The South West Truckers website is running a competition for members trucks wherever in the world you may be.  Please send in your photos complete with SWT sun Strip in the window (if possible) for your chance to be the featured Truck of the Month on the home page.  Please send all entries to swtwebmaster@hotmail.com in jpeg or gif format for your chance to win.

Area 3

JUNE NEWS AREA 4. 2010

MEETING JACK RUSSELL SWIMBRIDGE.

We had 11 people at this meeting which was one more than the last meeting, is the attendance on the way up or was it just a blip. Congratulation to the winner of the helper of the year Lyn Martin for all the support she gives to rallies and Truckfest with mountains of home made cakes. The South West Truckers of the year was given Posthumously to Paul Smith for all the work and concern he gave for the club even when he was very ill,  Di Smith accepted the trophy on behalf of Paul, a very popular and deserved  choice. Neal Toon had an approach from Nick Oliver (St Johns Garden Centre) regarding a garden at Pathfield School which needs to be made Wheel Chair friendly, members present decided to give a donation towards the £15,000 cost of the alterations to the garden. All in order for the Ferret Race Evening at Yarnscombe Village Hall on Saturday 29^th of May first race 7.30pm. Thanks to all the sponsors and a special thank you to May and Alan for getting the race programme done also to Dave for getting them photo copied for us, jobs that get done that you do not see but are an important part of the event. What we call unsung heroes. Profits from the evening will be going to Multiple System Atrophy.(MSA). Please bring a draw prize if you can.        

A REMINDER FROM YOUR INSURANCE OFFICER.

You have to renew your membership by the 31^st of May or you are covered by the Club Insurance. Do not take the risk as sod’s law says  you may wish you had. It is £18 per member now, not a lot for the cover you get. We need you as a member and  the insurance is good value.

SOUTH MOLTON VINTAGE RALLY. 5^th & 6^th of June.

We hope to attend this Rally as we have done in past years, if the stand is there it will be an opportunity to renew your membership. The usual friendly welcome will greet you with cups of tea and a bite to eat. A PR exercise for South West Truckers.

Our best wishes go to Richard Jennings who has had an accident, hope you are on the mend Richard, also to Chris Halstead and his Mum Jean who both have broken bones, we hope you both are on the mend too.

DRIVING COMPETITION SNACK VAN THERE.

It is held at Hatherleigh Market Saturday June the 19^th  starting at 2pm . Please bring all the perpetual trophies won last year or send them, also bring as many competitors as you can. Any South West Trucker members can take part as we are not having any heats so you do not need to qulalify  I’m sure you know what time and effort goes into putting this event on, just be there and support it to justify all the time spent  organizing the afternoon. It is a bit like the corner shop, use it or lose it. Thanks to Area 6 for sponsoring the Rigid Class & Area 3 the  Van Class. Still £135 per class the same as the Truck Show at Westpoint in 1992, a pity a few more thing’s have not stayed the same price. All you need to compete is to be a fully paid up member of SWT, and a valid licence for the class you wish to compete in. We are grateful to Steve Ivy who once again has found an Artic for the competition, thank you Steve for that valuable contribution towards the afternoon.

WALLY. (Check the back when towing.)

Mandy Avery was towing her husband Trevor’s old car to the farm, with Trevor behind the wheel of the car being towed everything was going fine until she had to pull in to let a car pass. She pulled  off  and drove on down the road, when looking in her rear view mirror she wondered why Trevor was out of his car talking to the lady driver who they pulled in to let pass, the tow rope had parted and Trevor was left in the pull in.  Mandy  when towing pull off slowly and do check that the car being towed is still hitched up.

ANOTHER WALLEY. (Flower Power or not).

It appears that even when shown which is which our(Wally) friend Skiver is not sure of the difference between a  Daisy and a Pansy, when Lyn asked him to get some Daisy’s he came back with Pansy’s. I think Lyn you either need to go with him or go yourself to get your flowers.  

WALLY.(Did not know Robert was into livestock haulage.)

 Robert delivered feeding stuff to a Chicken Farm, after unloading he cleaned the trailer out and went to Hanson Quarry at Brayford. With a load of Dust on board he returned to South Molton. When parking up a hen ran out from under the Trailer, with some help the Hen was chased. After chasing it for some time they gave up. Now there is a  Hen  free in a Yard in South Molton, so watch this space for details of free range egg’s for sale. Perhaps Robert you can get a few more to increase the egg production when you next go to a chicken farm. This Hen managed to ride under the trailer for 14 miles, was it good driving or lucky Hen, perhaps a bit of both.

