad to be on board this forum, for all the advice and info it profers.

Paul