A very interesting site Steve, despite the fact that listening to that 2-stroke powering by I lost the way back to TN and thus all the ‘everything since last visit’ posts 
.
Brought back memories of my days at Shaws of Stapleford, Nottingham after the takeover by C.E. Dormer of Leytonstone and that company’s incorporation of Coopers of Wednesbury. After driving various examples of Hedley Shaw’s fleet I was given one day a Commer 2 stroke diesel with straight through floor tractor to run the NE trunk’s trailer down to Wednesbury. Despite the assault on my ears I was well pleased to drive in the unaccustomed warmth after freezing in assorted Leylands and AECs 
.
My first ever motor after passing my (car) test in 1963 was a Bantam Karrier in the Co-op Soft Drinks factory’s fleet. Got the job the same day I passed the test. No theory, just a short drive with the examiner in my old Standard Vanguard set me up for a lifetime (almost) of road transport 
Salut, David.