Editors note – Each Truck is referred to by a name to distinguish between each vehicle when talking on CB radio. On this convoy the trucks were as follows:-

7.5 tonne trucks - Robin Hood, Bay Leaves, Naughties ‘n’ Nice, Sussex Freemasons, Nibsy, Two Taffs and Culture Club

40 tonne - Big Mother and Late Entry.

Fire Engine – Hot Stuff

Thursday, 6 April 2006 - As mentioned above, they were off and the first daily bulletin was in on Thursday 6 April, 4.38 pm; ‘Nibsy’, ‘Late Entry’ and ‘Big Mother’ (all CB names) were all in good order. Big Mother was stopped by the German Police, they made everyone tidy up and tighten their loads and then wished them good luck. Now approaching the Czech border.

For Charles Storer, Thursday was a paperwork day - and didn't finish that well with a phone call at 4.00 pm from Tom Conlin to say that Naughties ‘n’ Nice had a problem with their insurance. The company who had originally agreed to insure them informed them that they couldn’t get hold of the underwriter, all with less than 24 hours to go. After some frantic phone calls, Charles managed to get things sorted out through our other main insurers; cover notes were faxed through with a promise that the green card would be either posted first class or couriered to him by 9.00 am Friday morning.

Friday, 9 April 2006 - The day dawned, 9.00 am came and went, but the card didn't arrive. (It subsequently transpired that it had been held in the companies post room overnight!)

Alan Beckwith to the rescue, (Super Hero #1). After more phone calls, Alan came to the rescue and offered/agreed to have his arm twisted to make a detour on his way from Wales to Maidstone by way of Horsham in Essex, where he picked up the relevant documents and resumed his journey to Maidstone where they were duly handed over to the crew.

Things seemed to getting back to plan, with crews meeting the guys from Maidstone Radio Club having their CBs fitted and checked out, and then resuming their journey to Dover. But life being life (on a convoy) things didn't stay that way and the local Maidstone services car parking attendant appeared with a demand for a £30.00 payment as the trucks had overstayed the three hour maximum stay. Charles explained politely that although a few 'trucks' had been there for a little more than three hours, they weren't the same trucks, and they were coming and going in convoy. After much friendly banter, the car park attendant left, without his £30.00 but with a prescription for ear drops!!! (Jobsworth!!)

Meanwhile Coxy's dulcet tones could be heard over the CB airwaves saying he had been dealing with a slight problem with his wing mirror. It turned out the slight problem was the total loss of his wing mirror, which had been torn off, including the mounting arm, by a tree that just jumped out and grabbed him! Fortunately a new mirror was being fitted and Coxy recommenced his journey to Dover, joining the rest as they entered the Western Docks Customs facility.

The next voice to be heard over the airwaves was Alan's. The conversation went something like "Chas I've just realised the green card I've got isn't green - it’s a photocopy"!! Chas (with practised diplomacy and mastery of his patience) explained that would cause a slight problem - the truck wouldn't be allowed on the continent without an original green card.

In stepped John Desty (Super Hero #2) - please read his account of the events below.

With everyone safety arrived at Dover, and all relevant paperwork now in place, ferry tickets were purchased. Unfortunately the earliest crossing now available was the 10.10 pm, meaning the crews wouldn't get to Calais until 12.30 am, so the plan was to get off the ferry and find somewhere close by to bed down for the night.

As you can see, it was a fun packed day. Meanwhile, to add insult to injury, by 9.00 pm the front runners were comfortably settled in a bar in Hungary enjoying a well earned drink.

Super Hero #2's account of the green card incident

3pm Friday. “I received a call from Chas asking if I was bored! A quick explanation revealed that one of the trucks needed a green card insurance document which was at Abacus Trucks in Ferndown, Dorset. The convoy was in Dover but couldn't move until they had the document - could I help?? As I had an appointment at 4.00 pm, I telephoned Charles Lewry (Super Hero #3) and he kindly agreed to drive to Ferndown from Chandlers Ford, pick up the document and deliver it to me at home.

