Archive #28/65: Farewell faithful "Bread van"

"In the 1970s we used to go to Manual training (woodwork etc ) at Hastings Central School workshop in the old Bread Van. The Van was complete with no seat belts and sliding doors which opened randomly while travelling…fun times!" Old Boy, Rob Hay.

Vehicles have played an important part in the mobility of the Lindisfarne community. From the first Rector's ancient Buick, reputed to have carried the Rector, eleven boys and two bicycles home from a TukiTuki River outing. To a very early housemaster's venerable Chev Four truck, to which he had purpose built high sides, enabling him to carry fourteen boys on the eight by eight deck to Napier to watch a hockey test against Australia. Not withstanding the traffic officer that accosted him as he parked, enquiring if he had a licence to carry all those boys.

Then there was the school's first 'all purpose vehicle.' The boys called it "The Bomb"- not describing how it went so much as what they feared it might do next - or "The Bread Van".

The Bread Van was discovered and adapted by an Auckland Old Boy. It looked like a French Ambulance - same colour, same discomfort. For three years it took the intermediates to manual training and tramping parties to the Kawekas, Te Pohue or Waipawa Forks. Overnight for sleeping it became an RFL.

It was distinctive as well as noisy and the people of Hastings enjoyed seeing it. Then the Parents Association set to work to buy the first Ford Transit Van.

In 1975, under the leadership of Mr F Collin, scored a real coup in the purchase of a new Ford Transit Van. The Van was from a Lindisfarne parent and then, at the Parents Association’s expense, had it converted to a Minibus, thus the days of the faithful “Bread van” were numbered.

Mr Pine, in his end of year newsletter said, “I suppose I should have guessed from the attendance and the tone of the AGM on Swimming Sports’ Day, what a year this was going to be for the Parents’ Association. A large Committee, Frank Collin’s masterly handing of it, record Gala and Show Stall takings, more Cricket, Basketball and Classroom facilities, a Changing-Shed beside the Swimming pool, our own set of trestle tables and then, in five weeks, a new Minibus! The large Show Stall packed with all those articles, representing hours of hard work, is the public proof of how active and loyal the parents of this School are.”

For more photos click here.