R.I.P SAVIEM

[Mike Ponsonby]

What Terrible news I had the pleasure of knowing john, and I always looked forward to reading his posts on trucknet

A Truck fanatic

RIP John

From The Ponsonbys

Mike.......

[VALKYRIE]

R.I.P.SAVIEM
Wednesday,21st September,2016.Old Time Lorries,TruckNetUK.VALKYRIE.

Although I haven't posted much on TruckNetUK of late I'm always keeping up to date with the posts on this Old Lorries page,and I always
read SAVIEM's posts.Besides being a charming man he certainly was very knowlegable on the commercial vehicle industry and the road haulage industry,although he obviously didn't know everything.It's a shock that SAVIEM has passed on.I always thought that he had a colourful and interesting life:Lorry driver-owner,commercial vehicle salesman,a road haulier,sales representative for,and employee of,several commercial vehicle manufacturers,a friend of founder-editor of Truck Magazine,Pat Kennett,a friend of several people who were employed in the commercial vehicle industry,a farmer,a owner of several historic commercial vehicles,etc.......I wonder how he achieved all these things.

WHEEL BLOW UP.
Re the way John passed on:I recall reading in one of the 1984 editions of the great WHEELS & TRACKS Historic & Modern Military Vehicles Magazine,edited by the late great Bart Vanderveen,how a young military vehicle restorer tragically passed on - Patrick was restoring a World War Two Dodge 4x4 and,obviously due to metal fatigue and/or a fault in the welding in the wheel,one of the Dodge's wheels blew up as Patrick was attending to it.......
My prayers go to his family and friends.
As a believer in Life After Death,John - SAVIEM will now be having a great time with his hobbies and interests in the Elysian Fields forevermore

VALKYRIE

[peggydeckboy]

Asad loss ,R.I P.Saviem..

[newmercman]

What a tragic waste of life.

[jsutherland]

That is so tragic. RIP Saviem

[3piece-wheel]

Just spotted this very tragic news,i always looked forward to reading about Saviem`s vast knowelge of the transport industry, a really interesting poster on Trucknet who will be sadly missed by so many.
Rest in piece John, thoughts are with your family & friends at this sad time... Dave Barber

[CJA1]

RIP. SAVIEM. Condolences to The Family.

[VALKYRIE]

R.I.P.SAVIEM

Friday,23rd September,2016.Old Time Lorries,TruckNetUK.VALKYRIE.

I'm sorry about this,but I've just got to correct a mistake which I made in the following post:-
R.I.P.SAVIEM
Wednesday,21st September,2016.Old Time Lorries,TruckNetUK.VALKYRIE.

Here is the post's second part:-
WHEEL BLOW UP.
Re the way John passed on:I recall reading in one of the 1984 editions of the great WHEELS & TRACKS Historic & Modern Military Vehicles Magazine,edited by the late great Bart Vanderveen,how a young military vehicle restorer tragically passed on - Patrick was restoring a World War Two Dodge 4x4 and,obviously due to metal fatigue and/or a fault in the welding in the wheel,one of the Dodge's wheels blew up as Patrick was attending to it.......

The correction:So John - SAVIEM went the same way as Patrick,inflating a tyre of his Star Flyer lorry,but the tyre's wheel disintegrated and blew up,fatally injuring John.
I've just re-checked the WHEELS & TRACKS,No.10,news piece on Patrick Hulin of Belgium (which I ought to have done in the first place!),and for the sake of accuracy and respect,it was not the wheel of his WW2 Dodge 4x4 Ambulance that blew up but one of the wheel's of his WW2 Ford-Willys Jeep that he was restoring.
I well remember how shocked I was when I read this.......I had never come across something like this happening before.......it was so unexpected.......so seemingly unusual.But it was also a brutal REALITY CHECK which I have never forgotten. How many more cases of wheel blow ups have there been? I do urge restorers of historic motor vehicles to carefully check the wheels of their motor vehicles,and to deflate the tyres before taking the wheels off. The wheels want checking in modern testing equipment for cracks,metal fatigue,etc. SAFETY FIRST
And,as I say:-
My prayers go to John's family and friends.
As a believer in Life After Death,John - SAVIEM will now be having a great time with his hobbies and interests in the Elysian Fields forevermore

VALKYRIE

[alexsaville]

Sorry to hear the sad news, Saviem was a fountain of knowledge and will be sadly missed on these pages.
He always had something interesting to say and share.

Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot,
and day's o' Lang Syne?
God Bless you John.
Alex

[Davidoff]

I was on a trip overseas the last two weeks, I finally got the information when David/Fergie47 kindly emailed me with the disastrous news.
Shocking, and as so many have suggested, not only the loss of a great human being but also the definitive evaporation of a unique encyclopedia of trucking knowledge and experience.



