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Jones Butchers Van (TV Series)
Ford BB (1935) Box Van, BUC852
The most familiar vehicle of the Dad's Army television series was Jack Jones butchers van. An essential addition to the fighting force of Walmington-on-Sea’s Home Guard, transferring the platoon from place to place whenever required.
The van was originally discovered by Frank Holland an assistant property master at the BBC in an unwanted and dilapidated state in a street in Streatham, London.
Frank contacted Fred Wilmington whose company loaned vehicles to the BBC, telling him about the vehicle. After enquiries were made into the ownership of the van by the Police, Fred was allowed to claim the vehicle.
The van underwent considerable amounts of restoration before coming to the attention of Dad’s Army designer Paul Joel who visited Wilmington’s site in Kingsbury and thought the vehicle could be used in the TV series.
However, the roof needed altering and holes needed to be cut into the side to allow members of the home guard push their rifles through so it could be used as a battle vehicle.
BUC852 made its debut in the first colour episode "The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones" (BBC TV - 1969) and featured in several episodes right up until the last series "Wake up Walmington" (BBC TV - 1977).
The Vehicle was also used in several promotional events and even featured in a slot with Arthur Lowe in a 1974 episode of Blue Peter.
When Dad’s Army ended the van was sold to a Ford Dealer in Finchley and then ultimately sold again in 1990 to the Patrick Motor Museum in Birmingham.
Since then, the van has made numerous appearances at the Dad’s Army museum in Bressingham, The Imperial war Museum and used in various documentaries about Dad’s Army, including the 1998 documentary – Don’t Panic! – The Dad’s Army Story when comedienne Victoria Wood could be seen behind the wheel.
Another appearance - unrelated to Dad's Army - was in the 1979 Southern Television Series Dick Barton – Special Agent, a remake for television of the original BBC Radio series of the 1940s.
The Van features prominently in several episodes when it is used by a gang of criminals lead by Barton’s enemy Melganik.
Barton becomes trapped inside the van in one episode as his arch enemy attempts to freeze him to death using the van’s refrigerator.
The van appears to have undergone a few changes with boards placed onto the sides (to hide the J Jones livery) and modifications to the roof. There are some giveaways to the vans identity with the distinctive gold paint still identifiable on the cab and the number plate reference been referred to in the script.
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