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COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS
During the current pandemic some events might be postponed or cancelled. Please check with the organisers if there is any doubt.
Bad camouflage for WW2 veteran!
Will Needham fired up his 1941 CMP Chevrolet 15cwt truck for a ride round his farm in the January 2021 snow. The sharp-eyed among you might recognise the trailer in the background. It’s an ex-WW2 RAF tanker trailer converted years ago for farm use, one of five still on his farm. The truck could have pulled one in its working life.
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Tim Ryan's Land Rover Lightweight
Tim Ryan’s Land Rover Lightweight has had a facelift. He says: “It was in a real state when I purchased it. It had a fresh MoT, although it had at least six obvious fails without looking too deep. It was hand painted in a very strange shade of pink, splashed liberally everywhere, including on the easily removable items like heater ducts and tyres.
“It was stripped back to bare metal, etch-primed and top coated, fitted with a new hood, carb and electronic ignition plus a myriad of little jobs. Next job will be to fit an overdrive as the engine is screaming at high revs while only doing 40mph.”
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Sherman tank driver Arthur dies
It is with sadness that we learnt the passing of Normandy veteran Arthur Jones. The Sherman tank driver died on Saturday, December 12, aged 94.
Arthur joined the army in 1944, aged 18, and, after just a few weeks learning to drive a tank, landed at Gold Beach on D+7. His was an observation post tank and had a dummy gun! He ended the war in Bremen, aged 19, but was not demobbed until 1947.
We first met Arthur at Wicksteed at War, 2015, when he was brought on the Friday education day by his friend Steve Harper.
The veteran wanted to see a Sherman but we had a surprise in store for him. A Sherman used in the Brad Pitt film Fury was on hand so Arthur's wish could easily be fulfilled. But we wanted to go one better.
Wicksteed Park provided a front loader fitted with a "man cage", completed risk assessments and method statements, checked the insurance and we were able to pick up Arthur and deposit him gently into the turret of the tank.
Arthur's experience didn't end there. The venerable 33-ton tank went trundling around the park with Arthur delightedly waving from the top.
"I thought I was coming to look at a Sherman," said Arthur. "I never dreamed I'd be able to ride on one. It's been a fantastic day and I can't thank the organisers enough."
The following year, we met Arthur again at our annual Christmas meeting. He entertained us with two love stories, one his mother’s love for her son and the other the love of a family in France who took him in when his Sherman tank broke down.
He and a friend traced the family who had looked after him in 1944 and 62 years later there was a reunion, filmed by Central News TV.
Steve Harper thanked everyone at the MVTSEM for their time spent with Arthur. For our part, it was an honour and a privilege to get to know this brave and humble man.
Pictures show Arthur taking the salute in the Fury Sherman at Wicksteed at War 2015; gathered with the SE Midlands Area at our Christmas 2016 meeting; and talking with area secretary Neill Elliott. Video shows Arthur and the Sherman leading a tracked convoy at Wicksteed 2015.
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Mike York's 1946 Chevy
Mike has just acquired this ex-Alabama Chevrolet airfield emergency vehicle
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Andy Speechley's 1942 M3A1 White Scout Car
Andy is fitting a radio to his Scout Car. He writes:
Prior to D-Day, US Tank Destroyer units were equipped with M3A1 Scout Cars to provide a reconnaissance and command vehicle function. In order to integrate with the tank destroyers, they were retrofitted with the radio equipment used by US armoured units.
The SCR528 or SCR508 was a modular system consisting of FM transmitter and one or two FM receivers. This allowed the monitoring of two channels at any time, a vehicle intercom system and transmission on one channel.
As can be seen in the diagram this required the removal of the rear two seats to accommodate the radio cabinet and a new antenna mount. The radio was then operated by the two-crew facing to the rear. Situational awareness was improved with the wiring of a BC606 intercom box in the commander’s position, allowing him to transmit through the radio set or speak to the operators.
