A.E. Stuart & Sons Livestock Hauliers.

[Pebbles 74]

Hello All,

Does anybody have any pictures of A.E. Stuart & Sons Livestock Hauliers from Exeter? My Uncle drove for them in the 70s & 80s.

Any westcounrty livestock haulage / market pictures would be interesting.

All the best,

Andrew

[Pebbles 74]

Hello all,

I've finally managed to get some of my Uncle's photographs of his time at A.E. Stuart / Stuart's Transport of Clyst St Mary near Exeter, posted in roughly chronological order:


This is my Uncle with the first lorry he dove for Stuart's aged 18, CTA186L.
This photo was set-up, the Bedford did have a hitch but it never pulled a drag in anger.


At 21 he moved on to this Seddon Atki wagon & drag.


This AEC came second hand from a Shrewsbury operator.


This a shot of Stuart's yard at Clyst St Mary sometime in the early 70s.
Stuart's still hold the Volvo Truck & Bus franchise for the Westcountry, based at the same site.


One of several F88's VOD247S.


F12 BFJ960T which my Uncle drove from new.
This lorry was bought by Shropshire operator Gerald Britton when Stuart's ceased haulage.




BFJ960T & VOD247S.




BFJ960T & an F10 of Stuart Snow from Andover.


BFJ960T & two Scanias of H.H. Williams from Gloucestershire.


BFJ960T & H.H. Williams Mack 'Moo Mover'!

If anybody has any more photos of A.E. Stuart's lorries or livestock transport / markets generally, it would be great to see them.

Hope you enjoy these!

Andrew Stone.

[143topline]

great to see the photos andrew , thanks for posting them. i have an F7 eight wheelerand a poor photo of a scania 110, i will sort them and post
john

[143topline]

hi andrew heres thge F7 at barretts and baird, west bromwich

[143topline]

the ex stuarts volvo of gerald britton at hereford mart

[Pebbles 74]

Hello topline,

Many thanks for those, you certainly take some good clear shots! You obviously got around the markets a bit, were you driving, if so who for?

I'm of to Devon for the weekend so will show these to my Uncle. I'll see if he can find any more photos.

What is your view on the AEC that Stuart's had off the Shrewsbury operator - CNT163N. My Uncle thinks it came from 'Perrys' but wondered if it was Parrys - the colour scheme seems right? I read some lads talking about an operator called Perrys from Gobowen on another thread, did they haul livestock?

Anyway thanks again,

Andrew S

[143topline]

hi andrew
the aec was probably from m j parry from bayston hill, shrewsbury looking at the green and red livery, but i cannot confirm
i have never been involved in transport in a working capacity, just an enthusiast.
i was a butcher by trade and many years ago we had a small slaughterhouse at the rear of our shop in birmingham. i used to go to market on a monday with my father on school holidaysband had a ride back to birmingham in an o type bedford in the late 50's. that was the beginning and i am still taking truck photos today, but the livestock lorries are harder to get these days, i was still buying at ludlow market up to a couple of years ago and always had the camera at the ready.
have a few other werst country motors in my collection- bampton cattle, tony england, gooding come to mind.
i am still looking for the stuart 110 pics , hope to find tomorrow but they are not as good as those i posted today
john

[Denis F]

have a few other werst country motors in my collection- bampton cattle, tony england, gooding come to mind.

as I know those 3 well, I'd love to see some of your pics

[Basilbrush]

Some lovely photos of the cattle trucks of yesteryear. I knew Tom who drove the Mack for Harold Williams. How I've wished I'd taken more photos of them over the years. Gloucester market used to bo full of them & I guess I was no different from anyone else & just treated it like another day at the market.

Now it's a B&Q & a shoping centre, I certainly feel a bot different about it. Thanks to those who posted the photos & I hope they keep coming.

