Foden S18 airside refueller KYY389D was acquired for preservation and a complete rebuild was begun but unfortunately the operator died in 2004 and work on it then ceased as his daughter and son-in-law have no interest in lorries. (Dave Godley)

Clive Williams writes ... The reg number of this Foden indicates that it started life as a refueller with Shell-Mex & BP Aviation, probably in the 1950s at London Airport (Heathrow), but not in fact road registered until 1966, roundabout the time when all unregistered vehicles at Heathrow had to be registered. This may have been when control of Heathrow was transfered from a Government Department to the new British Airports Authority.

The Shell-Mex & BP vehicles that I have notes of were registered in the range KYY 356-440D. They were mainly a varied mix of 6-wheel Leyland Hippos, Foden FGs, & Thornycrofts with a few Commer (FC) tractor units. As aeroplanes got bigger, the vehicles got cascaded down to regional airports and thence to smaller private airfields.