4.40 pm Charles duly arrived on my doorstep with the document after being held up in traffic in the New Forest. Grabbing a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate(!!), I jumped into the car to begin a 150 mile journey up the M3 and M25 to Dover. Meanwhile, the convoy was waiting around at Dover docks. Very heavy Friday afternoon rush hour traffic on the M25 delayed my predicted 2½ hour journey. M20 was clear so could make up time - hopefully no speed cameras!

7.45pm Arrived Dover Eastern Docks to find that the convoy had already passed through passport control and was in the area of the P&O pay booths with security fencing between us. How could I get to them? I explained the situation to the dock staff who advised me to drive in to the docks, through passport control (thankfully not stopped) and follow the heavy trucks.

7.55pm A quick phone call to Bev established that I was in close proximity to the convoy, so I parked up and made my way across on foot and met Bev. Document handed over - mission accomplished! But how to get out of the security area? After conversations with P&O staff, I was told to join the back of a queue of vehicles waiting to buy their tickets to France and try to explain to the ticket booth staff that I really wasn't supposed to be here and that I didn't really want to go the France. I was eventually given an exit pass and told how to get out of the compound. The ticket booth barrier was raised and I drove out only to find the convoy parked up buying their tickets. I naturally stopped and said hello to all the bored and frustrated guys and girls. It seemed they couldn’t get on a ferry until 10.30 pm but spirits were high and they were all looking forward to the long journey ahead.

8.30pm I said goodbye and made my way out of the docks (taking a wrong turn and ending up in the customs shed where I had to go through all my explanations again and convince them I hadn't just come from France!). Left Dover for the journey home wishing I was going the other way with the convoy.

11.05pm Arrived home tired and thinking that I could lay-in in the morning but I bet the convoy would be up and moving before 6.00 am!!

Just a typical day in the life of a Hope and Aid Direct volunteer!!!!”

Saturday, 8 April 2006 – Thankfully a fairly uneventful day. The crews stopped just outside Calais at 2.00 am and left again 8.30 am. Still on the road at 8.30 pm, but approaching the Czech border, with the plan to stay at Plzen for the night (approximately another 1½ hours away). No incidents today. The 40 tonners were at Szeged, on the Hungarian border, enjoying the sun.

Sunday, 9 April 2006 - The convoy left Plzen at 8.20 am after a greasy spoon breakfast. Good driving weather today. ‘Naughties ‘n’ Nice’ had problems with the hydraulics on the tail lift. This was sorted out by strapping up the tail lift. ‘Culture Club’ came to their rescue by using their tail lift to life ‘Naughties’! ‘Robin Hood’ had fuse problems, but these were now all sorted out. Still trucking on way to meet the 40 tonners and ‘Nibsy’ at the Hungarian border. ETA 11.00 pm for goulash and beer. Cheers! 10.45 pm - Main convoy met up with the 40 tonners - all one convoy now. A sweep stake was run the on arrival time and Coxy won. Well done.

Monday, 10 April 2006 - A good day, with everyone leaving at 8.40 am, 20 Km from the Hungarian border, where they crossed at Tompa. Typically the old East European bureaucracy kicked straight in on arrival at the border with a most officious police or road transport check of all vehicles. Vehicle documents including Green Cards were checked most thoroughly and Chas was hugely relieved that everyone had the right papers until all of a sudden tachometer discs were being studied! The previous day’s tacho discs were required! Oh dear! – Once again, with his usual diplomacy and tact, (not to mention a little inventiveness) Chas pointed out to the nice policeman that when doing a little ‘light dusting’ and cleaning of her cab the night before, all the tacho discs of the entire journey for that truck had been inadvertently thrown out! (Mentioning no names!) “You must pay!” In fact, one or two had to pay! This had to be done at a local Post Office within one month, so as the trucks were all now inside the police control area, it was decided to do so when returning from Kosovo. (Another Jobsworth!)

The rest of the routine border crossing bureaucracy took nearly all day to complete, and the convoy finished the crossing at 4.20 pm. A bonus was the news that there was no need to clear customs in Serbia at Nis this (for the first) time, just in Kosovo. All now parked up at 8.47 pm, 169 Km from the Kosovan border. A good days' driving. As a PS, the fire tender was going great guns, no problems on that front.

