Phil P

I have just received the funeral arrangements for Alans funeral. St Mary the Virgin Church, Gislingham, Suffolk IP23 8HP Monday 2nd April at 2-00pm. Afterwards at the village hall. Flowers or donations to: Susan Whymark Funeral Service Ltd. The Old Stables, Chestnut Farm, Langton Green, EYE, Suffolk. IP23 7HL. Donations will be divided between the two wards where Alan was treated at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. Clive. That was a brilliant posting. Few people perhaps realise what an influence Alan was not only on MV insurance but other areas of classic vehicle insurance. Not a hard act to follow but an impossible one! Phil Palmer

It was with great shock and sadness to hear of the passing of Alan Cogdell MVT's National Treasurer. Alan passed away on Monday. Alan was a true gentleman and an irreplaceable asset to the Military Vehicle Trust. His guiding hand in all things insurance and finance was always done in his own quiet relaxed manner. Our thoughts go out to his wife Moira and family at this sad time. RIP Alan. On behalf of all the members of the Birmingham & West Milands Area MVT. Phil Palmer Chairman B&WMA.

Hi Timbo. Thanks mate. Scorch has been working his little socks off on the site preparing it for vehicle displays and digging trenches etc for reenactors. Grandad Bob is well pleased with him. Watch this space. Phil (Grandad Bob) and Grumpy

Hi Timbo. What's this, road run, do you you know something the committee doesn't know? If you want one do you fancy organising it? Send me a PM if you do. Most things are organised and ordered. We have all the usual things going on plus a Wall Of Death display and a firework display on the Sunday evening for vehicle entrants and re enactors. The beer tent is bigger, there's more toilets and regularly serviced. We are developing the site for re enactors to put on displays. To enter go to www,tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk and click on exhibitors to download an entry form or book in on line. The choice is yours. A show organised by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. Phil & Grumpy.

NGK B6S is the best plug for a T215 engine. Gap them at 0.030" for 'stock' ignition with 5 degrees advance 0.035" for electronic with 7 degrees advance. Sit back and enjoy the smooooth running. Champion was a crap name for a wonder horse so don't mess with the plugs! My MB j££££££££££p runs ok with Auto lite 295 but like a Dodge Charger with NGK! I put Champions in it when the engine was rebuilt but only to keep the threads clean when I painted the lump:D

More work has been done on site ready for the 2012 show. Trenches are currently being dug plus the wooded area has been lanscaped and the pool dug out. Trees have been thinned so a camping area in the trees will be available. All re enactment groups of all periods are welcome. If you have any ideas on what we need to do to improve the site for your groups tell us now. More toilets will be on site for 2012 and the hot showers again will be there. The beer tent will be bigger and more catering will be on site. Vehicle owners of all periods are welcome. Camping for those who are going to the Victory Show will be provided if you come to our show. WE can only get better if YOU tell us what YOU need. Tanks Trucks and Firepower Show 2012-run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. The best pyro display in the UK. Phil P and Grumpy

Thanks to BigRay, Tony and Rob W for the French village diorama plus the good guys from the Second City Militia for all their help as usual. I enjoyed myself meeting all my MV mates I didn't get much chance to spend money I haven't got on stuff I don't need! Phillipe Artoise

For the third year the Birmingham & West Midlands Area MVT and the Alvis Fighting Vehicles Society are joining forces to present Tanks Trucks and Firepower Show 2012 at Dunchurch near Rugby over the Bank Holiday, 25th, 26th, 27th August 2012. You will be able to book in online in the next week or so. Grumpy says he has set it up already but I couldn't open it so you had better give it a few days while he checks out if it's me or the connection thingy. (As you can see I'm not compatible with these electronic gizmos!) The show WILL be bigger and better. We are listening and learning from comments made by visitors and vehicle entrants. The quagmire in the gateway to the show field is being addressed. To those who have supported us for the past two years a big big thank you and to those who haven't been before, give us a try, I guaranttee you will come back for 2013. Yes we do plan that far ahead! We are well into planning for 2012 already. The sun is booked and entry forms are available by e mail if you don't want to enter online. Go to hippo1944@hotmail.com Phil P and Grumpy

Big Ray you do yourself a disservice. If it wasn't for you and the North Staffs Area MVT, we could not have won this award on our own. A big big thank for all your help. Also a huge thank you the team of Guys and Gals from the Birmingham & West Midlands Area MVT (Second City Militia) for making the whole thing happen. The sleepless nights and panic attacks were worth it!! Don't forget, we will be back in 2012. Bigger than this year. Phil

