Mike Astbury recalls...
The Ford Thames radio van (based on the Anglia) was a conversion
by Dormobile specially produced for the GPO. The interior was fully lined.
A roof light was fitted to provide light for working in the back. To fit
side windows to the vans would have meant payment of car tax. A 12 volt
fluorescent provided light at night. Note also the roof light and aerial.
Compare with Ken Bennett's telephone van.
The passenger seat was moved back by its own length so that the operator/driver
could sit in it and work on the equipment in the rear. This seat had no safety
belt * and could not be used by a passenger. Behind the driver's seat
was a partition that prevented equipment being thrown forward in the event
of emergency braking. Behind the partition was a low work bench with hooks
on top to secure radio receivers. There was a 12 volt power connection and
an aerial connection which was wired to the fibreglass whip aerial on the
roof. Below the bench were two rows of small drawers for holding suppressers,
and odds and ends.