 

Fire Tender and 7.5 tonners waiting customs clearance at the Serbian border

Tuesday, 11 April 2006 - All arrived safely after starting out at 8.30 am. The day had an interesting start with the typical ‘toilet lady’ who expected to be paid for attending to the toilets at the petrol station; this particularly unpleasant woman spoke no English and shouted constantly, trying to block anyone from entering the toilet without first paying to do so. This wouldn’t have been a problem if the facilities were spotless, but alas this was very far from reality. Chas on this occasion, slightly less than his usual, diplomatic self, tried to encourage the lady to view the offending areas of the facility, and eventually had to be quite noisy himself in getting her to move aside and let others in. (Desperation to use the facilities was evident on some male faces!)

The third of four road toll points on the motorway from Belgrade to Nis was the source of further blood pressure increases for Chas, as yet another ‘Jobsworth’ identified a problem! Each of the toll booth areas had received a list of the convoy vehicles sent through in advance by the Serbian Embassy in London via Belgrade Ministry of Transport, to request their support and free road use. The letter included a list of all vehicles and registration numbers. …… one of which had none too untypically been changed by the hire company at the last minute! Each of the preceding booth operators had either realised the problem, or not noticed, but this guy was not having it! Chas’s quiet demeanour changed slightly when confronted by a fist with a piece of paper being held inches from his face, and in what was becoming a shouting spectacle with police onlookers, the toll booth boss was called. Fortunately, he clearly wanted to just move the trucks to clear his quarter mile of backed up motorway, and said something like ‘do be a good chap and let these folks through’!  

.

The convoy arrived at the Merdare border at 1.00 pm, with a quick crossing. A bird flu trough, filled with water and liquid that looked more lethal than the bird flu itself, was to attract a charge of €5 per truck! Chas, once again exercising exemplary constraint pointed out that the trucks were there at the invitation of the UN, and the charge was waived! The convoy then proceeded through to the UNMIK border, (ie from the Serbian side through ‘no mans land’ to the Kosovan side) where the trucks were sealed by the UN and driven on to clear customs in Pristina.

Eventually, the trucks were all cleared by 4.00 pm, but there were problems with getting the fire tender cleared until the chief of customs had signed the documents. Chas decided that no one would leave until the fire tender was cleared, for fear that this could be the start of unacceptable bureaucracy and departure was eventually delayed until 6.30 pm, when the chief of customs was eventually found in Pristina and asked to sign the relevant letter.

The only challenge now was the parking fee, which by now had amounted to a staggering €350. In true convoy tradition a dramatic exit was made which naturally caused chaos, but everyone was pleased to have saved €350. (Rather more than the £30 the convoy was asked to pay in Maidstone for an equally short stay!)

Convoy Leaders Note:

When escorted to the customs area at Podujevo in Kosovo, it is necessary to park the trucks in a compound next to the customs buildings, not unreasonably! However, whether parked there for five minutes or five days, they charge each truck €35 (£20) for the privilege!

I requested a written waiver of this charge from the acting Head of Customs to whom I was introduced, but was told that he did not have the authority to issue such a waiver as this charge was nothing to do with either the UN or the Customs authority – most curious since we were obliged to park there and this was clearly marked as the UNMIK (UN Mission in Kosovo) Customs clearance facility. I later learned that the buildings and parking area is owned by a private company, but used by UNMIK, (presumably under some form of rental/ leasing arrangement)

Our exit from the facility without paying was accompanied by much fanfare and waving of fists, and thanks to the deftness of several unnamed convoyers!

(It’s interesting to note that it would cost less to park our trucks in Westminster for an hour, than to park in Kosovo Customs! Needless to say, the matter is not closed yet! – Chas raised the subject of Customs difficulties without being specific on local TV, as did the Head of Mother Theresa Society subsequently, and Chas had a meeting before returning to the UK with the lady in charge of the entire Kosovo budget – an explanation surrounding these charges, is awaited!)

The convoy then made its way straight to the warehouse to meet Lin (who had flown in a day ahead) and lined up the trucks ready for Wednesday. With that sorted out everyone made their way to the hotel for a well needed shower. The plan was to leave the hotel Wednesday morning at 7.30 am to get started.

