My book arrived last week,and,as I’m off sick at the moment I’ve been sitting out in the sun captivated by the extremely well laid out and factual account of what has to be the most famous company to blaze the trail to faraway places.
Well done Ash,it’s certainly been well worth waiting for and well worth the (full) price.
Now then,how about getting all those photo’s that didn’t get included in this book into another one.
I’m waiting!
kr79:
Just finished reading the book and it was worth every penny well done Ash.
I thought the mix of pictures and writing was spot on and to track down so many drivers after all these years must of been hard work.
One picture of two drivers in the cab of an old AEC realy got me thinking. You hear drivers today moaning about lack of space in cabs for four or five nights out and these guys were sharing this tiny cab for weeks on end.
And remember…that AEC was a day cab to begin with! Woodman and Paul built the sleeper themselves. Look closely at the photo in the book. You can clearly see all the bits of wood put together to make the bunk area.
Oh, and check out the dented and battered kettle too. I bet that had a few stories of its own to tell. Pure quality 
But better than the AEC was the Guy which Woodman and Paul went to Kabul in ! And that little truck did 3 round trips…10,000 miles each trip…30,000 miles in all! And each time 2 men went in it. It was truly incredible what the early pioneers did is it not!!!
Thanks for the kind words re the book to you kr79 and everyone else who has taken the time to comment on here. I really appreciate it. 
KW:
Now then,how about getting all those photo’s that didn’t get included in this book into another one.I’m waiting!
…well you’ll have to wait a little longer: But not as long as the book has taken 
It just so happens that I’ve been thinking about doing a CD disc of all the pics that I collected during research. Yes?
Originally I had around 410 to go into the book, but sadly I had to cut them down to 350 which was actually a really difficult thing to do as every pic told part of the story and I didn’t want to lose any of them 
Watch this space as they say… 
Ash
truckerash:
KW:
Now then,how about getting all those photo’s that didn’t get included in this book into another one.I’m waiting!
…well you’ll have to wait a little longer: But not as long as the book has taken
It just so happens that I’ve been thinking about doing a CD disc of all the pics that I collected during research. Yes?
Originally I had around 410 to go into the book, but sadly I had to cut them down to 350 which was actually a really difficult thing to do as every pic told part of the story and I didn’t want to lose any of them
Watch this space as they say…
I want one,how much and where do I send the cash?
@ashley, is there any chance that you could speedily knock together another book on any subject in the world just so that i can have an excuse to chat to the delightful Heather at ‘old pond’ !!!
you want to meet her mate very nice
Got the book today.
Thank you for signing it Ash.
Bringing back lots of memories, looks worse than what I remembered!
Congratulations on a super job.
hey ash
put me down for one of those cd’s mate please.
cheers
gaz
Hi Lads:- Heather is fantastic! She’s doing a stirling job for me I’ll see if I can “tempt” her on here for you what2do…but she’s a bit shy 
Please do ash would be nice to see her again
Ash. i havent finished the book yet but so far i havent found any mention of Ewe Ploog (think its spelt right■■?), astran`s paperwork guru, any idea wht happened to him!!!.
Cheers Dave
Ash
My Copy Arrived Today 
Haven’t done any work 
been to busy Reading Top work Mate Worth every penny.Thanks.
I got my copy yesturday and its simply the best transport book i’ve ever read! Ash, you’ve done a brilliant job researching all the stories, chatting to everyone and then putting it all together so well. How about a simple photo album style book of all the unused pictures ? And i wish I’d known you were doing signed copies, I ordered mine from Amazon ages ago so missed out 
Westy:
Ash. i havent finished the book yet but so far i havent found any mention of Ewe Ploog (think its spelt right■■?), astran`s paperwork guru, any idea wht happened to him!!!.Cheers Dave
keep reading as he is mentioned in the book, I had never heard of him until reading the book, so your patience will be rewarded
My kids got me a copy for Fathers day , ive only had a quick leaf through it but will get stuck into it this weekend . but it really looks like a superb book with some great pics
tc trans:
Westy:
Ash. i havent finished the book yet but so far i havent found any mention of Ewe Ploog (think its spelt right■■?), astran`s paperwork guru, any idea wht happened to him!!!.Cheers Dave
keep reading as he is mentioned in the book, I had never heard of him until reading the book, so your patience will be rewarded
Hi Westy. I’ve heard Uve called a few things, but never a “paperwork guru”! Indeed as TC says, he is mentioned but if I tell which chapter and page, you’ll jump straight to it and miss loads out, so i’ll leave it to you to find him 
he he.
Uve became the outright owner of Astran so you see why I find your comments about him amusing. Enjoy the book and let me know when you find him. Good luck!
Would be good to see another book ash of the unused pictures been going through the book looking at the pictures making me wish i was a few years older and could of got on to doing the middle east.
saw the astran scania 141 on the m25 today and it looks the dogs do dahs must of been on the way to your official launch party Ash would be good to see some photos from that to see what the young men of the early days look like now.
Re “Autographed copies”.
When ‘Ash’ first asked intrested parties to email him I did and subsequently received a phone call from Heather, I ordered my copy then and there and Heather offered me an autographed copy as I was amongst the first few orders.
It has since arrived and is absolutely magnificent. I’ve been driving HGV’s since 1977 and continental since 1985 so it’s the pictures of trucks from before that date that totally captivate me, I simply can’t imagine going to Kabul ‘two up’ in a day cabbed Guy 
!!! These guys were, and still are, hero’s in every sense of the word.
Well done Ash, & thanks, it was well worth the wait.
Ross.
kr79:
saw the astran scania 141 on the m25 today and it looks the dogs do dahs must of been on the way to your official launch party Ash would be good to see some photos from that to see what the young men of the early days look like now.
I’ve started a new thread entitled ASTRAN BOOK LAUNCH & GRAND REUNION PARTY. Check it out for some great photos of the day!
what2do:
@ashley, is there any chance that you could speedily knock together another book on any subject in the world just so that i can have an excuse to chat to the delightful Heather at ‘old pond’ !!!
Just for you mate: there’s a pic on the “book launch & party” thread of Heather!