An idyllic scene

Topping up the Cellar

by Malcolm Root

Here the scene is set in rural Cambridgeshire, in the area served by the Greene King Brewery in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. This is a well known local brewery which has deservedly grown over the years, and celebrated its bicentenary in 1999.

The Morris Commercial lorry which is bringing in the vital supplies is a 30cwt flat truck introduced in the later 1930s and powered by a 2.5 litre petrol engine. It was quite a challenging vehicle to drive, with a tricky gearbox and rather heavy steering for its size. It was, however, an extremely reliable and economical lorry and much used by many smaller businesses for local work.

By this time Morris had taken over the Wolseley company, and the lorries were built at the company's factory at Adderley Park, Birmingham.

Cruising past, perhaps with the driver making a mental note that new supplies have arrived at the Dog and Duck, is a smart red MG Midget TC of 1949 vintage. This model had the distinctive cut away front wings, and was powered by a 1.2 litre engine, giving a spirited performance which could be really enjoyed before the days of speed cameras! 

A lovely image of a bygone era in an A4 (29.7 x 21 cm., 11.7 x 8.3 inch) frame.