2 minute read
Peoples Stories
A story of two phone calls
Scribe: Geoffrey Simpson
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Back in 1988 I was the Commander Maint (West), my last appointment before retirement and while at my desk in Bulford one day the phone rang and the caller was none other than Major General Malcolm Hutchinson, the Vice Major General Officer (VMGO).
We were old friends so I did not stand to attention, but I did listen carefully to what had caused him to call me, a mere Colonel.
It transpired that the Army was about to place an order for 1,500 new Bedford trucks and Malcolm was interested to know how difficult it was to unbolt the rear body from an old Bedford and possibly put it on to a new “rear bodyless” Bedford chassis. I should explain that Malcolm was an Ace Electronics trained Officer and I was a mere Mechanically trained Officer so he was calling for my view on a proposition which he had dreamed up.
He wondered if his idea had “legs” and if it did the MOD could save the cost of 1,500 new rear bodies worth thousands if not millions of pounds.
There was an AA advert running at the time which went “I do not know myself, but I know a man who does.” That man was one of my staff, Major (later Lt Col) Peter Lockyer who replied in a millisecond “About half a dozen nuts and bolts and a couple of plugs and sockets”
So, I called Malcolm back and told him the good news.
His response was enthusiastic to say the least.
After a pause, Malcolm asked “Four perhaps?”
My response was “How about five if they come with a spare”
After a couple of seconds basking in the praise from a Major General I spoke again “How about the 1,500 CES kits”.
I should explain that a Complete Equipment Schedule is a tool kit that enables drivers to, for instance, change a wheel without calling the AA/RAC or REME.
Lovely knowing Malcolm and Rene for decades. Please Rest in Peace.
