Big ray

Now you really are making me depressed!!!!!!!!.:kissoncheek:

Thank you very much for that snippit of information, I think that thats the way to go..... Cheers, Ray.:kissoncheek:

Not this Saturday, please check the dates for this year!!!!!!!!!:kissoncheek:

Thank you very much for that information, will make the call. Regards. Ray.:kissoncheek:

Thank you very much for that advice, we have done the clutch on our M20 before, but only to clean oil from the plates......... we had so much trouble at that time reassembling the clutch, we certainly would not want to struggle with the wrong plates........... thanks a million. Ray.:kissoncheek:

Sorry, absolutely correct, what I really meant was atmospherically and constructionally it replicates an old station.................. sorry for the mistake, thank you for pointing it out. Cheers, Ray.:kissoncheek:

On completion of our training at Barton Stacey, where incidentally although I had been excused any driver training, I did have to take my driving test along with everyone else. The test involved driving down to Southampton, around the dockland area,and the back to the camp. On completion of my test I was told that I would be retained as a driving instructor, and promoted to corporal. I was very lucky that I managed to wriggle out of that one, but they did post me to North Africa, again (its along story) I managed to get that changed to West Germany, I did not know at that time where in W. Germany, but that did not matter... I don`t like excessively hot weather. I was told by the sergeant that he had never known anyone to get their posting changed!!!. We now all went home on 2 weeks embarkation leave. We returned to camp and trained up to Harwich Docks to take the overnight ferry. I dont think that anyone of our party had ever been out to sea. The ferry set sail at approximately 10.0pm, we were closed down in the bowels of the ferry, we were not allowed to come up on deck at any time during the sailing. We felt the rumble of the engines and knew that we had set sail, it was very smooth. What we did not know was that we were in the inner harbour, once that we had passed into the outer harbour and through into the open sea, it became extremely violent. The ferry pitched and tossed like a cork, we were lying in bunk beds, with very little room between the bunks, and if you occupied a lower bunk (I did) then the bunk above was only a few inches from your nose. At one moment you were being pushed through the bottom of your bunk when the ferry was rising on what must have been very large waves, then momentarily weightless when on the crest of the wave, you remained somewhat weightless as the ferry dropped into the trough....... and then the whole thing was repeated. This could not continue for very long before taking its toll.......... almost to a man we were violently sick............... We could not get off that ferry fast enough the next morning.

Hi Folks, myself and another member need to obtain new clutch plates for our BSA M20 motorcycles........ we are located in North Staffordshire, does anyone know of a good supplier? Thank you in anticipation. Ray.:kissoncheek:

Hi Smithy, probably only 15 to 20 vehicles, but its a good relaxed weekend, nice original railway station, good company with train rides, German and British re-enactors. We have done the weekend for several years and we always enjoy it............ If you need more info go to the MVT site, North Staffs Area. Contact, phone or e-mail, Chris Bond, Events Organizer. Regards, Ray.:kissoncheek:

Hi Folks, just to try to put things into some perspective, when I started driving (1955) petrol was 3/6 per gallon, thats 17.5p in new money........... wages were £8.00 per week. Add to that the fact that the likes of a Morri Minor would probably do 30 miles p.g. ........ today a comparable car will do between 50 and 60 mpg, you will find we are probably no worse off, I have jkust done my sums, and I think that we are better off in real terms.......... Some academics amongst you might prove me wrong.:dancing:

It`s nice to know that you have walked in my footsteps...... and seen what I have seen, I am an old man now (73) I am still reasonably fit and drive or ride my military stuff, GMC, Jeep, Harley Davidson, Etc. They can never take away my memories............ I just wish that I could do it all again, with the same guy`s. Regards. Ray.:dancing:

Hi Bob, they look fantastic !!!!! :dancing::dancing:

Welcome to the madhouse Eric, I am a relatively new member myself, I have found the site to be very addictive............. my wife is beginning to think that I have another woman.... as if.... once is enough. I have quite a good selection of WW2 vehicles myself, I always think that you guy`s are on a good hiding to nothing over there, far too many miles for a get together. I can be in Holland or France after 100---150 miles. Local shows 20 miles, national shows 80-100 miles, so much easier for us over here. You should emigrate, we will make you very welcome. Seriously, enjoy the site.:dancing:

Hi Ashley, the Disposals Unit dealt with all unserviceable materials, for I presume, disposal onto the German market. It was certainly a very busy place when I was there. Canadian troops used the facility along with us, the stuff came in from all over W. Germany............ We even had a group of Yanky troops one day, they obviously could not find the place and drove their bus into our camp (Full sized bus) One of the U.S. troops got off the bus and approached our group, who were on parade, and unusually our C.O. was imparting some information to us..... cant remember the content. The U.S. soldier just walked up to our group and asked the C.O. for directions. The C.O. gave the directions, and then in typical british fashion, took one step back, coming to attention, he then saluted the yank, and said, I just think that someone should salute someone. The yank just turned on his heels and left without saluting....... leaving our C.O. looking rather disgusted. Regards Ray.

I am currently posting some information regarding my army service on INTRODUCTIONS Big Ray...... I have not reached the point where I arrived at Hamm yet, but you may find some of my ramblings interesting. Cheers.

