Only named Canterbury after its nameplate was sawn in half, Aveling & Porter road roller No. 14039 of 1930 is under restoration at Chatham Dockyard. Owner Dave Main relates its interesting history, which includes two major accidents, to Alan Barnes.

When I was invited by my friend Dave Main to view the restoration progress of his Aveling roller, I was a little apprehensive. For every time I see Dave’s collection of bits and pieces it seems to have grown in size and I still find it hard to believe that he is hoping to return the engine to steam in 2005. Dave has owned this engine since he was 19 and being the true steam enthusiast that he is, I have no doubt at all that he will complete a thorough restoration.

As well as amassing the ever-growing pile of parts, Dave has also managed, over the past three years, to piece together some of the ‘life story’ of his engine. Although the history is not yet complete, what he has unearthed so far makes fascinating reading.
His Type AD 8 ton compound slide valve engined roller, No.14039, was delivered new on April 30, 1930 to Canterbury Corporation. It was allocated to John Arman, the corporation’s most senior driver, who was greatly experienced on the existing fleet of machines. However John seemed to encounter one or two problems with his brand new machine and on May 13, 1930, only a few days after the corporation had taken delivery, John drove it into a tree in Longport Street while trying to avoid hitting a bus.
The incident was reported in the local newspaper in a column headed ‘This Weeks Accidents’ which seemed to indicate that Canterbury at that time may have been a rather dangerous place. The paper states: “It drew to the side to allow a motor coach to pass. In doing so, it struck the last tree of the avenue. As a result the forks supporting the front snapped and the superstructure sagged on to the roller. The machine had to be left against the tree on which was a board bearing the legend – No Parking.”

The Aveling was subsequently repaired and continued in service with the corporation although John Arman refused to drive it again. It was reallocated to other corporation drivers including the young apprentice Les Goldup, who Dave managed to trace during his research into the roller’s history. Les now lives in Blean just outside Canterbury and Dave has spoken to him many times about his days working for the corporation. Interestingly, Les recalled that the roller that followed No. 14039 into corporation service was an Aveling & Barford diesel roller and it is thought that this machine may still exist. Tim Keenan photographed it about 10 years ago in the Calcott Hill area of Herne and if anyone knows of its present whereabouts please let Dave know.
The roller was retired by the corporation and sold for scrap in 1952 but it was saved from being cut up by Pegden Brothers of Elham. When originally supplied by Aveling the roller was fitted with a cast nameplate bearing the name Canterbury Corporation No.1. When it was sold this plate was cut in half because the corporation would not allow it to continue to carry their name. The half bearing the name Canterbury was later attached above the tax disc on the near side motion sheet and so the roller gained the name Canterbury by which it has been known ever since. During its time with Pegden Brothers, Canterbury not only appeared at the early Elham Valley rallies but was also used commercially including, somewhat ironically, being sub-contracted back to Canterbury Corporation for a time.

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