BB

[Basilbrush]

hi andrew
the aec was probably from m j parry from bayston hill, shrewsbury looking at the green and red livery, but i cannot confirm
i have never been involved in transport in a working capacity, just an enthusiast.
i was a butcher by trade and many years ago we had a small slaughterhouse at the rear of our shop in birmingham. i used to go to market on a monday with my father on school holidaysband had a ride back to birmingham in an o type bedford in the late 50's. that was the beginning and i am still taking truck photos today, but the livestock lorries are harder to get these days, i was still buying at ludlow market up to a couple of years ago and always had the camera at the ready.
have a few other werst country motors in my collection- bampton cattle, tony england, gooding come to mind.
i am still looking for the stuart 110 pics , hope to find tomorrow but they are not as good as those i posted today
john

I to would love to see any photos you may have 143 topline. I spent many days when ?I should have ben at school sitting in a cattle truck but never had a camera. Never got to Ludlow market though. The nearest I got to there was Bridgenorth market when my late brother drove a Thames Trader cattle truck for John Troughton. We went to Bridgenorth to fetch a load of pigs back to Baxters slaughterhouse in Gloucester. I often pass the end of the road where Baxters used to be & think of that trip.

BB

[toplineruk]

Hello Andrew
I remember your uncle Marty when he drove the bedford at A E Stuarts and son and remember when he had BFJ 960T from new. I can recall stuarts when they operated from Ottery ST Mary and moved to Clyst ST Mary and used to ride along with marty and had some right good laughs and then i passed my hgv and drove for them for many a year and like all the other who worked there it was a very sad loss when the gave up transporting cattle ect bur i suppose all good things must come to an end

[143topline]

they like renaults down in devon. rh gooding wagon and drag at barretts and baird west bromwich

[143topline]

bampton cattle transport, scania 113 at truckhaven west bromwich

[removalboy]

A framed painting on my wall Pebbles has seen them before i think.

[Pebbles 74]

Hello Andrew
I remember your uncle Marty when he drove the bedford at A E Stuarts and son and remember when he had BFJ 960T from new. I can recall stuarts when they operated from Ottery ST Mary and moved to Clyst ST Mary and used to ride along with marty and had some right good laughs and then i passed my hgv and drove for them for many a year and like all the other who worked there it was a very sad loss when the gave up transporting cattle ect bur i suppose all good things must come to an end

Hello toplineruk,
Good to hear from you, apologies for not getting back to you before, not been on-line much in the last few weeks. I'll mention your message to Martin when I speak to him next. He is driving for Halse of Honiton now, delivering farm machinery all over the South West & a lot further afield sometimes.

I can just about remember when hes was working for Stuart's only being about 4 or 5 years old at the time. I can remember riding in BFJ960T on a couple of occasions. I also remember Martin pulling her up outside Mum & Dads at Fenny Bridges with a bullock that had managed to get one of it's back legs up & over the back gates, that took a bit of sorting out! I'm hoping to get some more of his Stuart's photo's on here.

I've got some of Martin's photo's from when he was driving for my Dad that I'm going to post on the Devon Companies thread.

All the best, Andrew Stone

[Pebbles 74]

143topline,

Nice to see one of Gooding's, that one was driven by Mark Gooding, the oldest of the three lads. A lot of the reason that there are a lot of Renaults running is that many of the firms used to run Dodges & stayed with that dealer (Devon County Commercials in this case) when the had to be replaced.

It's a very small world sometimes... The chap that used to do Gooding's servicing & repairs also did my Dad's for a long while. I was also at school with the three Gooding lads, the middle one Christopher being a year older than me. Last time I heard Gooding's had a Volvo FH tractor pulling for Heltor which Chris was driving.

I would like to see your photo of Stuart's Scaina 110 if possible. I never realised Stuart's ran any Scanias (being Volvo through & through), my Uncle says they had two, both before his time there, but they gave a fair bit of trouble & didn't stay very long.

