LETTING ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
I can still hear David Coupland’s wonderful distinctive voice either thrown across the car park or booming down the phone line. While such a memory – of course – is always coupled to the vision of his wife Shirley’s beaming smile. Throughout the ‘90s and noughties, Team Coupland were to be found here, there and almost everywhere. Whether it was recording a classic vehicle road run, steam engine rally, tractor ploughing event or witnessing the nail-biting spectacle of seeing a massive heavy haulage load on the move, then the Lincolnshire-based ensemble would probably be in the thick of the action ensuring the moments were saved for posterity on film.
Being in the right place at the right time with the right camera – ideally tripod mounted – pointed in the right direction wasn’t always easy. And a huge part of these personal Coupland memories on such classic vehicle road runs is seeing the leapfrogging antics of their family Volvo cars breezing past you enroute to the next pre-selected filming spot ideally to set up before any of the runners got there. Mam and dad plus their sons John and Paul – and the German Shepherd Meg – were dedicated followers of these elements of the road transport world and (you betcha) they were good at it. And didn’t a lot of folk appreciate their endeavours.
Chapel Natives
On the face of it, David and Shirley didn’t travel far in their life. They were both born, bred, raised, worked then – sadly – passed away while resident in Chapel St Leonards which is on the Lincolnshire coast line about five miles north of Skegness. You could almost say that David also helped to build this settlement (well especially the new parts) as his modest plant hire activities were utilised in
