Welcome to the madhouse, Ray. Keep the pictures coming mate.
I remember Brian and Roger on Concord and of course Jimmy LeMar was on with us on Oryx Freightlines before he joined Concord. I wonder where he is now?
David
ray nicholls:
Ladies and Gentlemen,my name is Ray Nicholls 66yoa live in Feltham Middx and have just joined the group.I worked for Concorde Express who were originally an air freight transport company back in the mid-late 1970’s and then expanded with an ME division.I used to pick up and deliver the trailers to and from Dover docks as I had a taxed Daf2800DKS where as the ME guys had private taxed trucks.I done a few trips covering for leave and sickness.Some of the drivers with us were Tom Harding who drove a L/H drive F89,Brian Lloyd,Roger Hargreaves,Jimmy Le Marr(think that’s how it was spelt),the rest I can only remember first names.I have a few photo’s which I’ll post later.I’ve only got to page 25 and there’s 204 at present.I’m now retired,my avatar if it comes up is from the cover of the Sept 1986 Truck and Driver.Thanks to the moderator for allowing me to join and thanks to ALL of you for your experiences,banter,etc.
Welcome aboard Ray, having had strong connections with Concorde Ex: and Feltham I found your post very interesting, I assume that you are aware of the background history of the company when it split up into two companies resulting in Concorde Express and Concord Logistics about 79/80 (?) I ended up with the latter having spent many years on M/E as an O/D and with PanX and Grangewood. I get up to TW13 about once a month as I have family there, one of my sons has worked many years for Scania Heathrow. I will look forward with interest to see your photo’s - Regards Fred
freshir:
ray nicholls:
Ladies and Gentlemen,my name is Ray Nicholls 66yoa live in Feltham Middx and have just joined the group.I worked for Concorde Express who were originally an air freight transport company back in the mid-late 1970’s and then expanded with an ME division.I used to pick up and deliver the trailers to and from Dover docks as I had a taxed Daf2800DKS where as the ME guys had private taxed trucks.I done a few trips covering for leave and sickness.Some of the drivers with us were Tom Harding who drove a L/H drive F89,Brian Lloyd,Roger Hargreaves,Jimmy Le Marr(think that’s how it was spelt),the rest I can only remember first names.I have a few photo’s which I’ll post later.I’ve only got to page 25 and there’s 204 at present.I’m now retired,my avatar if it comes up is from the cover of the Sept 1986 Truck and Driver.Thanks to the moderator for allowing me to join and thanks to ALL of you for your experiences,banter,etc.Welcome aboard Ray, having had strong connections with Concorde Ex: and Feltham I found your post very interesting, I assume that you are aware of the background history of the company when it split up into two companies resulting in Concorde Express and Concord Logistics about 79/80 (?) I ended up with the latter having spent many years on M/E as an O/D and with PanX and Grangewood. I get up to TW13 about once a month as I have family there, one of my sons has worked many years for Scania Heathrow. I will look forward with interest to see your photo’s - Regards Fred
Hi Fred,we were down St.Antony’s way when there was the 2 companies,express and transport there was also a packing company at the far end but the name eludes me.We,express moved to a new building next door to Volvo trucks at Ashford on the A30 opposite Orchard Café 1976/7.After I left express I went to Commercial Recovery and repairs next door to Volvo.We used to recover trucks for all the big truck companies,DAF,Volvo,Merc’s,MAN and Scania both at colnbrook and at Esso’s at Stanwell.I’ve only got a few photo’s as I only done a few runs.Ray
Hi Jamie, the three names from the left I am pretty sure are correct. I think the fourth is Phil Jenkins, Hicks driver, but it is a long time ago. I took the photo so its not me on the right.