When I acquired the Scout Car the brackets and mounting holes for a radio cabinet were already present, along with the original microphone hook and elements of the wiring. Once the cabinet was installed by directly mounting to the floor and existing brackets the radio tray could be bolted in, and then the radio modules slide on a track into position, where they lock into their respective ports.
The next stage of installation will be to connect the system into the radio junction box and wire in the antenna and intercom. However, that will probably be a job for warmer weather!
Prior to D-Day, US Tank Destroyer units were equipped with M3A1 Scout Cars to provide a reconnaissance and command vehicle function. In order to integrate with the tank destroyers, they were retrofitted with the radio equipment used by US armoured units.
The SCR528 or SCR508 was a modular system consisting of FM transmitter and one or two FM receivers. This allowed the monitoring of two channels at any time, a vehicle intercom system and transmission on one channel.
As can be seen in the diagram this required the removal of the rear two seats to accommodate the radio cabinet and a new antenna mount. The radio was then operated by the two-crew facing to the rear. Situational awareness was improved with the wiring of a BC606 intercom box in the commander’s position, allowing him to transmit through the radio set or speak to the operators.
When I acquired the Scout Car the brackets and mounting holes for a radio cabinet were already present, along with the original microphone hook and elements of the wiring. Once the cabinet was installed by directly mounting to the floor and existing brackets the radio tray could be bolted in, and then the radio modules slide on a track into position, where they lock into their respective ports.
The next stage of installation will be to connect the system into the radio junction box and wire in the antenna and intercom. However, that will probably be a job for warmer weather!
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Remembrance Sunday 2020 in Covid lockdown
John Underwood's MVs
John laid a wreath on Sunday morning on behalf of the MVT SEM at a short service at Weldon
Gary Stock's Jeep
Mike York's Jeep
Heather Bailey's Standard Flying 10
Video below is of Heather and her boyfriend Ashley Lowe playing Abide With Me and the Last Post.
Steve Myles's Land Rover Pulse Ambulance
Peter Clarke's Jeep and Parabike
Steve Smith's Jeep
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Parabike still has original paint
Peter Clarke got an early Christmas present in the shape of a BSA Parabike, still with its wartime paint. It carries both British and Danish stamps and was probably one of a batch given to Denmark after the war. The Danish Army modified the bike to include a coaster-type rear brake but it has now been put back ito its original trim. The Parabike was found in Finland before being bought back to the UK.
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New Year's Day meet is cancelled
A message from ther organisers of Vintage Stony, which SEM members have attended in previous years: As you will know, our event is held in a public space where it is not possible to control the number of visitors – be they exhibitors with their vintage and classic cars or the many members of the public who attend. With the ongoing Covid–19 epidemic and demands required of the Government Protocols, we could not guarantee to maintain safe distances between you all, nor maintain the maximum meeting numbers required. We sincerely hope that this dilemma will be over soon and that we are able to invite you all to our Classic Stony event pencilled in for 6th June 2021. In the meantime, we hope that you will keep safe and will manage to avoid this illness, and we look forward to seeing you and your cars, bikes and other vehicles of interest in the future. Best Wishes to you all, Vintage & Stony Events Team The picture is from the January 1, 2020 meet. |
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Sywell area meeting 05-09-20
Our September area meeting was held al fresco in the car park of Sywell Aviation Museum, with members keeping their distance or wearing masks. Most members bought their MVs with them and it was decided to award the Best in Show Rosebowl on the day. This went to Steve Myles and his 1998 Land Rover Pulse Ambulance (main picture and below). Also visiting were the Wingless Wonders team from South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster with military Land Rovers, a quad bike and an armament display.
Pictures below by Tim Cross
More pictures by Vaughn Glynn
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Tanks, Trucks and Firepower Show August 2020
Pictures by Kevin Lamberth
More pictures by Vaughn Glynn
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Wicksteed fund-raiser
Four MVs supported the fund-raising day at Wicksteed Park with vehicles from the USA, USSR, West Germany and the UK. Thanks to Tony Patrick for the picture.