All the best, Andrew Stone

[aecinsalop]

The AEC (GNT 163 N) pictured here in this section was bought new by Geoff Parry (M.J.Parry & Sons) as AEC Mandator long wheelbase, drawbar spec and towing a Doughty drawbar trailer, both fitted with plywood 3 deck sheep bodies made by Geoff Parry in his own bodyshop at Bayston Hill. Charlie Edwards drove this vehicle from new. We ran a matching outfit converted from a AEC mammoth Minor twin steer tractor unit (KUJ 311 F), again fitted with 3 deck sheep bodies, this was driven by Paul Cadwallader, another youngster (at the that time). I do not have any pictures of KUJ 311F when converted to a long wheelbase drawbar 6 wheeler. The AEC Mustang pictured outside Barrets and Baird, PSA 304 is now in the porcess of being restored, and hopefully will be fitted with replica Thornes 22ft 3 deck body. I will post pictures as soon as we have fitted the cab...The AEC Mercury (303 DLW) I show at the moment is fitted with a Crump (Wrexham) body, we only had one from this bodybuilder. The vehicle and body are an exact replica to KHG 832 AEC Mercury with Crump body ran in the 1960s, and driven by Bill Bufton!! The rest of the bodies were all Thornes of Dorrington, until Geoff Parry started his own body shop in the early 1970s. Thats all for now...

[Pebbles 74]

The AEC (GNT 163 N) pictured here in this section was bought new by Geoff Parry (M.J.Parry & Sons) as AEC Mandator long wheelbase, drawbar spec and towing a Doughty drawbar trailer, both fitted with plywood 3 deck sheep bodies made by Geoff Parry in his own bodyshop at Bayston Hill. Charlie Edwards drove this vehicle from new. We ran a matching outfit converted from a AEC mammoth Minor twin steer tractor unit (KUJ 311 F), again fitted with 3 deck sheep bodies, this was driven by Paul Cadwallader, another youngster (at the that time). I do not have any pictures of KUJ 311F when converted to a long wheelbase drawbar 6 wheeler. The AEC Mustang pictured outside Barrets and Baird, PSA 304 is now in the porcess of being restored, and hopefully will be fitted with replica Thornes 22ft 3 deck body. I will post pictures as soon as we have fitted the cab...The AEC Mercury (303 DLW) I show at the moment is fitted with a Crump (Wrexham) body, we only had one from this bodybuilder. The vehicle and body are an exact replica to KHG 832 AEC Mercury with Crump body ran in the 1960s, and driven by Bill Bufton!! The rest of the bodies were all Thornes of Dorrington, until Geoff Parry started his own body shop in the early 1970s. Thats all for now...

Hello AEC,

Many thanks for your message & for solving the 'confusion' over the origins of Stuart's Mandator, I will pass your message on to my Uncle. I had hoped to speak to you at Gaydon, but each time I was down by the Mercury there was nobody around. Will you be at Onslow Park at the end of the month?

My Uncle also had this photograph of the Mandator, before it was repainted - I guess this is how you remember it?



I notice there is no front hitch in this photograph, presumably this was a 'Devonian' addition?

Anyway, thanks again for your message. Best regards, Andrew Stone

[aecinsalop]

Thanks for that andrew, I was very busy at Gaydon marshalling the exhibitors etc, I will be at Onslow Park you will find me in the commentators pavillion between 10.30 and 1pm. What news of Roy and Ross Stuart, are still operating, we worked together in 1970s reloading each others vehicles from all over the country, Stuarts were regular visitors to Bayston Hill to reload and re fuel etc.. I did see most of there Volvo's throughout the seventies, not a picture taken!! What happened to Treverva Transport, I know that we bought one of there double deck trailers!
Andrew, please bring your photos, I will bring mine too! I can burn you a disc I live within a mile of the show...
David Parry

[Pebbles 74]

Thanks for that andrew, I was very busy at Gaydon marshalling the exhibitors etc, I will be at Onslow Park you will find me in the commentators pavillion between 10.30 and 1pm. What news of Roy and Ross Stuart, are still operating, we worked together in 1970s reloading each others vehicles from all over the country, Stuarts were regular visitors to Bayston Hill to reload and re fuel etc.. I did see most of there Volvo's throughout the seventies, not a picture taken!! What happened to Treverva Transport, I know that we bought one of there double deck trailers!
Andrew, please bring your photos, I will bring mine too! I can burn you a disc I live within a mile of the show...
David Parry

Thanks for your message Mr Parry. As you may know, Stuarts still hold the Volvo Truck & Bus agency for the Westcountry, operated from the site at Clyst St Mary where they ran the lorries & had the lairidge. I believe that this is where Ross is involved mostly. They fatten a fair amount of cattle & also run contract farming & an agricultural contracting business out of Hill Barton. This is one of Roy, & his Son Troy's, area of activity. Sadly their father Alf (A.E.) Stuart passed away only a few weeks ago.

