Graham Poole Road Transport

GRAHAM POOLE & THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS!

Derbyshire based promotional model vehicle specialists, Search Impex, are pleased to announce the release of a solo 1:50 scale DAF XF 106 Super Space (6×4) show piece tractor unit, customised in Graham Poole Road Transport’s spectacular “Battle of Hastings” livery.

The models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles as a certificated Limited Edition (175 pieces) and are available to purchase now.

Based in Rochdale, Lancashire, Graham Poole Road Transport Ltd was established in 1998 by Graham Poole. With road transport in his blood (his father was and brother is also in road haulage), Graham’s involvement with trucks started almost from the day he left school. After a period of some years spent driving for other operators, Graham decided he would like to set up his own haulage business and made the bold decision to invest in his first truck – a Renault Major. The early days were tough and largely spent working as a sub-contractor but, over time, Graham picked up customers of his own and as business steadily increased, so did the need for additional trucks and drivers.

Almost 20 years on, all the original hard work and determination certainly appears to have paid off and Graham Poole Road Transport now operates a fleet of over 30 vehicles, including DAF, MAN & Scania units, with a mix of curtain and box trailers, as well as a flat bed and a low loader. Within the fleet is an impressive collection of beautifully airbrushed trucks. The first airbrushed truck (“Kelly’s Dream”) to be commissioned by Graham was done as a tribute to his niece, Kelly Hancock. Her dream had been to take her two children to Disneyland – but it never came true because, very sadly, Kelly died of cancer in 2013. Greatly moved by her death, Graham custom painted one of his trucks in her favourite colour, pink, purchased a special registration plate – AL14 KEL and then commissioned skilled artist, Adam Haden, to airbrush the cab with Disney characters and an image of Kelly.

The “Kelly’s Dream” truck, however, proved more than just a fitting tribute to his niece. It also kick-started something of a creative streak in Graham – who has since taken to looking for registration plates that lend themselves to themes which can then be airbrushed onto a truck. Currently amongst the fleet is GR58 WAR – a truck airbrushed to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, TH53 ZOO – a truck airbrushed on the theme of endangered wildlife and an American Western Star truck – airbrushed on a Wild West theme.

The latest truck to join the airbrushed trucks collection (and on which the model has been based) is a brand new DAF XF Super Space (6×4) with the plate TN66 DAF. Imaginatively airbrushed with graphics depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the truck is to be driven exclusively by the man himself, Graham Poole, and will serve as the flagship truck in a new division of the Company recently created to undertake the transportation of heavy plant (hence the 6×4 unit). Plated as STGO CAT 2, the DAF is used with a Nooteboom 4 axle extendable low loader trailer, complete with a 5-and-a-half-ton winch, enabling it to be used for recovery work, as well as moving heavy plant up to 80 tonnes.

The models priced at £103 each (including UK delivery & VAT) are now available from Search Impex.

For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call on 01332 873555.