Remember these.? All our yesterdays

[Peter.N.]

I bought this in the '70s for about a tenner, complete with new hose and gun. I had a diesel tank here and used it until the fuel price was out of my league and it sat here until quite recently in the hedge going rusty, I dragged it out and put it on ebay, got 400 pounds for it.

Peter

[NewcastleFalcon]

strewth, that's quite a blast from the past isn't it, you couldn't even replicate it at Blists Hill or Beamish; the public 'd just think it weird

Is there room to park a car beside the wall in the foreground for the purpose of filling up?

Yes plenty room for that, didn't fill up though-missed the rather restricted opening hours thankfully. Have to say it looks anything but a viable business at the moment so it may be the oldest but it may not be around much longer!

The "real estate" of the house and land behind is becoming as derelict as the pumps. There were a couple of Austin A30's behind the "Garage" in well rotted state.

n falcon own work

Regards Neil

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

looks like your pump fared reasonably well in the hedge Peter, not as knackered as it at first appears it'd seem; its appearance seems to owe more to peeling paint than to the dreaded tin-worm. Dragged my replacement cill sections out of the shed earlier, shame I can't say the same for them!

Shame about these old Businesses going west Neil, nice to think that perhaps some old boy kept it going and enjoyed the Business til he dropped dead (much like one of our local pubs); if that were the case, maybe its served its primary purpose. I don't have the same sympathy for the High Street though.

[Peter.N.]

I think it was probably cream when I bought it but I gave it a coat of bronze Hammerite - didn't last very well did it?

Peter

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

oh, I dunno, given its rather harsh environment I reckon it done alright. Looks like there's the remnants of an old Oil company motif from the days when it was green.

[Peter.N.]

I was being facetious when referring to the paint, it was probably more than 40 years ago when I ago I painted it. It did have a few holes in it but the chap who bought it didn't seem overly concerned, apparently he refurbishes them and didn't have one of that particular model, he showed me a photo album of many he had restored. Being a diesel pump probably added to its rarity as there weren't many about in those days.

He said he would send me a picture when he had completed it, several years have gone by and I haven't seen one yet.

Peter

[NewcastleFalcon]

From the "canmuseum.com" yes the internet covers everything! This is a more modern and garish can than the "Top Deck" I remember but nice to see the firm was/is by appointment to Her Majesty. Offered up as a virtual prize on POTD for a simple bit of deduction.



of course West Country Women and Men would have thrived on this in their youth



Regards Neil

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

funny that, the lack of picture; people rarely seem to bother. In a similar fashion, I'd hoped to see a pic of my 10 x 8 Greenhouse as promised, but no.

I remember the Top Deck Limeade & Lager can very well; very much my era and vaguely recall being very popular on a primary school coach trip, having been equipped with a can of Beer Shandy with my lunch.... yellow & purple coloured can if I recall, probably late 1970's.

Bere Regis coaches always had 'magic' coaches, by the way, painted in a vile brown & burgundy livery, they were always early 60's (usually A to C reg) and the 'magic' bit was they seemed to never fail to struggle succesfully up the hills. I think the firm's gone now.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bere Regis coaches always had 'magic' coaches, by the way, painted in a vile brown & burgundy livery, they were always early 60's (usually A to C reg) and the 'magic' bit was they seemed to never fail to struggle succesfully up the hills. I think the firm's gone now.

There's always a picture Puxa but which one to select. Well I've plumped for this one...and its not even a real bus! There is however a bit of interest in the back story about Geoff and Linda.

The chosen image

The back story....last item on the page


Thanks for the "lead", I do like a bit of random delving to add to the story!

Regards Neil

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

well, well well. Good bit of delving there Neil and nice to see that the ex-proprietors are enjoying other endeavours now.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Probably more history than anyone would ever need about Bere Regis Motor services. The Geoff and Linda I mentioned were/are the owners of that model, and have a large such collection of those models (In September 2003 they were was given accreditation of being in the Guinness World Records Book 2004 edition for the largest model bus and tram collection in the world..
They even appeared on Noel's Addicts with Blakey from "On the Buses"

http://www.transtar-promotions.co.uk/s/ ... 1473884126

The proprietor in Chief of Bere Regis Moder Services was was Reg Toop who set up the company in 1929.

Bit more of an expanded view of that Model



Regards Neil

[Peter.N.]

Not to far from me. I went along the A3052 taday but didn't see the AA box , I joined it at the Ottery St Mary turn off to Exeter I assume it must be back the other way towards Sidmouth.

Peter

[NewcastleFalcon]

Not to far from me. I went along the A3052 taday but didn't see the AA box , I joined it at the Ottery St Mary turn off to Exeter I assume it must be back the other way towards Sidmouth.

Peter

Thats about as near a near miss as you can get

This is the chapter and verse of it on google street image

So going from Sidmouth to Exeter there is the big sign with Ottery St Mary off to the Right and Exmouth off to the left and just behind it....the AA Box!

Its behind you Peter!

Regards Neil

[Peter.N.]

Ahhhhh

[van ordinaire]

As I mentioned before, I drove up & down this stretch of road maybe 1/2-dozen times & not a sign of it. later research shows it, apparently, in the middle of a copse or spinney.