Sometimes pictures and/or music speak better than words. Here are a few SAVIEM-specific memorablia in respectful memory of John.


I did share these pictures with him on PM, sadly never the videos.

209A5403.JPG

[Click on the picture and it will go upright as it should]

209A5408.JPG

209A5413.JPG

209A5414.JPG

Over the past years John posted a number of stories on here about VIT (Valenton International Transports), a fairly well-known Middle-East haulage firm in the 70s, operating out of France. He was always very complimentary about them.

This particular unit is owned by my friend Julien in France, who restored her back into VIT's exact livery 2 years ago or so.
Julien's passion for this firm is natural - his father used to be a Middle-East driver with VIT during the 70s and this lorry is the exact replica of his unit number P44.
Still powered by the original MAN V8, before SAVIEM introduced the "SM 280 TU" powered by a straight-6 engine which, apart from much better fuel economy was also known for its characteristic turbo whistle.

Much credit to Julien who does a fantastic job keeping his many classic motors in roadworthy condition and available for shows.

Last year I told John I was trying to organise a "Frenchy presence" at the Gaydon retro show with a few mates including Julien and his SAVIEM. I was hoping I could finally meet John in person and at the same time allow him to climb inside a SAVIEM cabin once more.

Sadly it wasn't to be...





I hope up there in the routier above us you are able to enjoy all the memories of your exceptionally rich life.
Grateful for your presence on TN and all the knowledge and stories you shared with all of us over the years.

Rest in peace John.

[bestbooties]

A measure of Saviem's popularity can be gathered from the huge number of fans on here that don't post often, but have risen to pay their respects.
Like many on here, I never met him but was impressed by his knowledge and down to earth true honest comments.
We're all heading for that truck park up there, save me a place mate!
Rest in Peace.

[lawrence2765]

Sad news of one of the very best and comphrehensive contributors to this site who bought such a wealth of knowledge.
John sounded in his posts that he was one of lifes true gentlemen , may you rest in peace sir and our sincere condolences to those you have left behind.

[tonyj105]

Top geezer , such a sad loss.

RIP Saviem, rest well


tony

[Dog tired]

RIP Saviem, such a tragic and sad loss.
My deepest sympathy to your family.
Rest in peace John Goodreid.

[PanX]

No.. I never shared a brew or trailer box Camino stew with Saviem, but respected his knowledge and trucking expertise, and always read his posts on here. Always the voice of reason, backed up with personal knowledge and experience.

RIP, Saviem,

Well, "Your ticket and your suitcase, thunder rolling down the track, you don't know where you're going, but you know you won't be back, but big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams..meet us in in the land of hope and dreams"
BS.

Mick B

[dessert driver]

What a tragic loss
RIP John

[kr79]

RIP his were probably the most intresting and knowledgeable posts I have ever read on trucknet.

[Jimmy84]

Rest in peace, Saviem!

[tastrucker]

A very sad loss , RIP, Trevor.

[bigstraight6]

I'm truly saddened to read this thread, Great knowledge and words of wisdom from John, RIP.....

[240 Gardner]

I did have the pleasure of meeting John, pre-TN, when he and I were fellow owners of Atkinson "View-Line" tractor units.

Later, we corresponded often via TN, and I can only echo the sentiments expressed by so many: RIP John.

Here are his two preserved Atkis, back in the day:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jfg1949/1 ... d8E-f5BrSn

https://www.flickr.com/photos/80122972@ ... gdK-5W2kWn

[animal]

A sad loss RIP John

Ang

[adr]

Such amazing knowledge of Lorries/Road Haulage & the people involved in it, both UK & European. His enthusiasm was overwhelming, never critical or sinical, frequently amusing, he wrote with such authority I found his posts fascinating, a man I would love to have met & had a drink with. RIP Saviem, this Forum will not be the same without you. Regards Chris.

[vertco]

So sad to learn of Saviem's passing.
We will all miss his posts which were entertaing and informative
R.I.P.

[kerbut]

So sorry to read this news , having been at our "other" home in a Spanish mountain village this is the first I have read of this on the ferry back to UK ,my condolences go to John,s family.

[pete smith]

John's Funeral is on Wednesday 12th October at 11 am, on behalf of John's family I would like to thank you all for the kind messages left on this thread, I will print them all off and give them to Norah and Anne-marie, Best Regards Pete

[leylandlover]

Nice gesture Pete.

[gazsa401]

Thanks Pete

[pete smith]

Please see my last post above, I have edited it as I put the wrong date on It is Wednesday 12th October at 11am, Thank's Pete

[Buzzer]

Sure I am not the only one who today at 11am stopped for a brief moment thinking of John aka Saviem taking his final journey, such a great loss to us all but well done for those keeping this thread going, this shows what high regard we all had for him, vast knowledge with in the transport world, open the gates as he is on his way up may he rest in eternal piece, Buzzer.