Regards
Gordon
ray nicholls:
freshir:
ray nicholls:
Ladies and Gentlemen,my name is Ray Nicholls 66yoa live in Feltham Middx and have just joined the group.I worked for Concorde Express who were originally an air freight transport company back in the mid-late 1970’s and then expanded with an ME division.I used to pick up and deliver the trailers to and from Dover docks as I had a taxed Daf2800DKS where as the ME guys had private taxed trucks.I done a few trips covering for leave and sickness.Some of the drivers with us were Tom Harding who drove a L/H drive F89,Brian Lloyd,Roger Hargreaves,Jimmy Le Marr(think that’s how it was spelt),the rest I can only remember first names.I have a few photo’s which I’ll post later.I’ve only got to page 25 and there’s 204 at present.I’m now retired,my avatar if it comes up is from the cover of the Sept 1986 Truck and Driver.Thanks to the moderator for allowing me to join and thanks to ALL of you for your experiences,banter,etc.Welcome aboard Ray, having had strong connections with Concorde Ex: and Feltham I found your post very interesting, I assume that you are aware of the background history of the company when it split up into two companies resulting in Concorde Express and Concord Logistics about 79/80 (?) I ended up with the latter having spent many years on M/E as an O/D and with PanX and Grangewood. I get up to TW13 about once a month as I have family there, one of my sons has worked many years for Scania Heathrow. I will look forward with interest to see your photo’s - Regards Fred
Hi Fred,we were down St.Antony’s way when there was the 2 companies,express and transport there was also a packing company at the far end but the name eludes me.We,express moved to a new building next door to Volvo trucks at Ashford on the A30 opposite Orchard Café 1976/7.After I left express I went to Commercial Recovery and repairs next door to Volvo.We used to recover trucks for all the big truck companies,DAF,Volvo,Merc’s,MAN and Scania both at colnbrook and at Esso’s at Stanwell.I’ve only got a few photo’s as I only done a few runs.Ray
i
Interesting Ray - I am positive you would know or had been in close contact with my son Ian at Scania’s as Commercial Recovery offered him a job some time ago as he works in close contact with them - - I was also in St Ants: when I first ventured into Concord and the packing company was a subsidiary of the group, small world !! We were eventually bought out by Salvesen (Good Pension) 
and since I retired they were bought out by Norbert Detrensangle better known as Nobbies Dressingtable, Cheers for now.
Hi,the 3 photos are as most of us know is Munchen,just loaded on the train for Koln.This was taken around Dec.28th 1977
Been browsing the CM archives. These pages have a host of M/E articles on them:
archive.commercialmotor.com/sear … te&page=26
archive.commercialmotor.com/sear … te&page=27
ray nicholls:
Hi,the 3 photos are as most of us know is Munchen,just loaded on the train for Koln.This was taken around Dec.28th 1977
Hiya chaps one more for you
I had forgotten how funny it is reading magazine articles written by ‘‘bureaucrats’’ who have no idea of what the job entailed in those days.It was very interesting to read and bought back a lot of memories.
I was very surprised to see my old road train from Simon International on the first page.Mike
I say chaps that was a jolly good read what!
How inconvenient, imagine having to wait 36 hours at Gurbulak to enter Persia. I bet they didn’t even offer a chap the use of a smoking lounge or a glass of Port.
Jeff…
Just for the record, while this pathetic example of British ineptitude was taking place, the ignominious BRS attempt to enter the Tehran market, I did two Tehran round trips.
On the first trip the magnificent convoy was shipping across the channel. On the second, I saw them parked up in Mocamp. On my third trip remnants of the convoy had been abandoned in Roosevelt parking in Tehran. This foray was a joke from start to finish. Reading Ian Sherrif’s articles is like perusing the script for a soap opera. From the start the job had been subcontracted at least three times, the first by Kuhne and Nagel who should have know better. The whole thing was a recipe for the disaster it became and I have no sympathy for the idiot participants.
There were many professionals on the road at this time including of course Astran but Commercial Motor decided to go with BRS!!!
Full marks for your own professionalism Commercial Motor and thanks for tarnishing the good name of the rest of us…
Another wry smile is Johnny Unsworth being consulted on the merits of the Mack he was driving!!
sgt major roadworks:
Hello to You all.I am a new member on this site although i have Lurked in the background reading the postings as a Guest. I did the Middle East
and Asia runs towards the end of the Heyday and what a fantastic experience it was, I look forward to sharing stories with all of
You, and hopefully find old friends on this site.
