The Way We Were… - Dave Tooke Reminisces

The report of the scrapping of the body of the old L&B Association transit van brings back memories of over 20 years ago, although it does not quite date back to the 1980’s. When the North Devon Group was formed in 1990, one of the first tasks which it was asked to undertake was the restoration of a caravan, which would be used as the basis of a mobile sales and publicity stall, to be taken to local fairs and carnivals (report: L&B Magazine 33).

The first such events attended were at Exmoor Steam Railway, Bratton Fleming, and Braunton Carnival, in the Spring of 1991 (report and photos: Mag 35). By this time, the L&B Association had purchased the transit van, in order to haul the caravan and to provide extra display space. Both were put into the care of the North Devon Group, which in turn agreed to keep the vehicles roadworthy.

During 1991, ’92 and ’93, the “Devon Group Roadshow” attended many varied events, even venturing into Somerset and Cornwall on occasion. Unfortunately the amount raised at these events roughly equalled the cost of keeping the transit van on the road: Road Tax, insuranace, MoT, fuel etc. Therefore, when the Lynbarn Railway opened in 1994, and Devon Group members had to give up much more of their time to operate and maintain this major fund-raising project, the decision was taken that fewer fairs and carnivals could be attended, and that the transit van would no longer be used. The caravan continued in use, now hauled by private cars.

Soon after Woody Bay Station was purchased in 1995, the transit was moved onto site, the box van being used as much-needed extra storage space. Being a mobile structure, it did not require planning permission!

Eventually the metal parts of the transit fell into disrepair, and only the ply and fibreglass box survived the scrapman, to be taken to Chelfham to continue its role as a storage unit.