Well done Ray. The correct application of common sense and it can work wonders. Look forward to the pics. Phil

May I say a big big thank you to all the vehicle owners an members of the public for attending Tanks Trucks & Firepower 2011 at Dunchurch. The weather did it's best to give us a knee in the groin (I cleaned that up from what I was going to put!) but in spite of that we had an 80% turn out of vehicles which ain't bad. I know some folks went home early on Monday but there's not a lot we can do about that but we realise some folks have a long way to go and have to be up for work on the Tuesday. I don't have that annoying problem!! If everything appeared to be running smoothly then that was down to the fantastic volunteers who pitched in and filled in the gaps. The soft skin arena was quiet at times and didn't follow the programme. We found out on Saturday morning that the guy who was organising the arena and doing the commentary wasn't coming!! So the emergency plan was put in place...er....only we hadn't got an emergency plan!! A very special thank you to Mr Edwin Baker who owns the land for allowing us to have a show. Not forgetting all the guys and gals from the Alvis Fighting Vehicle Society and the Birmingham & West Midlands Area MVT (Second City Militia) who helped and 'Man of the weekend' 'Scorch' who worked none stop moving vehicles clearing the arena and on and on. Will we be back in 2012? YES. Bigger better more organised and with a few additional items. I think our first committee meeting for next years show is in three weeks. There's nothing like being prepared. If you have any comments or criticisms of the show then please post them on here or on the www.tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk website blog. Please don't start a seperate thread as they may get missed. We will read them all and that way we will know what we're doing well at and what we are not. Once again thank you and hopefully we'll see you again next year. A special thank you to Grumpy for some how managing to keep the show on the road. Phil Palmer Organising Committee member. Tanks Trucks & Firepower Show ps. The long range weather forecast says it will be in the 80's for all three days.

This is basically a WW2 only event though a few Post War vehicles will be allowed to park in a seperate area. Lock in on Saturday night as it an active MOD site as well as being the RAF Museum. The vehicle display is part of the Museums Battle of Britain weekend. There are no plans for an air display. Phil P Display co ordinator for Birmingham & West Midlands Area MVT (The Second City Militia)

A big big thank you to all those vehicle owners re enactors and enthusiats and members of the public for braving the weather to attend Tanks Trucks & Firepower Show at Dunchurch. The forecast said Saturday was mixed but Sunday and Monday ok. The internet weather check on Monday for Dunchurch said high white cload and 19c. We did this check stood on the show site and it was cold and dull!!! Wah. These last two years have been a sharp learning curve for the committee. A very special thank you to Mr Edwin Baker for allowing us to totally disrupt his farm for nearly three weeks for the show. Thats one week set up and one week tear down plus the show. Once again a huge thank you to all those who showed and supported us. We WILL be back next year same time same place and bigger and better. Constructive comments and criticism are always welcome. That's how we can only get better so please post them on here. If you will excuse me I'm off on the IMPS Pas de Calaise tour for a rest. Phil Palmer on behalf of the Tanks Trucks & Firepower Show Committee. ps. Just a quick note to the vehicle owner who called the Steward in the Booking In tent a 'bloody prat!' amongst other things, your imput is NOT required. How ever if you would like to write to me in private and apologise then I will pass it to the lad involved. The guy doing it had volunteered so I could have a break. WE know who you are.

What happened Big Ray. We marked out a spot for you with a back drop of trees but you didn't arrive. I will send a PM to you. Once again the weather somewhat caused various things to get out of time slot and Kneed us in the groin (Cleaned that up!) but on the inside looking out most folks seemed to be having a great time. For those who came a big thank you. We are open to sensible suggestions on how to make it better. Please post it on the TANKS TRUCKS & FIREPOWER postings page. I won't be reading it for a few days because tomorrow (Wednesday) I am collecting the Hippo from Dunchurch and driving over to Souchez France for tyhe IMPS Pas de Calaise tour. I need the rest!! Phil

If you haven't already you can still book in on line at www.tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk If it's after Wednesday 24 August 2011 you probably won't get a welcome pack posted out but you will be on the entry list. OR you can just turn up and get booked in. Please go to the booking in tent so we know you have arrived. It will be manned from Mid Friday morning, probably by me!!. DON'T FORGET. If you enter our show you can stay over and then go to the Victory Show to save you travelling back home. If you turn up on Monday afternoon to stay over for the Victory Show we might just find you a job to do!! Phil. I'd better mention Grumpy so he doesn't live up to his name!

