OVERVIEW
Convoy 29 did not go to plan. Both vehicles broke down, separately, in the UK before departing from British shores and neither was able to reach mainland Europe. This was the first UFC convoy not to make it that far. Accordingly, some lessons can/should be learned.
PLAN
The plan had been to depart from the UFC barn on Wednesday 28 January, taking a ferry to France on the same day. The vehicles were to have travelled together to Kyiv where one vehicle (Andy & Sam) would remain, handing over the vehicle and supplies to the Azov Brigade, whilst the other continued on to Sumy to hand over the aid (mainly medical supplies) and vehicle to a volunteer unit for handover to the military. Return to the UK was planned, as had often been the case, to be by the combination of train and taxi to the border, before crossing the on foot.
Flights back to UK were booked from to return to the UK on Tuesday 3 February.
COURSE OF EVENTS
Amidst widespread flooding Andy and Sam travelled from South West England to Hereford to RV with David on Tuesday 27 January. This was by a private lift to a train station and a further bus that was laid on to replace trains on the closed/flooded line to Hereford. On RV’ing with David, the 3 drivers headed off in the 2 locally purchased vehicles to the UFC barn, with departure from there planned for the next day.
Just 500m from the barn, the Toyota Rav 4 broke down after some occasional ‘graunching’ noises in transit. The rear left suspension arm had seemingly broken and the wheel was offset from its usual front-rear alignment. It was not driveable. The vehicle remained in the lane until the AA eventually arrived to collect it the following afternoon.
The Isuzu Rodeo was loaded at the barn with a view to making the journey to Ukraine alone. The drivers, bar Brooke, stayed the night with Ants Walker whose hospitality was greatly appreciated. That evening all drivers met with Tim in a local pub. Tim sanctioned the views of everyone involved and reflected on the way ahead. It was decided that the Rodeo would continue to Ukraine as planned with David and Brooke being the drivers. The next day they set off for the South East coast but broke down with an apparent fuel filter issue. Ultimately this vehicle too was unable to continue on its trip.
LESSONS LEARNED
Vehicles. The 2 vehicles had been bought privately with best intent. The convoy was necessarily aborted: both vehicles failed to make the trip. Lesson: every privately bought vehicle for UFC use, should, whenever practical and possible, be given a garage’s mechanical ‘once over’ before being considered fit-for-purpose to embark on the journey to Ukraine.
Single vehicle convoy. UFC policy is generally not to send single vehicles on convoys to Ukraine, or indeed vehicles with just one driver. Lesson: exceptionally this policy may be adjusted as was the case with Convoy 29.