baldsparrow Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Hi I have just joined the forum and my real name is Brian although I shall use Baldsparrow as my forum name as that best sums up my looks I reckon! I served in the Royal Tank Regiment during the 1970s and whilst with them was posted to MVEE Chertsey as a Military Test Driver and after my 2 years was up I then stayed as a civilian test driver. For those who don't know all vehicles that were to go into military service have to pass various test criteria to ensure that they are fit for the intended role and as a general rule this worked although there have been exceptions. MVEE was on the edge of Chobham Common in Surrey and the primary purpose was the design and development of armoured vehicles and associated equipment, running a close second was the truck element and other vehicles including motorbikes. If any one wants more info just ask and I'll tell what I can or actually know. Baldsparrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roof Over Britain Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Hi brian and welcome to the forum. Must have been interesting work at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldsparrow Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Hi brian and welcome to the forum. Must have been interesting work at times. Thanks for the welcome, yes it was interesting and as any one who worked there especially in the Cold War years could tell you it was a very busy place with vehicles of one type or another being trialled sometimes all day and through the night, like any job it had it's good bits and the bad, as I spent a great deal of my time on tanks the weather could play a big part in either soaking you or freezing you or both, no heaters then you know. As for trucks actually to have a proper seat when driving was at times a luxury! In truck terms you could split those into 2 categories, those on trial and the everyday workhorses which carried tanks or equipment up and down the country (or abroad) and I shall explain more about those on another thread soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilik15 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Welcome in baldsparrow :-\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldsparrow Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Welcome in baldsparrow :-\ Thanks Neilik15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcot1751 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Welcome to the HMVF Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Welcome Brian. Sounds like you'll be able to give a relevant comment on most British post war wagons then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Welcome aboard! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 WELCOME this makes three of us that where at CHERTSEY me on and off from 1968 to my last visit in 1998 to collect a mark 3 antar and receive a presentation gift and editor who was involved in the armour side of things while serving it will be interesting to see your views of CHERTSEY and you never know we may have mutual friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_bish Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 welcome on board. Certainly keen to hear what knowledge and stories you have to share Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldsparrow Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Thanks to all for the welcome, Wally the Antar you speak of is it the re-built one that caught fire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 BRIAN the antar was the trials one with the fibreglass cab reg spx cannot remember the rest COL RICHARD GREAVETTE-BALL was the issuing officer on the day it was used as ballast for awhile l was told and it came with eleven new tyres did you know bill budd? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldsparrow Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 BRIAN the antar was the trials one with the fibreglass cab reg spx cannot remember the rest COL RICHARD GREAVETTE-BALL was the issuing officer on the day it was used as ballast for awhile l was told and it came with eleven new tyresdid you know bill budd? That Antar caught fire on Red Road approaching Bagshot Test Track sometime in the 1980s, a hydraulic pipe burst onto the exhaust and up it went very quickly, the two crew one of whom was Digger Constantine just managed to jump clear before the cab was engulfed in flames hence it had to be re-built and put back into service, I drove it on rare occasions to Shoeburyness, Bovington, Thetford and Fort Halstead. Digger left us and moved to Cornwall taking over a Post Office then contracted cancer and sadly passed away, smashing chap well liked. I still know Bill Budd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucie Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Hi Brian You werent by any chance ex 2 RTR, supported that football team named Watford? and got replaced by a chap called Steve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth dawe Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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