Limey:
Spot on regarding the 13 speed Spardo. Most 9 speeds I drove had right top and right bottom as 3/4 and 7/8, although I do recall driving a 1980 Foden with the pattern you state.Now then, there will also be a “sneaky gear” whereby you can shift into the crawler gear in high range. Used to be very helpful in the days when your 250 ■■■■■■■ just wouldnt take the fourth to fith change when struggling to haul 38t up a steep climb.
Thanks for the repies so far, chaps.
Limey, you may be right about the top right and top bottom 3/4 and 7/8. The way I described it was the way I was told by the bloke I got the lorry from. May be it was the way he had been changing gears, ie skipping a gear.
Interesting to hear about using the crawler (1st?) gear for between 4th and 5th.
The lorry is a 1980 V reg., has a 250 ■■■■■■■ turbo engine and is an - ex Calor 8 wheel tanker. Seems right enough considering it’s been in Showland. Got a big box luton body and had a winch on the pto. Also got diff lock.
Crap blue colour inside the cab mind. 
I’ll post a link to some pictures when I get a moment.
thanks again.