The fire tender performed very well on its journey, clocking up a total of 1,823 miles. (Anecdotally, about one tenth of its total mileage since new) A representative of the Kosovan Fire Brigade met the convoy at the border and was truly delighted. A formal handover ceremony was organised to take place on Thursday with full TV coverage and dignitaries.

The warehouse owner thanked Hope and Aid Direct and all its supporters for not forgetting Kosovo and stressed how vital our help is. Many thanks to you, our supporters.

Wednesday, 12 April 2006 - A very good day. All trucks were unloaded, approximately 55 tonnes of aid. The airborne crew all arrived safely today and immediately got stuck in. The 7.5 tonne trucks, plus one Mother Theresa 10 tonne truck were loaded up ready for drops on Thursday morning.

Steve and Richard unloading 44 tonne truck at the warehouse in Pristina

John Winyard became chef extraordinaire, which kept everyone going. The 40 ton drivers were given 40 jars of jam whilst waiting for the rest of the convoy to arrive in Hungary by a local lady who wanted to help; what an amazing gesture. These were packed into family boxes ready for distribution.

Jason unloading Late Entry at the warehouse

Thursday, 13 April 2006 – After push starting the Mother Theresa 10 tonner, and Robin Hood, (neither for the first or last time) all the trucks were out today in the Gjilane region visiting a mix of families of all ethnicities. Direct drops were made to individual families and the collective centre. HaAD have been working with  MTS and UNHCR

Quote of the day from the crew of Little Mother - Steve Hunter, Gaynor and Kirsty: they visited one Albanian grandmother who said "please don't forget me".

This was also the day when the fire tender was handed over in Vustrii. In the words of Charles Storer "they were cock -a-hoop". The Vushtrii Fire Brigade's newest tender, until today, was 40 years old, an old British Carmichael. Just to add to the achievement, Hope and Aid Direct supplied a new starter motor for this machine as well and a few days later were there when it was started up.

Naturally it would have been ideal and great for everyone if the whole team could have been there to see and join in the celebrations, but alas time in-country is short, and with 55 tonnes of aid to distribute, it wasn’t possible. It was a privilege for Charles, Jeff, Jason and Richard to be able to represent Hope and Aid Direct and hand over the fire tender and with speeches, TV, and marching firemen, it was a very special and memorable occasion.

Fire Officers escorting the new fire truck into the unit

Kosovan Firemen getting the first look at the inside of the new engine,
they couldn't wait to get to grips

 

The new fire tender is replacing the machine on the left

The Vushtril and Kosovo Fire Service are very happy with their new addition and very grateful. This made today a very special day and a great honour for Hope and Aid Direct.

Charles handing over the keys to the Deputy Interior Minister

Team photograph with Richard Mills, Charles Storer and the Fire Brigade Staff

Local fire staff showing appreciation

A very special thank you to all who made this possible

(Photographs provided by Jeff Gill)

Thanks to everyone who have their support to make this trip so successful. THANK YOU.

Friday, 14 April 2006 - Another very busy and successful day in Prizren. Hope and Aid Direct visited approximately 500 families in individual homes and Collective Centres. Nibsy went high into the mountains, 3 Km from the Albanian and Macedonian borders. Here the crew found a middle-aged man who was, unbelievable to us, sleeping in a dog kennel as his house had been completely destroyed in the war. Although he wasn't on the list for today, he received a good drop.

Everyone arrived back late this evening, so it was off to bed with an early start for nine hardy individuals who volunteered to start at 6.00 am for another full day's work.

Saturday, 15 April 2006 - All the trucks have been out today delivering aid to approximately 650 families in Peje. (Pec) Bay Leaves visited a collective centre of approximately nine families, one of the families consisted of six, with teenage daughters. Their total income is €22 per month and they live in one room. (If only this were the exception!) It just reminds us how lucky we are. Freemasons made a drop in Gjilane, again up in the mountains, to two old ladies who were particularly thrilled by a box of candles they received. Sunday will be our special projects day.

