MP's praise for Stourbridge vintage military vehicle parade

Organiser David Spruce said he was blown away by the support for the event and video footage shot from aboard a tank in the parade shows just how many people lined the route as the vehicles made their way through Stourbridge High Street on Saturday November 12 in the first event of its kind.

Military vehicle enthusiast David Spruce, who lives in Stourbridge's Old Quarter, decided to organise the parade with a little help from his friends and his employer – to bring a bit of life to the town centre after the Covid pandemic.

He said: “I just thought we need to do something. Since Covid we’ve had nothing in the town.

“Friends said if you can do it - we’ll support you.”

With a pledge of sponsorship from his employer Stourbridge Shuttle operator PreMetro, David – who is secretary of a vintage vehicle club from Bridgnorth – rallied the troops and a total of 34 vehicles took part in the procession which saw the High Street brimming with onlookers.

The view of crowds in the High Street from the Abbot tank. Image - Graham Wiley (Image: Graham Wiley)

He said: “I was amazed by the volume of people that turned out. I never expected that many people.”

He said he’d received “fantastic support” from traders in the town ahead of the event and that Stourbridge’s MP Suzanne Webb also turned out to watch the spectacle and even climbed aboard the large Abbot tank which was the centre piece of the parade.

Stourbridge's MP Suzanne Webb checks out the Abbot tank at the event (Image: David Spruce)

Graham Wiley, from Bridgnorth, took a camera along with him and shot video footage from aboard the tank which was carefully driven through the busy High Street by Julian Millington from Bridgnorth.

The view of the parade in the High Street from the Abbot tank (Image: Suzanne Webb MP)

Mr Wiley said: “Roy and Julian Millington invited me to join them in the Stourbridge vehicle parade.

“There was an excellent turnout of military vehicles and large crowds came out to watch.

The parade of vintage military vehicles drew the crowds in the town centre. Pic - Tony Norris (Image: Tony Norris)

“I was very impressed with the way Julian skilfully controlled the Abbot through the narrow streets of the town. No parked cars were crushed in the making of this video.”

Following the success of the event, David hopes to stage it again next year and maybe make it an annual Remembrance parade.

He told the News: “I’d love to carry it on and make it an annual thing for Stourbridge and the Royal British Legion.

The Abbott tank outside The Bonded Warehouse where the vehicles were on display after the parade. Pic - Nigel Dickensen (Image: Nigel Dickensen)

“It’s something that can be worked on for a long time to come. I’ve just started the ball rolling."

Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb said the event was “great fun” and she added: “I saw many people having a wonderful time getting up close to everything from tanks to lorries.

“All credit should go to the organiser David Spruce for putting on such a fabulous event in Stourbridge.

Suzanne Webb MP, left, and Steve Jasper of event sponsor PreMetro in the High Street followed by the Shirley Pipe Band (Image: Suzanne Webb MP)

“The parade going down the High Street and led by the Shirley Pipe Band was the highlight for me and for the hundreds who came out to watch.

“I very much hope there will be a repeat event next year. It was Stourbridge constituency at its best on a very poignant weekend for our country as we remembered those who have fallen in the service of our country.”