I was an owner driver in the mid seventies I met a lot of great guys and the bad in my Years, all part of the Fun ! I am retired now
Living on the outskirts of Jandia, Fuerteventura.
This wil be a great way to keep in touch with the memories of something we will never experience again, I have met quite a few of
You guys who have posted on here albeit briefly.
So You know who I am My name Is Kenny Richards, Kenneth to me old Mum I drove a daf 2800 red with a white hoop around the Whole cab
Reg no PRO 724R I am hoping to get My daughter to scan some pictures for Me to put up on the site.Regards
Kenny
Kenny,don’t know if you’re still about PRO724R was my truck while doing M.E.The 2800 with the flags cleaned is the vehicle and there’s a couple of pages from one of my old passports with the reg no. and a Czech visa which I didn’t use with reg at the top.Regards Ray
ray nicholls:
sgt major roadworks:
Hello to You all.I am a new member on this site although i have Lurked in the background reading the postings as a Guest. I did the Middle East
and Asia runs towards the end of the Heyday and what a fantastic experience it was, I look forward to sharing stories with all of
You, and hopefully find old friends on this site.
I was an owner driver in the mid seventies I met a lot of great guys and the bad in my Years, all part of the Fun ! I am retired now
Living on the outskirts of Jandia, Fuerteventura.
This wil be a great way to keep in touch with the memories of something we will never experience again, I have met quite a few of
You guys who have posted on here albeit briefly.
So You know who I am My name Is Kenny Richards, Kenneth to me old Mum I drove a daf 2800 red with a white hoop around the Whole cab
Reg no PRO 724R I am hoping to get My daughter to scan some pictures for Me to put up on the site.Regards
KennyKenny,don’t know if you’re still about PRO724R was my truck while doing M.E.The 2800 with the flags cleaned is the vehicle and there’s a couple of pages from one of my old passports with the reg no. and a Czech visa which I didn’t use with reg at the top.Regards Ray
Hi Kenny (Sgt Maj Roadworks, Reading your post I have a photo of a red rig with a white line around it taken at Bazagan about 76/77 and wondered if it was your truck,
Regards Fred
Hi Fred & Ray
Yes I am still lurking on the site, I couldn’t believe it when I had a quick glance on this thread and saw the old girl !
I bought it from Manchester and was told it was bought in from Widnes, I think it was owned after Concorde by a firm "O,Conner ?
When I got it it had a white stripe about a foot deep around the middle of the cab and was Red.
It was mostly very reliable apart from a fuel filter that clogged up every other day, we never got to the bottom of it
I just cleaned it out when I felt the power was lacking.
13 speed fuller gearbox, double sleeper I thought I had it all in them days ! I think I paid £4000.00 for it cash and it certainly
paid for its keep…
Fred I don’t think that was my truck as it was never that clean, Thanks again !!
Regards
Kenny
hattachment=0]scan0002.jpg[/attachment]
Gordon
Forest of Dean
Glos.
Evening all, fresh, (that is a joke), back from a day lifting “Maris Piper”, and that takes some lifting…considering the bottomless mud we are lifting and carying within! Then an “interesting” meeting with a Hi Viz coated, white hatted “officer” from County Highways, (is there some directive from on high, anxious to preserve the limited brain power of Local Government employees, that insists that their most vulnerable area be protected from the efluvia of constipated Crows), regarding the condition of the badly, (awfully), maintained network of roads that bi sect our farm… …regarding the copious quantities of Shropshire mud that we seem to be spreading willy nilly, upon their cratered surface …and the NFU, another brainless organisation, insists that we brush it out…to form a veritable ice rink replica, though no one , (suited brainless Graduates that they are), realised this fact, has left this 70plus year old realising that their is no where to go…please one…annoy another!!!
Which is just what my late friend Iain Sheriff seems to have done to hutpik, jelliott, and jazzandy…and that is a shame. And congratulations for Anorak, for digging up this “time warp” example of “after the Lord Mayors Show”, journalism!
The idea for this trip was mooted by BRS to publicise just how “professional” they were, and how poor were the rest!!..and I accept jazzandys verification that BRS had truly missed the boat, in terms of earning potential, and maturity of the market place!