I will try to get hold of my Uncle's photographs for Onslow weekend. I've been speaking to him this evening & he say's he can remember coming to your yard. He also said that he remembers you running Seddon Atkinsons at the time. My Mum & Dad should be up from Honiton for the Bank Holiday Weekend & the Rally. Incidentlly, Dad was at school with Roy & they used to get about together a fair bit. Some years later, when they were old enough to drive, they took Alf's Thames Trader to Pitlochry to collect a horse!

Anyway, hope to see you at Onslow, Andrew Stone.

[Denis F]

A lot of the reason that there are a lot of Renaults running is that many of the firms used to run Dodges & stayed with that dealer (Devon County Commercials in this case) when the had to be replaced.

And they were also agents for Houghtons livestock containers

[boden]

Stuarts one and only delivery into us when I worked at home was in the early hours of a Saturday morning in that blistering summer of 1976. The driver rang in after leaving the M62 and my brother went out in the car to lead him in.It was a double decker full of breakers and we still had to do the usual killing to do so they had a few days respite.A local carrier with a Super Comet went down for a few more loads in the next couple of weeks and thats all we ever had from that area.Ido remember him saying the fields looked as if they had been burnt.

[Pebbles 74]

Evening All,

My Uncle has unearthed some more photo's of his time at AE Stuarts & I have finally got around to scanning them today. I hope they will be of interest to some of you.


This is the second TK that he drove for Stuart's.


This line up include the AEC Mandator GNT163N & it's 'drag' that was originally operated by MJ Parry of Bayston Hill, Shropshire. The furthest D Series Ford is still in the livery of Exeter Cattle Transport (Langford's) who were bought out by Stuart's.


This AEC was one of two that can to Stuart's when they bought Exeter Cattle Transport. This one was converted into a wrecker, the other was run on as a livestock lorry.


Another shot of BFJ960T, the F12 that my Uncle drove from new.


Another of BFJ960T with Stuart Snow's (Andover) F10. These last two will go on the F10, F12, F16 thread.

Hope you like them! Andrew Stone

[Basilbrush]

Evening All,

My Uncle has unearthed some more photo's of his time at AE Stuarts & I have finally got around to scanning them today. I hope they will be of interest to some of you.


This is the second TK that he drove for Stuart's.


This line up include the AEC Mandator GNT163N & it's 'drag' that was originally operated by MJ Parry of Bayston Hill, Shropshire. The furthest D Series Ford is still in the livery of Exeter Cattle Transport (Langford's) who were bought out by Stuart's.


This AEC was one of two that can to Stuart's when they bought Exeter Cattle Transport. This one was converted into a wrecker, the other was run on as a livestock lorry.


Another shot of BFJ960T, the F12 that my Uncle drove from new.


Another of BFJ960T with Stuart Snow's (Andover) F10. These last two will go on the F10, F12, F16 thread.

Hope you like them! Andrew Stone

More nice photos, thanks for posting them.

BB

[Peter Coaker]

Hello Pebbles
I can add a little information to your latest pictures. In the first photo taken in the old market in Exeter, where Marty is standing in front of the Bedford TK, Exeter Cattle Transport's AEC is in the background. This is the breakdown truck that appears below, the livestock box (built by Mannings at Dawlish) was removed and fitted to the Ford D series that appears in one of the other photos. In March 1977 we bought this lorry from Roy Stuart, with the intention of fitting the box to a newer chassis. However, the deal on the planned replacement fell through and so GFJ521D had to soldier on. At the time, most of the drivers at Stuarts were afraid to go further than Exeter Mkt with it. Bill Bevan at Exeter Commercials fitted a new set of injectors and a second-hand power steering ram and off it went to France, then Aberdeen the following week. In all it continued until October before it was replaced and then it continued for a while as a flat lorry. I still have the old EXeter Cattle Transport nameboard in my garage, though it has had Sherberton Transport written on it for many years.
Peter

Evening All,

My Uncle has unearthed some more photo's of his time at AE Stuarts & I have finally got around to scanning them today. I hope they will be of interest to some of you.