Sunday, 16 April 2006 - All the trucks went out today on special projects and got back to base 7.15 pm. One of the crews visited the three Skenderaj collective centres and while in the area found a fourth collective centre unknown to us previously. There the people were living in even worse conditions than the other collectives. Fifteen families are housed in an old toy factory and were being moved out in the coming days. They have no idea where they are going at the moment.

Two other crews, Robin Hood and Nibsy went to the Trepca mining complex. This involved crossing over from the southern Albanian area of Mitrovica to the Northern Serbian area of Mitrovica and passing through the much watched and police/military controlled ‘no man’s land’. Previous attempts by the charity to get to the Trepca Mining complex had inadvertently failed because although it has international scandal status because of the lead poisoning, when mentioning Trepca to the locals, they only know of it by the name of the company who used to operate the mines and whose buildings (also a collective centre) are located in southern Mitrovica overlooking the town. We have now discovered that actually the ex-mining workers and their families, as well as others who have been relocated to the same camps following the war, are, or have been located in five separate camps! They are Leposavic located 50 Km away, Zitkovac 5 Km away, Cesmine Luge and Kablare (some of which was demolished and relocated to the ex-UN base at Camp Osterode in North Mitrovica two weeks previously)

The five camps comprise some 500 families. Three were visited today, but the 1½ lorry loads, which included fresh local produce of fruit and vegetables that we bought locally, will be given to those in greatest need by NCA (Norwegian Church Aid). We were delighted to be met on entrance to North Mitrovica by Hassan who we knew well from his previous employment with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and who was now working for NCA. He advised us strongly, despite knowing our preferred method of distributing the aid ourselves, to let him and his colleagues distribute our aid during the following week because of fear of riots and jealousy. They are well known in the camps, and are trusted. We subsequently had a walk with him around camp Osterode and then the shanty town of camp Kablare and we completely accepted that to try and distribute our aid here would have been impossible. Hassan explained that asbestos was present and there were visible signs of ill health and extremely poor hygiene. On some of the shanty sites lead contamination was found to be 100 times permitted levels, yet close by, no abnormal readings were shown. The families there were very grateful for the aid and the fact that they had not been forgotten. All the government provides is wood for their ovens which were donated by another NGO. We will definitely go back there again.

Nibsy then went back to the camp they visited last October and took the wheelchair to the little boy Steve Hunter wrote about at that time. His photograph is on the website and he's wearing red, with a red hat. Today he was in much the same position as before and wearing the same clothes. He was so happy with the chair he'll now be able to get out and about.

There were three more drops to make Monday before heading for home.

Monday, 17 April 2006 - Mid-day: Sadly news was received today that another mass grave had been discovered in Skenderaj yesterday (Sunday), no further news, but as soon as we know more, the information will be posted.

On a cheerier note the airborne crew are on their way home and the convoy is now on its way to the border - ahead was a massive queue (how British).

9.30 pm - the convoy had just reached Belgrade where they would be spending the night. So far no signs of the floods we've all heard reported on the news. This morning on the journey to Belgrade four large distributions were made. Nibsy went to the Islamic Centre which houses 440 children, 380 of whom are orphans, 132 families are also housed there, all of mixed ethnicity. (Each family had been offered the accommodation on condition that they each fostered at least one orphan) Each child received a toy and each family received a family box. The other drops were to a hospital, 30 families near the border and a centre for the mentally challenged.

Back on the road at 8.00 am Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, 18 April 2006 - Convoy left Belgrade at 8.00 am this morning as planned and arrived at the Hungarian border at 12.15 pm. It was very busy there, but everyone was through the first stage quickly. Unfortunately, the convoy was then met by an extremely objectionable Hungarian customs official. He was both verbally and physically aggressive, as the dent from his fist on Nibsy proves. He refused to help with an English translator and his English speaking colleague, who Chas managed to find, expressed much embarrassment. Chas pointed out the damage that had been done and asked for €100 in compensation, which he knew, was futile, but gave him much satisfaction. Needless to say, the process would have involved getting the Police Chief to come to the border, statements and formalities, so discretion became the better part of valour! As Bev Storer said, "what a wonderful way to be welcomed back into the EU". It goes without saying that the man refused to pay for the damage to Nibsy's truck. (This guy was worse than a Jobsworth!)

