Following Biglorryblog's recent 'test drive' of a GMC 6x6 'Jimmy' (watch out for it in our forthcoming Christmas edition of Commercial Motor) I bring you these pictures of the 'liberation' of Newark at the weekend in aid of the Poppy Fund by the '2nd armoured Brigade' also known as the Trent Valley branch of the Military Vehicle Trust which includes Paul Bratton, sales director at SDC Trailers (who helped organise the Jimmy test) and Neil Stevens, my newly-discovered Jimmy-driving chum who works for (as unlilely as it sounds) the Rail Freight Group.
Paul says of the top photo: "Good Morning Brian - please find picture showing some of the 12 vehicles we put in Newark on Saturday for Poppy selling - I am actually in the M5 Stuart tank in front of the M8 armoured car, the Jimmy of course made an appearance!" Now BLB remembers building a model of the M8 armoured car (probably during one of my more quieter moments on E-Wing...) And I bet the bloke at the rail crossing was having kittens too!
Meanwhile Neil adds, "We had the Jimmy in Newark market square on Saturday along with 13 other vehicles including 3 tracked vehicles and 5 armoured vehicles." And for a (Naafi) pie have a go at spotting some of the military vehicles in this line-up... And click through here for more...
Neil continues: "I drove it in my period 1940 pattern Royal Artillery Battle Dress uniform and didn't get any comments of support or derision for mixing Yank hardware with Brit serge!! Didn't get cold either with all that serge against my tender skin!! Though the chafing after a couple of hours..."
"When the convoy left the square en masse at 15.30 it caused quite a stir as the clatter of tracks and the rumble of engines rattled off of the buildings . People came out of shops, restaurants and market stalls, as did staff and diners!! Good for the ego, even if it obviously had no effect on mine!! My lad Max (aged 6) got to travel in the Stuart Tank and we haven't wiped the grin off of his face yet!! That was on top of successfully picking him up from school on Thursday in the Jimmy!"
To which Biglorryblog says: 'Oustanding red team!' And on a more serious note well done to the TVMVT and all involved on the novel way of collecting for the Poppy Appeal, a nice bit of 'living' history. And well done Max too---I bet your school chums are really jealous!
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