Foxtrot 8

Yes indeed, I have plenty of stories to tell of my old beast but my wife doesn't like me talking about her like that !!!! With regards to buying something else, very little fits me that I can afford or want.

Hi Guys, Hello from North Abingdon, Oxfordshire. I had to sell it, but for a couple of years I was the proud owner of a Canadian 1940 type 11 cab Ford F8 wireless truck. It was restored from a scrapyard wreck by an extremely clever chap near Wantage. It went really well with a 32 hp V8 under the engine cover, producing about 92 bhp. It easily kept up with modern traffic up to 50mph or so. The crash gearbox was a challenge though, but my biggest problem was lack of room in the cab. It was ok if you were about 5 foot nine, but sadly (?) I'm six foot 2 and have just retired with all the associated aches and pains ! I did love it though. Nigel.

There used to be a complete Canberra alongside what is now an antiques centre on the outskirts of Watlington many years ago. That also vanished, and I have never found anyone who knew anything about it or even remembers seeing it !!! However, I don't drink or take drugs and I just know it was there. It was complete and standing on its undercarraige when I saw it. Is this the same beast that was at Bicester recently ? I believe what is now the antiques centre building was once a military owned area, and someone I know who lives fairly local to it reckonned it was a RAOC depot in WWII.

I believe it was a government directive that saw all the UK air raid sirens removed from their lofty perches. I knew of four around Oxford (near where I live) all gone now. However, there is still one up under the eaves of Bampton town hall. Bampton is a small village in Oxfordshire where some of the outside filming for the Downton Abbey TV series takes place, ask the wife ! (I hope this doesn't sound the death knell for this now rare piece of history.) I live about a mile from what was RAF Abingdon, now an army camp, and every Friday at 10-00 hrs precisely the siren was tested for a few minutes. It sounded great, and was very evocative, especially the all clear signal. It doesn't seem to happen now though. Shame. Anyone know of any others ?