As a small compensation for the above events, the crews stopped for delicious Hungarian goulash at a local stop, opposite a bike shop, and Chas took the tachograph reprobates who had fines to pay from the outward journey, to the Post Office.

Wednesday, 19 April 2006 - The day started well with bacon sandwiches courtesy of Chez Winyard of Naughties and Nice. The two 40 tonne trucks, Late Entry and Big Mother, together with Nibsy broke off from the main group to head for Frankfurt to make sure they caught their Thursday ferry from Vlissingen. The whole team got held up in a major Prague traffic jam for three hours, otherwise an uneventful day. Tonight's night stop was just outside Nurmberg.

Thursday, 20 April 2006 - The two 40 tonne trucks along with Nibsy were en route on the Ford ferry, Vlissingen to Dagenham, arriving Friday at approximately 3.00 am. Meanwhile the rest of the crew were at Bruges for their last night on the road. Tom (Conlin) had offered to buy the Slough crew lattés, fruit tea and bacon rolls. The rest of the crews planned to depart 7.30 am Friday morning and board the 10.30 am ferry from Calais to Dover.

Hold up of the day was a three hour jam around Frankfurt. There were lots of tanned left arms this evening.

Friday, 21 April 2006 - 1.00 pm and the crews were back in the UK, Robin Hood, Two Taffs, Freemasons, Culture Club, Naughties ‘n Nice and Bay Leaves, all on the motorway going their separate ways home. Late Entry, Big Mother and Nibsy docked early this morning.

It was another great trip, great team and very successful. Hugely worthwhile drops were made to all our recipients in Kosovo. Everyone is looking for the next six months to speed by before setting out again.

Thanks to everyone who has given their support to make this trip so successful. THANK YOU.

Other updates:

Further information regarding the drop at the Islamic centre on Monday. This was filmed by a local TV crew, all in Albanian. This was the fourth television interview during Hope and Aid Direct's time in Kosovo.

Charles Storer had a meeting with the Head of Fiscal Affairs, who is in charge of the entire Kosovan budget, which also covers parking charges at customs. She was very interested in the case put forward and is investigating matters further and will be in touch about any future charges. This proved a very positive meeting and we should have some more news when the crews return.

Two Taffs went back to Ferizaj to visit approximately 30 families in a collection centre. Last year one of the mothers had lost her two daughters in a fire at the home two weeks prior to our visit and although we could not compensate for the loss of her children she was given goods to assist in refurbishing a new room. This time, the good news is that she is pregnant and the baby is due in May. She was given lots of baby clothes, a cot, a pram etc.

 

Also received was an update on the ambulance taken out in October 2005. It’s now successfully being used to transport Serbs in rural villages to the facility next to the hospital.

Who went?

We had two 40 tonners on the trip this Easter crewed by Steve Walsh with Dennis Little, and Dave Luscombe-Russell with Stephen Hunter.

The Fire Tender was manned by Richard Mills and Jason John.

The seven 7.5 tonners were crewed by Alan Beckwith with Graeme Fordham, John Cox with Gavin Keegan, Chas and Bev Storer, Bill Nelson with Jeff Gill (on the way out and Mike Crock for the return), Tina Williams with John Evans and two three person crews of Maura Stock, John Winyard and Margaret Norton, and Paul Evans, Mike Crock and David Palmer.

As usual we had our airborne team; although they don't drive out with the main group, the part they play is no less important, helping the others at the warehouse and with the distributions. This Easter the group was made up of Lin Holland (who flew out ahead of the others to set up the warehouse facility), Maggie Beecher, Kirsty Storer, Mark Wynne-Pedder, Gaynor MacGregor and Jill Bates.

How did we get there?

We used our now tried and tested route:

Departure from Dover on the cross channel ferry to Calais, (France) Bruges, (Belgium) Brussels, Liege, Aachen, (Germany) Koln, Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Nurnburg, , Plzen, Praha, (Czech Republic) Brno, Bratislava, (Slovakia) Budapest, (Hungary) Szeged, , Tompa, Subotica, (Serbia) Novi Sad, Beograd, Nis, Prokuplje and finally Pristina (Kosovo) that's a total of 2,115 Km (if we don't take unexpected detours).