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Brian Rives' 1942 Ford pick-up
Brian Rive writes: "I`m sending you pictures of my project and how far it's got so far. It's a 1942 Ford pick-up and a proper WW2 American military vehicle. It's still has its tag on the dash like a Jeep plus, as can be seen on the pictures, a bonnet number and stars on the doors and roof. Other than a lot of surface rust there was a lot of olive green under the white wash as I call it. The body panels have now been sandblasted and all are ready to go to the body shop to be repaired ready to be painted. If it wasn't for the lock-down, I wouldn't be this far ahead! Hopefully it will be ready for next year's season. I`ll send some more pictures when I start putting it back together."
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Socially distanced VE Day 75
Brian Francis
1942 Ford GPW in 305th Bomb Group, Chelveston artwork from veteran friend Nick Sanchez, a ball turret gunner on B-17 GI Miss America. He was 18 years old and completed 30 missions. He's still alive and playing golf above ground.
Peter Clarke
1962 Hotchkiss M201 and scratch-built half-scale Jeep. See also video below.
Jim Ragosa
Safely celebrating VE Day on my drive way in Corby. Enjoyed afternoon tea and music from 1940s.
Ian Clayton
We had an end of drive street party. This was taken at a neighbour, four doors away.Bike is a 1937 BSA , non military. Nice period furniture and gramophone !
Steve Gascoigne
Blight's Farm, Devon. It may not be much, but we're doing our bit. PS couldn't find the 48 star flag in time.
(Steve was the founder of the SE Midlands Area before emigrating to the West Country)
Will Needham
Chevrolet, Dodge and 1942 Lend Lease Oliver 80 tractor.
Mike York
VE Day 75 at “Ourgate”. Had a little drive around the local roads, flying the flag. Set up my motors and had a great day. Lovely weather.
John and Judith Underwood
East Carlton Park on VE Day. We were very lucky as the village lends itself to socially distant picnics on the front lawn, with the air raid all clear sounding after the two minute silence and the Prime Minister’s speech heard on the Bush wireless, along with the odd spam sandwich and slice of cake. A wonderful day in the sun.
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Obituary
Robert Charles Langton Aran
By Howard Aran
Robert, or Bob as he preferred to be known, was born in 1938 in Leeds. His family moved to Northamptonshire to the small village of Blakesley where he spent his wartime childhood, his mother and father being headteachers at the local school.
Bob married my mother, a local girl, following his National Service which he served in the Royal Air Force. He was stationed at El-Adam air base in Libya, and spent time in Tobruk and Benghazie.
Following National Service, Bob elected to join the RAF and wanted to become a pilot, but due to his colour blindness he was selected for meteorological scientific duties instead.
Bob served as a Senior Meteorological Officer for the Air Ministry and was stationed at RAF and Army bases throughout the UK, performing scientific atmospheric measurements for the military. He worked on the Honest John Nuclear capability deterrent missile for the Army, and the V-bomber Victor, and Vulcan strategic bomber force at RAF Gaydon.
Bob had a keen interest in military planes and in particular those flown during the Cold War, many of which he had flown on, including the Vulcan, Shackleton, Victor and Beverley.
Bob spent the majority of his career in the Government service for the Met office, which was part of the Air Ministry. He held the rank of Senior Scientific Officer, which had the equivalent rank of Navy Commander.
Although serving for the Air Ministry, Bob’s station was in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, being assigned as the officer in command of the ocean weather ships.
Unlike today where we have satellite technologies, in the 1960s, the weather patterns were created by measurements of the upper atmosphere using high altitude balloons carrying sensing equipment.
The weather ship service also acted as part of the Cold War Dew Line early warning system to detect Russian attack forces coming over the North Atlantic routes for nuclear defence. The ships were often festooned with various radio antennas and equipment to monitor above and below the waves for incursions.
