Big ray

I fear that you may well have your wallet surgically removed before being allowed out on your own again....... the motorcycle looks very nice though.

Correct, well spotted.

Those were the days, circa 1957 / 58, taking scrapped items for disposal (Germany)

Thank you, I stand corrected.

The leyland Hippo that I drove in the 1950s definitely did not come into service before 1944........... I maybe wrong about the 1946 date of termination of production so I stand to be corrected.

The Commer was a well built truck, and quite good to drive,

A fine example of the GMC 353, seen at Reaseheath College Family Day, Nantwich, Cheshire. today.

Welcome in............ thats a fine looking machine.

The year on the previous photograph is wrong..... it should read 1958, thats when it closed and became a school, we moved out in the autumn of 1958....... the tennis courts did not exist when we were in residence, and the building on the left was our cookhouse / dining hall..... it only seems like yesterday that we were walking in and out of the place, wonderful memories.

This is a photograph of our German friend "Bob" Hubbert Frolich. Sent to us at the time of our re-union in 1962 held in Sheffield South Yorkshire............. not long after this both he and his wife (Maria) joined us in the UK for several of our re-unions. He ultimately organized things on the German side when we made our visit back there in 1990...... sadly "Bob" has since died, he was a wonderful humanitarian.

Welcome to the friendly forum.

What a shame that the old buses have gone.......... it was worth going just to ride the buses !!!!

The old RAF airfield as been converted into a multiple outlet using the old Nissen huts, you will find a military museum amongst them. When we visited we spoke with the museum curator and asked if they had any military vehicle restorers on the Island, he gave us a phone number and we had a fantastic time with the guys. The museum also had a lot of unrestored exhibits out the back locked away....... once that we had told the curator who we were and what we did for a hobby he unlocked the gate and allowed us all the time that we wanted to wonder around........ its amazing just how much stuff is on the Island when you start to dig around......... good luck with your visit.

Nige, look under The Meetings Log & Photobook. Then, Llandudno Transport Rally.

Just to illustrate the gravity of your current situation, when I was a young man driving in the early 1950s we used to leave the keys in some of our vehicles, even whilst parked on the highway overnight. ( We had to use marker lights in those days during hours of darkness.) Lots of our vehicles were fitted with ignition switches rather than a key, but I do not ever recall a case of theft of vehicle or fuel. As my late grandfather (WW1 veteran) used to say to me.... its a beautiful world son..... its just the people in it..... I really do not know what the answer is anymore, I only know that I would not swop my early life with anyone today.

I have just accessed the site.......... no problems.

Hi Nige, there was a Bedford OXC at the Llandudno show this weekend, I was not there, its shown on this forum...... someone must know who owns it, perhaps they can get him / her to send you some pic`s........... just a thought. If anyone can help Nigel would be delighted......... thanks............ sorry if I have spelt Llandudno wrong, I have trouble with English, never mind Welsh.

The Bedford MW GS fitted with the Perkins engine is most likely ex-wd, but not all MW models went to the military, a few were actually produced for the civilian market. I drove one in 1954 / 55. Reg No. LRE 52.... how`s that for a memory, I have always remembered it because it was such a beautiful truck to drive.

Now you are just being silly............REALLY !!!!!

Some spares arriving tomorrow, we can get a bit more work done, will try to remember to take a few photographs.

I never understood why the army did not make use of tractors, fabulous piece of cross country equipment. In the 1950s when we were breaking military trucks (Slap on the wrist) we sold rear drive axles to the farmers in North Devon. They used them on their trailers and ran a propshaft from the tractor P.T.O. to give them traction up those North Devon hills. The drive would not be synchronized between the tractor drive wheels and the now driven wheels of the trailer, but that did not matter on wet ground.............. necessity is the mother of invention they say, and the North Devon farmers soon worked that one out. ( I used tractors for most of my time in business, always enjoyed working them.)

Sorry that its somewhat poor quality, its the only one that I have.

The Leyland Retriever was introduced in 1939 and production ceased in 1943. The Leyland Hippo was not introduced until 1944 and ceased production in 1946. The Leyland Retriever WLW1 was fitted with several bodies (Not all on the same truck!!!) GS, Machinery, Breakdown, Workshop, Bridging, Gun Mounts, Wireless and Coles Crane. It had a four cylinder petrol engine, rated at 33.3 hp. somewhat underpowered............ but there aint many on the show scene, so I guess that it would be something of a show stopper if restored well............ good luck if you take it on.

I think that you have answered your own question here......... the engine needs some TLC !!!!!

Welcome in Dave, you should find all of the help that you need from these very knowledgeable on this site...... good luck with the restoration, and we do like to see photographs if possible.