Mount Hawke Music Maker

There are certain things you must do when heading to the deep South-West, and partaking of a Cornish Pasty or their local cream tea are well up that list. But if you get the time – and opportunity – then look up Martin Caddy in the sleepy settlement of Mount Hawke and ask if you can listen to the magical sound of his 1951 ‘O’ type Bedford. Bob Tuck reckons that alone is worth the long trip as it’s simply music to the ears.

He’s heard it before but Martin Caddy never tires of hearing that distinctive musical note: “I love it,” he says. “Just pulling up the hill away from the village, I wind the window down just so I can hear that gearbox / back axle / transmission whine. It’s brilliant.”

It certainly is, but saying that we also love the sound of his six-cylinder Bedford petrol engine on tick-over. Yes, I know there’s nothing like a wide variety of diesel engine sounds under load but – in stark contrast – the smooth sounding petrol six potter has a silky soothing texture all of its own. Magic.

DÉJÀ VU

Regular readers of Heritage Commercials may recognise NCV 576 as we did feature Martin’s restoration story back in our January ’03 issue. We have no excuses for re-visiting Mount Hawke (just west of Truro) as like a good wine matures with age, Martin’s Bedford seems to look better and better as time goes by.

We had really come to this beautiful part of Cornwall to talk to Martin about the flames Trader tipper owned by his cousin - Graham Carlyon – which will be featured in next month’s HC. Martin had just retired after working as Graham’s transport manager for 24 years although for the 25 years prior to that, he worked in the butchery trade.