I hear that Andy Maclean aka Jazzandy is on the mend and back home again after his spell in hospital.
Efes:
I never ran with Stevie - just odd meetings here and there. I once bumped into him in Austria (post-Promotor) coming back from Yugo with a non-sleeper Scania (another story). I think that was the longest chat I had with him.However, I did several trips with his cousin Slim which were most entertaining (mostly). Slim and I were on the way to Italy and and decided to drop by into Geneva to stop the night with my girlfriend. We pulled the pin on his trailer and headed for the Swiss border at St Julien. I suggested we wouldnāt be able to drive (no trucks allowed to drive after 9pm in Switzerland) and would be turned back. This did not dissuade Slim as he said he didnt intend to stopā¦ We whizzed past the French dozing in their hut - which alerted the Swiss who jumped out of their cabin to stop usā¦ It was clear they meant business so Slim threw a āu-eyā and we headed back towards the French who, by now, had emerged from their hut. Slim accelerated and the French - made of less stern stuff than the Swiss - scatteredā¦
We later walked over the border and took a bus to town. Slim had trouble with my girlfriendās homemade āfire-waterā (rather like Grappa) from her village. Poor Slim was a bit out of sorts after that.
I remember an incident in Italy where the police were called and demanded Slimās passport and he handed them his TGWU union card. My mouth dropped open and Slim had to turn away he was laughing so much. The policeman carefully noted down the details from his little red bookā¦
Promotor driver Tony Lawson aka Slim was one of those guys who built up quite a reputation as Efes so eloquently outlines above. I had a message from Slim yesterday which backs up many of the outlandish stories that have followed him around over the years. I only met him a couple of times in passing but I was warned early on in my employment with Proās that if I ever saw Tony and his cousin Steve Smith parked up somewhere together not to stop but move on to the next watering hole.
You know what its like! Nothing much to do so get on line and scroll through some lorry sites to see if thereās anything new. Did that a couple of days ago and, Wham, a blast from the past. A photo of Alan Butcher Transport from Hart Street in Maidstone. Iām a bit surprised to see the photo. Alanās business wasnāt big, no more than a one man band really. He operated out of Hart Street, where he shared some premises with his brother Paul when I worked for him under the Invicta Transport banner. That would have been 77/78.
I had been driving for Mitchell & Robertson from Brandon Farm, Staplehurst since 69 working the fruit markets mainly but wanted continental work. I already knew Promotor was the company for me even though Iād only ever spoken to a couple of their drivers but lacking experience I decided I needed to join another company first for a year or so.
Alan was advertising for a driver and so I went along to see him. The job entailed driving an F89 pulling flat trailers for Wim Vos to and from the Benelux countries. I got the job and what followed was eighteen months of hard labour but I got my continental experience and when I dropped into the Promotor office in the West Kent Cold Store depot at Dunton Green for an interview my new job was ready and waiting.
In the attached photo the two guys on the left, I understand, are Australians who worked for Alan, donāt know the guy on the right though. As for the International Removals I only remember one job that came in whilst I was there. It entailed returning household effects for a Brit who had been working in France south of Lyon to High Wycombe. Alan managed to find a part load outbound which had to be delivered to Moulins. I remember it being 10 tons of chemicals in drums. Luckily it was a clean load. I had a mate with me to help with the reload but it was a ā ā ā ā poor job. Loading furniture in a tilt with the minimum of blankets and ties was bound to lead to trouble and sure enough the customer complained about damaged goods. Alan had a go at me of course but by then I had my experience and I left soon after.
I have told this little anecdote before somewhere but for those whoāve forgotten or not seen it here it is again. Alan handled some Pop Group tours and whilst I was working for him he landed an AC/DC tour of Europe. However, he decided to do the tour himself and took my F89 but bought another unit for me to continue with the Wim Vos contract. The unit he left me with for almost three months was an ex Lock of Headcorn Atki Viewline. The worst and most unreliable lorry I have ever driven. I remember Paul Butcher, Alans brother saying to him āyouāre not sending him abroad in that are youā. He was and I went.
My last post concerned Alan Butcher from Maidstone. I worked for Alan after leaving Mitchell & Robertson who were based in Staplehurst but were unable to give me continental work. One of the characters in the area was Pat Riley and although I never bumped into him whilst working for M & R, even though he frequented the pub just up the road, I soon came across him when he did some work for both of the Butcher brothers.
Whilst on F/B a couple of days ago I saw his name mentioned by Brian Williams who spoke about his new book to be published soon. Unfortunately Pat died last year. Iām sure there must be others in the area that knew him well.
Just to let you all know that Iām back home after five weeks in hospital and two weeks of āHospital at Homeā where nubile young nurses come to your house and attend to your every need! Iām 90% back to normal so fingers crossed Iāll be back out gigging with the band within the next month or so. Thanks for all your good wishes by the way!
Jazzandy:
Just to let you all know that Iām back home after five weeks in hospital and two weeks of āHospital at Homeā where nubile young nurses come to your house and attend to your every need! Iām 90% back to normal so fingers crossed Iāll be back out gigging with the band within the next month or so. Thanks for all your good wishes by the way!
Great to have you back Andy! Canāt keep a good man down for long!
Ro
Tom Miles was the longest serving member of the promotor team that I remember and this is the only photo I have of him. He was there when I joined the company in 78 and still there when I finally departed in 93/4. He was taken on as a fitter in the mid 70ās and was one of the most loyal employees we had. He was in charge of maintenance of the fleet but had plenty of other jobs. It was not uncommon to walk into the workshop to find Tom converting a trailer for some obscure purpose that only Peter Calderwood knew about.