I well remember Iain`s experience of the Middle East run…in hindsight a tad too late, and perhaps a little ill thought out…
But the readers of Commercial Motor were eager to learn more of this area…so Iain took it upon himself to ride shotgun, and report his findings. You must remember, and read his words in the context of his readers…probably very different to those of todays Commercial Motor. Predominately people involved in reasonable sized hire and reward/own account operations, the “trade”, manufacturers/Dealers, and those few academics…looking in at a strange specimin of how to earn a living!!!
But you professionals, (and I do not use that term in the 2013 contemporary and trite context), can be annoyed at what Iain wrote…please do not be. Iain was a consumate professional, an ex Royal Marine Commando Officer, with a “vigerous” and active service background, a great raconteur, bon viveur, and all round 100% man, and a b…y reliable friend and compatriot to be with, particularly in a tight spot! Once those bushy eyebrows arched…the blue touch paper had been lit…watch out…
Following this “expose”, I tried to get Iain involved on a trip to Nigeria, riding shotgun with one of the regular Chapuis, or VITs outfits, Paris-----Lagos, but for various reasons… perhaps internal politics at Reed Business Press, it did not happen…a real shame…again an area that little is known of.
Interesting subject, how the journalist interprets another mans skillfull work…the best ,( in my personal opinion), the late Phillip Lllewellyn in his “long distance diaries”, for Pat`s (Kennet), Truck Magazine. He could capture the craic, the tension, and the fun,…and even Pat could not do that…(too much the engineer, I used to tell him)! But Iain recruited Brian Weatherley, a young photographer who became one of the best ever Editors of Commercial Motor…and founder of the original…(.and perhaps best)…Big Lorry Blog…
But Im going on, apologies.....I like so many enjoy this thread, something that will never be done again too such a degree, Do not be offended by what you read from 38 years ago......put it in context......and believe me you would have loved Iains company…
I shall raise a (largis), Bollinger , (or two), to Iain`s memory…and all of your endeavours…
Salut…Bon Chance mes Braves
Cheerio for now.
Hi Saviem.I have no criticism of the man who wrote the story whatsoever.My criticism is for the ‘‘bureaucrats’’ of CM who,through insufficient research and by not sending the reporter with an established and more professional Company failed dismally to capture the ‘‘essence’’ of the trip during a time of great importance to the Uk transport industry as a whole,and the drivers who were at the forefront of Middle East transport during those early years and all it entailed.It was a missed opportunity to really show people the transport industry at its best.Mike
‘’
Saviem there was no offense meant in my comment. Just an of hand throw away.
Like you and many more on here I have sat a type writer, and in latter days a computer with good intention and produce a complete load of ■■■■■■■■. I started as a driver and then wrote words, so for me on this subject I have an inside edge. I often wonder what the likes of Iain, Robert Hutchinson, Franklyn Wood, and many other thought as they were transported across Europe and Asia in lumbering giants, try to get a story and report it back in words that Jo Public would understand and find entertaining enough to turn the next page.
However I have done the trips and read their books, ( sometimes not in that order ) and more often than not was let down by what seemed like their basic lack of understanding.
I’m not trying to take away from their journalistic prowess.I fully understand that what ended up in print may not have been what was submitted. I have read many articles I have written for magazines that have been hacked to bits by an overworked editor and thought " this is complete drivel, and it makes me look like a fool " That’s usually followed by the subject phoning me up and calling me all sorts of names.
Not only were those writers out of the comfort zone but sharing close quarters with someone you don’t know in inhospitable conditions, for a long period of time must have been very touchy. I’m surprised that anything ever got written, but I’m thankful there was.
Jeff…
My comments are largely in agreement with Hutpik and Jellot.
CM and Mr. Sherrif did not do their homework. There was nothing to stop them riding out with a reputable experienced company like Astran or OHS for example but instead they got themselves involved with a bunch of cowboy operators and the story was written as if this was the norm which it was not!
Thought this might amuse you
It did not amuse they guys in Allentown!