The weather ships were all serving vessels having been used in WW2 for the North Atlantic convoys. The ships were ideally suited for spending six weeks at a time stationed in the harsh North Atlantic waters.
On one memorable occasion Dad told us that the ship had recorded the largest ever wave at that time, going off the scale of the recording equipment.
Bob served for nearly 30 years on the Ocean Weather ships, and when they were finally decommissioned in the 1980s he transferred to the Met Office in London, running the London Weather centre until his retirement.
Upon retirement, Bob became a member of the South East Midlands MVT. He purchased a restored RAF Series 109 Land Rover from Rod Siebert at Hack Green Nuclear bunker. Bob performed further restoration on the vehicle, and regularly showed it at MVT events up and down the country together with his display of Met Office instruments. He recreated a display of kit that he would have used as a mobile met office when deployed with forward air and Army artillery units in the Cold War era.
Bob went with myself to the MVT 55th anniversary Normandy tour. We travelled in my restored Willys MB and lived for a week in WW2 uniforms and canvas, eating rations. I said it was his re-initiation into military life. We really enjoyed the MVT tour.
Bob bought his second military vehicle, which was a Willys Necaf M38A1 Jeep. He restored this to represent a USAF vehicle from the Korean War period.
Bob regularly attended military shows alongside our other military vehicles, such as Evesham War in the Vale, Wicksteed at War, Overlord military vehicle show Denmead.
His jeep was used by Jeep UK in their promotions for the anniversary of the jeep and launch of the latest Wrangler model.
Bob really liked talking to visitors about his Cold War experiences, and although he wasn’t the most knowledgeable about the mechanics of his vehicles, he did enjoy working on them and displaying them to the public.
In 2010 Bob, myself and my Brother Duncan ran a large military vehicle event in Greens Norton, Northants, to mark the 70th anniversary of the battle of Britain. We had 48 military vehicles attend and raised over £4,000 for the Royal British Legion.
Bob was also a vice-chairman for the local RBL branch, and always showed his vehicles at the local towns in support of the Poppy collection.
In more recent years Bob sold his military vehicles and re-invested the money into a series of British sports cars of the period which was his other passion.
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, his health declined, and he was no longer able to actively display his vehicles, but he did attend events such as Stoneleigh Militaria, Wicksteed at War and local RBL events.
Bob succumbed to the COVID 19 virus after being admitted to Northampton General Hospital and passed away on April 21, aged 81
He leaves his wife Patricia, daughter Michell and sons Howard and Duncan Aran.
Bob will be dearly missed many people that he met at shows up and down the country. His service is intended to be commemorated at the National Memorial Arboretum when the COVID emergency has subsided. Bob had been instrumental in the inauguration of the Castle Class Corvette memorial which also honours the service of these ships post war as weather ships.
If you wish to add a tribute or donation to Roberts memory you can do this at 
https://robertaran.muchloved.com/
To find out more about the ocean weather ships history visit https://www.weatherships.com/
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MVs at Classic Stony New year's Day 2020 meet
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Big bang surprise at 2019 Remembrance Road Run
There was a bumper turnout of MVs for our Remembrance Day Road Run on November 10. After bacon butties at John Underwood’s house at East Carlton, we headed for Weldon for the traditional Remembrance service by the town’s memorial. Other groups joined us, making an impressive display of around 30 vehicles. John laid a wreath of behalf of past, present, and future members of the SE Midlands Area.
Then it was off to Deenethorpe Airfield where Tim Webster had laid on a surprise … an ex-Czech T55 tank, owned by Neil Whatling, which fired a couple of ear-splitting rounds. We were then led by the land owner around the perimeter track before setting off across Northants, Leics and Rutland before a late lunch back at East Carlton. Many thanks to John and Judith Underwood and their team and Tim Webster for organising another great day.