This is the second TK that he drove for Stuart's.


This line up include the AEC Mandator GNT163N & it's 'drag' that was originally operated by MJ Parry of Bayston Hill, Shropshire. The furthest D Series Ford is still in the livery of Exeter Cattle Transport (Langford's) who were bought out by Stuart's.


This AEC was one of two that can to Stuart's when they bought Exeter Cattle Transport. This one was converted into a wrecker, the other was run on as a livestock lorry.


Another shot of BFJ960T, the F12 that my Uncle drove from new.


Another of BFJ960T with Stuart Snow's (Andover) F10. These last two will go on the F10, F12, F16 thread.

Hope you like them! Andrew Stone

[Neil B]

Do you remember this one?

Gills were mentioned on another thread - can anyone tell me which one?

[Pebbles 74]

[quote="Peter Coaker"]Hello Pebbles
I can add a little information to your latest pictures. In the first photo taken in the old market in Exeter, where Marty is standing in front of the Bedford TK, Exeter Cattle Transport's AEC is in the background. This is the breakdown truck that appears below, the livestock box (built by Mannings at Dawlish) was removed and fitted to the Ford D series that appears in one of the other photos. In March 1977 we bought this lorry from Roy Stuart, with the intention of fitting the box to a newer chassis. However, the deal on the planned replacement fell through and so GFJ521D had to soldier on. At the time, most of the drivers at Stuarts were afraid to go further than Exeter Mkt with it. Bill Bevan at Exeter Commercials fitted a new set of injectors and a second-hand power steering ram and off it went to France, then Aberdeen the following week. In all it continued until October before it was replaced and then it continued for a while as a flat lorry. I still have the old EXeter Cattle Transport nameboard in my garage, though it has had Sherberton Transport written on it for many years.
Peter

Hello Peter,

Many thanks for your comments. I'll pass them on to Martin.

Regards, Andrew

[Pebbles 74]

Do you remember this one?

Gills were mentioned on another thread - can anyone tell me which one?

Hello Neil B,

Here is any earlier one of GL Gill & Sons & a similar one from AE Stuarts:





The box on the eight wheeler was originally fitted to a six wheeler.......... Later on it was fitted to the F7 (photographed by 143topline) above.

Both of these cuttings were 'borrowed' from Bubbleman's excellent Scrapbook Memories thread.

All the best! Andrew

[ANNIES PRIDE]

Do you remember this one?

Gills were mentioned on another thread - can anyone tell me which one?

gills are mentioned on the devon hauliers thread. my mates father worked for gills not sure the first name but is son is called Ian Yabsley (yabbo to all ) works for wains of kentisbury now sadly his father past away in 2009.

[toplineruk]

Evening All,
ask marty if he can remember stalling the TK going over the speed ramp in gordano services one night, gave us all a right good laugh looking outside as he came thundering in late one night.
My Uncle has unearthed some more photo's of his time at AE Stuarts & I have finally got around to scanning them today. I hope they will be of interest to some of you.


This is the second TK that he drove for Stuart's.


This line up include the AEC Mandator GNT163N & it's 'drag' that was originally operated by MJ Parry of Bayston Hill, Shropshire. The furthest D Series Ford is still in the livery of Exeter Cattle Transport (Langford's) who were bought out by Stuart's.


This AEC was one of two that can to Stuart's when they bought Exeter Cattle Transport. This one was converted into a wrecker, the other was run on as a livestock lorry.


Another shot of BFJ960T, the F12 that my Uncle drove from new.


Another of BFJ960T with Stuart Snow's (Andover) F10. These last two will go on the F10, F12, F16 thread.

Hope you like them! Andrew Stone

More nice photos, thanks for posting them.

BB