This is an old Ford Van from the 1930's that was in the family fleet. The picture was taken outside the old yard in Winton, Bournemouth.

 

My late Uncle, Bert Trenchard, who died a couple of years ago aged 94 personally painted and did the signwriting on the vehicle. He was not a trained signwriter but in those days the family did virtually everything themselves.

 

The paintwork was primarily maroon with a black background to the trumpet shaped section at the back. The Luton Head was a rainbow of blues and creams behind the family name.

 

This was one of the four main vehicles that Trenchards used throughout the war period by my grandfather while his two sons were away in the services.

 

As you can tell the heavy wooden framed body was on a chassis which would today be plated at less than 7.5T. It is just another example of why the plating and braking regulations and the Traffic Act introduced in the 1960s were long overdue.

 

Picture: Trenchards Ford van with home painted livery