Hi, the third block contained the showers, thats where we had to go, I remember, we used to run the guantlet during the winter months from block 3 back to block 2 (freezing cold) The old disposal unit was situated immediately behing the tank workshops at the rear of the camp. If you drove through the main gate and continued in a straight line as far as you could go you would stop at the tank wash-down, behind which was the then boundary fence. As you travelled down that same road, you passed the turning on your left, then the red gras hockey pitch on your left, then the B class workshops on your left. At the end of the B class workshops it became a T junction, with the T washdown opposite, you turned left and the A class (Tank) workshops were on your right..... forming the boundary between us and the Disposals Depot. When we returned in 1990, all of the area beyond B class workshops had gone, and now this was the extent of the camp boundary. Obviously no need for that area once the place became a school. Regards Ray....... still miss my time in Hamm.:cool2:

Actually...... it`s all very taxing, isn`t it. !!!!!! Just smile and keep taking the pills....... someone said cheer up, things could be a lot worse, so I cheered up, and sure enough, things got a lot worse.:cool2:

TOILET............... what`s a toilet?:cool2:

Barton Stacey was no different in disign than our previous camp at Blandford had been, the usual rushed wooden spider construction, indeed the only relatively recent addition to the site was the garages and workshops, these were the only brick and steel constructions on the site. I suppose that because I had been excempted from driver training, along with my physical stature, 6ft tall, I was noticed by the regular staff, in any event I was chosen to march the men to the cookhouse for meals, plus a few other activities. I would like to have thought that I was chosen for my inteligence, but alas, I suspect that it was for the afformentionedreasons. My time spent at Barton Stacey was not a total waste of time, I did give additional instruction to the more difficult recruits, even continuing with this help long into the evenings. I have little knowledge of the actual tuition given, or indeed where it was given outside of the camp. Discipline was just as rigid in this camp has it had been in the previous one. I personally did never do a normal guard duty, but like many others did what they called vehicle picket, this involved patrolling amongst the parked vehicles during the night, keeping guard. On one of these duties a guy from Manchester patrolled with me, he wanted a smoke, something that we were not allowed to do, so I sugested that he should hide himself in the workshop and have his smoke, whilst I acted as lookout. The workshop was of course in complete darkness, and had to remain so if we did not want to attract attention to ourselves. Suddenly I heard a loud cry and subsequent moaning sounds. I was forced now to turn on the lights, only to discover that my friend had fallen into an open inspection pit. He had sliced his cheek completely through on the steel edge of the pit. There was almost no bleeding, I retrieved his cigarette and gave it to him to smoke ( He was in shock) only when he tried to draw on the cigarette did I realize that he could not do so, because the air passed through his lacerated cheek.:cool2:

Barton Stacey was no different in disign than our previous camp at Blandford had been, the usual rushed wooden spider construction, indeed the only relatively recent addition to the site was the garages and workshops, these were the only brick and steel constructions on the site. I suppose that because I had been excempted from driver training, along with my physical stature, 6ft tall, I was noticed by the regular staff, in any event I was chosen to march the men to the cookhouse for meals, plus a few other activities. I would like to have thought that I was chosen for my inteligence, but alas, I suspect that it was for the afformentionedreasons. My time spent at Barton Stacey was not a total waste of time, I did give additional instruction to the more difficult recruits, even continuing with this help long into the evenings. I have little knowledge of the actual tuition given, or indeed where it was given outside of the camp. Discipline was just as rigid in this camp has it had been in the previous one. I personally did never do a normal guard duty, but like many others did what they called vehicle picket, this involved patrolling amongst the parked vehicles during the night, keeping guard. On one of these duties a guy from Manchester patrolled with me, he wanted a smoke, something that we were not allowed to do, so I sugested that he should hide himself in the workshop and have his smoke, whilst I acted as lookout. The workshop was of course in complete darkness, and had to remain so if we did not want to attract attention to ourselves. Suddenly I heard a loud cry and subsequent moaning sounds. I was forced now to turn on the lights, only to discover that my friend had fallen into an open inspection pit. He had sliced his cheek completely through on the steel edge of the pit. There was almost no bleeding, I retrieved his cigarette and gave it to him to smoke ( He was in shock) only when he tried to draw on the cigarette did I realize that he could not do so, because the air passed through his lacerated cheek.:cool2:

You are correct on that point...... 3.5 tonnes, you now have to be tested for up to 7.5 tonnes.:cool2:

The answer......... sleep on top of the tank !!!! Seriously a 9x9 is great, you just need decent beds, even better sleeping bags, and you will be just fine. Have fun.:cool2:

I would have thought that it was more like a part of the landfill !!!!!! :cool2:

Read K2 Lofty, thank you.

Hi Folks, we visited Malta a few years ago, we are a group of MVT members from the North Staffordshire Area. We were received by your group and given a fantastic time whilst on the island. We saw lots of your stuff and travelled around some of your members homes. I remember one in particular where the guy was restoring a fabulous Canadian Dodge (Long nose tipper? ) all that was missing to complete the restoration were the inner door linings............ we had a fabulous time, all down to the hospitality of your members. You are correct when you say that nothing is standard with vehicles in Malta.... I found the buses fascinating. Regards from a very grateful group of people.:cool2: