The Transport Trust

Sir,

The caption under a photograph in the December issue of Motor Sport says: “This is the Chenard-Walcker which we referred to recently as having been offered by Runty Scott-Moncrieff to the Transport Trust, which means that it should be available on loan to any members of that Trust who want to borrow it. What has become of it?” I was Chairman of the Transport Trust from its inception in 1965 until last year, since when I have remained a Council member. The Trust has never been offered a ChenardWalcker car by Mr. Scott-Moncrieff—or indeed by anyone else! I am sorry that he has been misinformed somehow and extend an invitation to him to contact us at 18 Ramillies Place whenever he wishes to seek information about the Trust. Incidentally, if anyone cares to turn the statement in the caption into an accurate forecast we would be delighted!

I must also correct the impression given by the caption that had the Trust owned this vehicle any Trust member would have been able to borrow it. This is not the case and I am sure that no owner who cared for his vehicle would ever consider it being entrusted to us if we operated such a scheme. It is more than likely that the Trust, if it became the owner of such a vehicle, would transfer it on long loan to some accredited museum or individual provided that certain conditions were adhered to. These would certainly cover maintenance and preservation of the vehicle and attendance at a minimum number of events so that the public would be given reasonable opportunities to see it. This is exactly what we are currently arranging with regard to an unusual Garrett steamroller which we have just repatriated from Spain. It is at present undergoing restoration and will subsequently be attending various traction engine rallies. Similarly the ex-Richard Shuttleworth veteran cars at present being restored under a joint Shuttleworth Trust/Transport Trust agreement will subsequently be seen at various events. Indeed the 1903 De Dietrich, after being refurbished, had its first public airing in September last at Old Warden, and we are hoping that it will be possible for it to take part in the two events next May to which you referred on the same page of Motor Sport, namely Ascot and at Biggin Hill. In the case of these cars the Transport Trust has helped the owner (The Shuttleworth Trust) to finance their restoration so that they can again be seen and appreciated by the public. This seems to us to be money well spent. In other modes of transport we have similar projects. We are at present organising a programme of restoration on a very early railway locomotive and the DH88 Comet (winner of the 1934 England/Australia air race) is part way through a five-year rebuild which will bring it once more to flying condition.

London W1 R. E. WILSON

[Further to what is stated on page 147, it seems that the episode I referred to occurred at a meeting of an historic vehicle trust suggested by Lord Montagu and not proceeded with when the present Transport Trust was founded.—Ed.]