WHAT ARE YOU CALLED TO  DO.

Sometimes what a person contributes doesn’t always get noticed until they’re no longer around to do it. The story is told of a husband who came home from work to find the house in a complete mess. The baby was crying, there were dishes piled up in the sink and dirty laundry on the floor. The TV was blaring, beds weren’t made, carpets weren’t vaccumed and dinner wasn’t ready. When he demanded to know what was up, his wife said “You know how you always ask what I have been doing all day? Well today I didn’t do it”.  Something I think we all may be able to relate to in the past and perhaps in the future.

Little Suzie goes home from school and tells her mum that the boys keep asking her to do cartwheels because she’s very good at them. Mum says “You should say no. They only want to look at your knickers” I know they do. That’s why I hide them in my bag.”

          AREA 4 DIARY OF EVENTS.

May 29^th  Ferret Race Yarnscombe 7.30pm.

June 5^th.  Meeting Swan Inn Bideford. 7.30 Food.

June 19^th. Driving Competition Hatherleigh 2pm.(Snack Van)

July3/4^th. Truckfest Shepton Mallet.

July 10^th. Meeting Town Arms South Molton 7.30pm (Food)

July 17th Central Meeting Area 4 Town Arms South Molton (No Food)

BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 2010.

6^th  Trevor Avery.     18^th Vic Smith.        20^th Sophie Avery.

24^th. Grenville Bond.   25^th Angela Hill.   26^th. Angela Worth.

26^th.  Rebecca Way.    27^th.  James Yeo.       29^th. Nick Phillips.

ANNIVERSARY’S JUNE 2010.

9^th  Marcel & Tanya Stewart.

25^th.  Nick & Caroline Way.

If you have trouble getting your Children’s attention, just sit down and look comfortable.

Life is like a mirror, if you frown at it, it frowns back, if you smile, it returns the greeting.

Drive safe support your club.  (Eddie).

Area 5

No news this month folks

Area 6

Press Release for publication

The Professional Drivers Association is proud to announce the launch of The Professional Drivers Foundation on January 1^st 2009.

The PDA has felt for a long time that there is a very real need for a charitable body to support professional lorry drivers.

There are 319,000 vocational licence holders in the UK and 18% of these are aged 55yrs and above.

Almost 13,000 per year are forced to cease driving HGV's as a result of ill health, accidents or death.

The PDA recognises the need to provide a formal mechanism of support for its Members, and indeed, for the HGV driving community as a whole.

Benefits may come as financial assistance to help alleviate hardship, or be in the form of advice and help with retraining, to return to some type of paid work.

A network of experienced Almoners will be on hand to visit and assist with advice and application forms for benefits etc., or even just to listen.

The Professional Drivers Foundation will be run as a Charity and will be registered as such as soon as the necessary requirements are met.

Our team of Almoners will operate throughout the UK and we are actively looking for anyone who is happy to volunteer to undertake this roll.

Benefits will be available to any vocational licence holder for which a medical standard has to be reached, although extra benefits may be available to anyone who has shown dedication and support for their profession previously.

All requests for assistance will be considered individually by the board of Trustees and will be dependant upon the funds available and the type of help required.

More information can be found at www.pdafund.org  launching on 1^st January 2009. On here you will be able to make a donation to the charity, volunteer your help or contact someone to ask for assistance.

The Professional Drivers Foundation supports drivers, and in doing so, goes where no-one else has gone.

Please help us by donating and offering help, to support these Knights of the Road when they need it most.

The Professional Drivers Foundation can also be contacted by post to:

Professional Drivers Foundation  The Oak Tree,    Garton on the Wolds,  Driffield,  East Yorks. YO25 3EU

Or by email to: theoaktreegarton@aol.com

The Board of Trustees consists of

President:           Mr Simon Brett

Chairman:          Mrs Pat Nicholson

Secretary:           Mr Matthew Harrison

Treasurer:           Mrs Helen Rayner

Trustee:              Mr Ian Ratcliffe

Trustee:              Mr John Bramwells

Note for Media:

PR Contact: Pat Nicholson 07909 995615 or email pat.nicholson@tiscali.co.uk