Entries are still coming in with a few nice suprises. If you are a re enactment group and want to come but haven't booked in you can do it on line. Just go to www,tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk and then follow the instructions. It's so easy I can do it!! Don't forget if you are doing the Victory Show the following weekend you can do our show then stay over until the Thursday. That's when the portaloos go back. Phil. Grumpys planning a suprise.........I think.

I can only echo what everyone else has said. I didn't know Marc as a close friend but remember him from the Bethune tours. I was going to do the Pas de Calaise tour this year in my MB but I think I will feel safer taking the Hippo. The driving standards in the UK are a disgrace. The M20 North bound seems the worst for lunatic foriegn truckers. My deepest thoughts for Marcs family at this time and I am sure I can pass those of others who met in France and I hope Robin makes a full and speedy recovery. Phil Palmer. Chairman Birmingham & West Midlands Area MVT

Entries are still coming in but if you haven't booked in yet and you are coming then please send in your entries. Some folks have had problems e nmailing me using the show e mail address but you can always get me on hippo1944@hotmail.com that addressis checked three times a day, Yes ok I'm very sad...sowhat!:laugh: Phil. Grumpy says hello:) (You haven't got a grumpy icon.

Hi Stal108. Cheers mate, that proves that the booking in system works. The site layout is already sorted with additional toilets around the site to save walking too far!! We have booked a small fair for a bit of additional entertainment during the day. We do recognise that not everybody in a family group may not be MV orientated and want something differant. The 'minitanks' are booked as they were very popular last year plus the 432 rides. The bangs will be even bigger and more spectacular than ever!! If anybody wants to put on a display in the soft skin arena please e mail me so we can put you in the programme. Phil & Grumpy

Hello whats that icon doing up there? Phil

Hi Blue Red Blue. I'm sorry you may not be able to make it to the show after all. I have sent I hope a private e mail to you but I thought I would put it on here as well. We have reserved a space for your display which we will keep open until two weeks before the show if you find you can still come. If there is anybody who was joining up with the Falklands display and still wants to come or have yet to enter then please e mail me direct on: hippo1944@hotmail.com Planning for the show is well advanced plus a site layout. Vehicle owners who have already booked in will have received there welcome pack by now. Wrist bands will be issued on the gate when you arrive. They can then be used for free access to the site and for discounts in the bar. This year you can buy alcoholic, soft drinks, tea & coffee in the bar area. I will start posting regularly on this site to give updates. Don't forget you can book in on line at www.tankstrucksandfirepowershow.co.uk or e mail me direct. Regards Phil ps Grumpy says hello.

Hi Red Blue Red You are booked in. keep us updated on the area you require. We have another large(ish) display coming that requires a flat area. Phil & Grumpy

TANKS, TRUCKS & FIREPOWER SHOW IS STILL ON. There seems to be some doubt amongst some folks but it IS still on. We have regular monthly meetings to keep everything updated. If your are coming and putting on a display then please book in and tell us the size of your display. Vehicle owners can book in online. It takes as long as it takes you to type in the details. The website will then tell you are entered and a welcome pack will be sent out. Advertising for the show is going out but we decided to put it out nearer the day. Place an advert in April and folks have forgotten it by July. Well I do! There will be more toilets this year placed around the site. Last year they arrived on the Friday and we had to unload them on some hard standing. The Allterrain fork lift wasn't available so they stayed were we dropped them off. THIS year we won't have that problem. There will be showers again. We will be sending out wrist bands to entrants which gives you access to the site plus a discount in the bar. Come on send in your entries either posted or on line. www.tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk Phil and Grumpy

If you are a part of a re enactment group or would like to put on a diorama or put on a display in the show arena then please book in through the official website. Only bookings received on the official website will be accepted and sufficient space allocated to you. I will also accept postal bookings on an official entry form. If you e mail me on hippo1944@hotmail.com I can e mail one to you. Please enter through either of these. If you booked in in any other form we won't know and so no space will be allocated. Vehicle bookings should also be done this way. You will then receive an imformation pack and wrist bands etc issued. Also we will know you are coming and again sufficient space allocated. Vehicle entries are already ahead of last years total on the day but we have tons of space available so get your entries in. Phil:laugh: & Grumpy:-(

Nice pic of the Supacat suitably 'blinged up' on our Alvis Fighting Vehicles Society & Birmingham West Midlands Area display. Bought some more bits for the j£££££££££££££p!! and haded out lots of entry forms for Tanks Trucks and Firepower Show www.tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk Phil