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Mike Ponsonby:
does anyone have Any jenkinsons from manchester pics please they were m,east regulars
Wild guess but it looks like one of Jenkinsons at the back of the train from Cologne to Munich, I was just in front of this Redcliff’e Volvo.
Steve
Also looks like a Pan express behind Redcliffe roadways
mushroomman:
Mike Ponsonby:
does anyone have Any jenkinsons from manchester pics please they were m,east regularsHere ya go Mike, an old workmate of mine called Barry Longden worked for Jenkies in the 70’s although they were actually from Salford. He told me that he took this photo while he was transiting Austria, probably on his way to Graz.
I worked for J.S.Woods out of Salford up until they went bust, same yard as some of the Brown and Jenks lads used
Just browsing this interwebby thing and came across this link
Seemed to be of interest to some.
Destination Doha.
DEANB posted this article (which I believe is from a 1968 copy of the AA’s ‘Drive’ magazine) on another thread but I thought it might be appreciated on here!
Well done Nianiamh for putting those photos on the web. The one with Kapicula was especially interesting as I remember always fighting my way across that bombsite on numerous occassions. One particular time stands out mostley, I was making my way through,and as everyone knows that has been there, you’ve got about twenty lanes (if you can call them that) of trucks converging onto a single lane going through the sheep dip. I had Bulgy Ints to the front,sides and every where there was a space. As we shunted forward I was getting sandwiched between to Bulgies and my mirrors were dangerously close to getting demolished. I had a left ■■■■■■ (WHITE Commander 2) at the time,and I jumped out to confront the Bulgy on my right hand side (being young and foolish then). Pointing to my mirror I said " you touch my mirror and there’s going to be KRIEG between England and Bulgaria" waving my fist towards him. He leaned out his window, clasped both hands together and cried out " NO NO! England Bulgaria friends- we fight Turks." I had to laugh, shook him by the hand and got back in the motor. When we started to move again he held back and let me slip in. I have plenty of memories and whenever Kapicula gets a mention Ialways think of that ol’ Bulgy. 'OL GRAVEL GUTS 
bullitt:
Just a thought but did any of the ex Astran or Middle East drivers on here know the driver who took the author of Cola Cowboys on his trip to M/E for the book?
I think his name was Trevor somebody and was quite an established M/E hand at that time.No particular reason for asking, just wondering thats all, and was the tale of him being nearly lynched by a mob of Turkish villagers, leaving scars on his neck true, or abit of journalistic licence
Cheers, bullitt.
PS, come on chaps, about time we had some more tales and memories (with p ics if possibl e) of those Middle East heydays.
As you have already been told it was the Wing Commander Trevor Long that took Woods on that trip, but what they havn’t said is the amount of hassle that caused Astrans. Because certain practices were exposed ( that will remain nameless) Astrans nearly lost their Saudi sponser. Bob Paul (and I can’t remember if Mike Woodman was still there at the time) and to a certain extent Peter Cannon had to do a lot of kow-towing to the Saudi’s so that they could keep going. 'OL GRAVEL GUTS
I sent a paperback copy of this book to a member of one of my groups, before I realised how much the book was worth. Too late, I found out he knew what it was worth when he dupped me out of it. Liz
Wing Commander Long was rarely without company in the cab.If he was not filling some journalists head with tall stories,I was told he used to advertise in student mags for a female companion to travel with him.
It’s so long ago now,I’m not sure how I first got to know Trevor.I’ve a feeling he may have worked for Drakards who used to sub M/E work for Brit European who I worked for when I first started M/E.
Those last three pics posted above are from a chap called Dave Mackie`s site. They were from a trip to a gold mine in a place called Sarafshon…somewhere wayout in the east of Russia.
He posts on here sometimes,and there used to be a link to his site somewhere.
Hi all,Just finished reading cola cowboys in large print by ulverscroft if you are thinking of buying this copy of the book be careful as it has no pictures in it,so it might be a diapointment for you.This book is a good read but it only took me a week to read it and i am a slowish reader.If you want to read the book i suggest you try your local county library as that is where i found a copy It cost me 25p admin cost, now thats a bargain,better than ebay prices.Best of luck Paul.
Saw an Astran trailer at 06.00 this morning on the M25,Then on the way home I saw a similar trailer,red lettering on a yellow tilt,for ASTRA-TRANS,which happens to be a Romanian firm.
bestbooties:
Saw an Astran trailer at 06.00 this morning on the M25,Then on the way home I saw a similar trailer,red lettering on a yellow tilt,for ASTRA-TRANS,which happens to be a Romanian firm.
I have seen a lot of Astra–Trans recently Ian. Seem to be multiplying
That 140 in the ochre/white Astran livery looks far better with a proper tilt behind it than it ever looked with that Astran-designed box trailer - oh whoops, I’d better get my hat and coat! 
Hi, I wonder if anyone here remembers my late father Garth Inns? He worked for P.I.E and Bosphorus Transport and Trading (a joint venture with John Ellingham) on Middle East routes in the late 60s and 70s.
I recognise Jeff Ruggins names from this thread. And his routes went to the UAE, Kuwait and Kabul. He was also a regular at the Mocamp from what I can tell.