Frank Fiveash - President
In 1967 I joined the C.M.P.E. because it offered just what I was looking for, instruction from manufacturers on their latest bit of plant, an opportunity to meet people in the similar line of business and, above all, to be able to identify a voice on the telephone with that chap at the bar. They were exciting days with a new piece of plant or an up-grade coming out nearly every month. I came into plant hire a couple of years earlier after selling the garages. They were so successful I became a manager instead of a hands-on man and then plant hire took me right back to working with machinery instead of paper. Until then I had always held I wouldn't ask anyone to do something I couldn't but that changed when I employed drivers who could dig a square hole before I could even set up the machine. I do remember sitting at a dinner dance with John Webb, Ron Stallard and Les Searle - all great characters in Sussex - when we discovered all four of us had driven a low-loader that day. My artic. licence was obtained by Grandfathers rights, and then I learnt how to drive the beast. Happy days. The wheels turned and I finished up once more sitting in an office checking timesheets and invoices, watching the bank balance and making tea for the others. My son Tony took over when I packed it in and I recently covered for him while on holiday. What an experience and there are still the panics " Your XXXX machine won't start" he hadn't put the armrest down, " Your machine has a puncture" my fault, except I wasn't the chippy who had spilled a bag of 4" nails on site. Then there was the paperwork for the missing 2 litres of red diesel, just to satisfy some Government official that I hadn't put it in my car. At least now I am retired I don't have to worry about such things.
Well here I am, 40 years later, President of the C.M.P.E. and willing to use my knowledge and experience to help promote our Association in any way I can. If I can help you please don't hesitate to contact me. I shall look forward to hearing from you. Frank