Another one of Tomās jobs was loading trailers in the yard. He certainly knew how to cram the loads on the trailers as I can testify to when I received them in Baghdad or Tehran. Mind you, sometimes he tried to be too clever as can be seen in the second photo.
I remember he drove a Saab for many years. It was a company car but re refused to get rid of it as he loved it so much. I also bought honey from him, one of his little hobbies. I believe after retirement he moved down to Eastbourne with his wife. Hopefully still enjoying the sea air.
A great fellow Tom Miles. Always in good humour and always helpful.
Jazzandy:
Just to let you all know that Iām back home after five weeks in hospital and two weeks of āHospital at Homeā where nubile young nurses come to your house and attend to your every need! Iām 90% back to normal so fingers crossed Iāll be back out gigging with the band within the next month or so. Thanks for all your good wishes by the way!
Glad you managed to escape the William Harvey in one piece! I was thinking of visiting as itās just up the road but loathe to attend unannounced without knowing if you were well enough and if you wanted visitors etc.
If you are well enough to attend the pub Iām happy to take you and Mrs M for a beer sometime soon.
Greg Chapman. Another Promotor old boy. I have a feeling Greg joined the company as I was leaving. That would have been 93/4. He was there when Ontime came knocking.
Efes:
Jazzandy:
Just to let you all know that Iām back home after five weeks in hospital and two weeks of āHospital at Homeā where nubile young nurses come to your house and attend to your every need! Iām 90% back to normal so fingers crossed Iāll be back out gigging with the band within the next month or so. Thanks for all your good wishes by the way!Glad you managed to escape the William Harvey in one piece! I was thinking of visiting as itās just up the road but loathe to attend unannounced without knowing if you were well enough and if you wanted visitors etc.
If you are well enough to attend the pub Iām happy to take you and Mrs M for a beer sometime soon.
Thanks Efes, it would have been nice to seeyou but they were only allowing one family member in for one hour each day!
Just seen the attached photo of one of our specialised lorries courtesy of another of our old boys, Kit Wagstaff. Kit was another driver who joined the company shortly before I departed. This lorry and trailer wasnāt finished before I left but my old partner, Peter Calderwood told me later the final bill came in well north of Ā£50K and the unit it was based on wasnāt even new.
Jazzandy:
Efes:
Jazzandy:
Just to let you all know that Iām back home after five weeks in hospital and two weeks of āHospital at Homeā where nubile young nurses come to your house and attend to your every need! Iām 90% back to normal so fingers crossed Iāll be back out gigging with the band within the next month or so. Thanks for all your good wishes by the way!Glad you managed to escape the William Harvey in one piece! I was thinking of visiting as itās just up the road but loathe to attend unannounced without knowing if you were well enough and if you wanted visitors etc.
If you are well enough to attend the pub Iām happy to take you and Mrs M for a beer sometime soon.
Thanks Efes, it would have been nice to seeyou but they were only allowing one family member in for one hour each day!
When you are suitably recovered - as I imagine a long stay with the NHS can be quite debilitating - letās have a beer. Youāre just up the road from me.
sandway:
Just seen the attached photo of one of our specialised lorries courtesy of another of our old boys, Kit Wagstaff. Kit was another driver who joined the company shortly before I departed. This lorry and trailer wasnāt finished before I left but my old partner, Peter Calderwood told me later the final bill came in well north of Ā£50K.
It fell to me to drive the other wagon and drag - thankfully not permanently - that Promotor bought (why I donāt know) in the 80ās, a Scania 86 if I remember correctly? I took it to Poznan fair and trying to get the trailer onto the dock took me an age - and a big red face afterwardsā¦ Happily I only had to drive it forwards after that. Home. And that was it.
Iāve no idea why they wanted a wagon and drag? Sandway? I canāt remember it was used for any special jobs. However, at least it had a bed unlike the b****y pantechnicon. Trying to sleep across the seats of a Ford was almost impossible. No curtains either which had to be improvised with blankets and coatsā¦ Grrrr!
Is this the lorry and drag youāre talking about Efes. I know very little about it but always thought it was a Dave Stagg idea. I do know it wasnāt the most practical of rigs and after a year or so the trailer was sold.
sandway:
Greg Chapman. Another Promotor old boy. I have a feeling Greg joined the company as I was leaving. That would have been 93/4. He was there when Ontime came knocking.
I have messaged Greg on facebook to let him know you are asking after him 
He is in Portugal now i believe doing his own thing.
Steve H:
sandway:
Greg Chapman. Another Promotor old boy. I have a feeling Greg joined the company as I was leaving. That would have been 93/4. He was there when Ontime came knocking.I have messaged Greg on facebook to let him know you are asking after him
If you read this Greg perhaps you can let us have some photos from your days with Proās.
Our old mate Frank Gough recently posted some photos from āThe Custom Cupā event at Lydden Hill Race Track. Frank has the Transit Van and at the end of the event everyone was invited to join in a two lap Motor Parade. Thanks for the photos Frank.
The last photo is of Kevin Nicks owner and builder of the āWorlds Fastest Shedā. Quite some boast!
that anglia looks fantasticā¦ 
sandway:
Is this the lorry and drag youāre talking about Efes. I know very little about it but always thought it was a Dave Stagg idea. I do know it wasnāt the most practical of rigs and after a year or so the trailer was sold.
Thats not an 86 thatās a 90 series or 112