Hi a question for bestbooties- one of my last trips for Bromilow was to Poland just before Xmas in 79 or 80 taking steel to the Forum Hotel It was the first time I recall meeting Alan Jones, I can’t remember who he was driving for. Would it have been Impex? Were you there then? IIRC it was a Jenkinson job and we had to wait for days to tip as they could not start the crane it was so cold. They also claimed it was so cold that the winch cable would snap in the cold! When we did tip folding the tilt was like trying to fold a sheet of steel! IIRC it was something like -25’ in fact almost as cold as it has been in the UK a few weeks ago 
Gavin
Gavin, if I am dead, it is only from the neck up ha ha ha, the times while I was there, Turks saying driver dead with sign language, I shook my head, they were looking for the driver, and shrugged their shoulders, and I pointed to my self, then they patted me on my back, and said, tamam, good. As for aydins, he repaired my tilt, and loaded us up on my mates trailer and chained up, and returned to U.K. Just had a thought, do I qualify for a pilot licience, because I flew so high in the air?. In all these years, you are the only one, apart from my running mates, who saw the pile up near to Londra camping, many heard about it, in one case, it was reported that I hit a coke a cola truck, and my cab sheared off, and I went skidding down the road towards Istanbul, with sparks comming from my arse, the only true bit was my cab did shear off. Page 9 got all of my photo’s of this event, even my mates said I was dead, in the pitch black & pouring rain, I soon told I was not, when I heard them, and told them to get me some " bleeding shoe’s & a coat, they thought I was a ghost Ha Ha Ha, 72 in September3rd, some phantom. Sandman Norman
Boys, unfortunately Phil Llewellyn of LDD fame passed away, probably at least 3 years ago.
He had a superb style of writing which I dont think has ever been, or is likely to be, equalled.
For many of us growing up in the late 70s & early 80s he really bought long distance driving to life.
The guy could even make half a dozen drops round Birmingham sound like an adventure!!!
I was a big fan, what do the rest of you think of him?
Cheers
Mark
davemackie:
Prior’s was only a trading name, Charlie Needhan and his son Kevin ran that company.Gentlemen of the old school.
Dave.
Hi Dave, Prior’s as most people will remember were affectionately known as Charlies Chocolate Cowboy’s 
.
You alway’s knew when one of Charlies fridges was just in front of you by all the empty Mars and Twix bar wrapper’s blowing about…
Gavin McArdle, where about’s in Poland was The Forum Hotel ?.
In 1980 a British company was building two hotels on the seafront at Gdansk and Gydinia and I remember doing three loads of precast walls on a step frame trailer. The back loads were always plastic granules from a place called Plock.
Regards Steve.
In the dying days of Chapman and Ball when it was beng absorbed into Jenkinsons,I did a couple of runs to Poland,taking adhesive to a shoe factory in Chelm,in a fridge van,so I could load frozen plums back from Plock.
bullitt:
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.
Dave Mackie used to have a web site ref his trips through Russia delivering the gold mine equipment.
It had wonderful pictures and maps of the routes he took, I remember one where he set off with a
tri axle trailer and he lost the rear axle and came back as a tandem. He lived not too far away from me
and I remember speaking to him on the phone a few times, I lost touch with him and his website disappeared.
The gold mine in question was close to the border with China, some trip eh boys. regards Big Al
Does anyone remember Norseman lorries used to run to The Middle East ?
Geoff Walker was an owner driver, I think he started with an F88.
His wife Lynn also drove lorries regards Big Al
Roadcommander 2… I, like you, used to read his LLD all the time the humor he put into it was second to none
sinbin31:
Hi KlunkRealy can u honestly see Bob Headley shinning down a sheet he weighed 150 stone the sheet would tear sound funny though.
Roger (Rita) Haywood
After being stranded in Spain in 1984 when a firm went bust on us I think I know from experience the sheet trick.
You only drop your suit cases down to the ground with the sheets, then walk out the door with a cheery wave
and a see you later 
regards Big Al
swiftnick:
hi, i’m still waiting for a reply to the question that was asked about the driver’s on the destination doha dvd. are any of those driver’s still around? frank hook can’t have been that old when it was made. i’ve been driving 33 years this month but have only done a couple of trips abroad. keep the story’s coming!
Swiftnick I recently bought a copy of destination Doha from ebay, not the best copy in the world but I enjoyed every minute of it.
I also aquired a copy of a BBC documentry made in the 70’s ref Scottish hauliers not abiding to drivers hours I think
BRS had approached the film makers with their allegations, they followed several well known Glasgow haulage companies recording
times and distant travelled, on one trip they needed 5/6 reporters in cars to keep tabs on one driver. regards Big Al
Big Al:
Does anyone remember Norseman lorries used to run to The Middle East ?
Geoff Walker was an owner driver, I think he started with an F88.
His wife Lynn also drove lorries regards Big Al
Hi Big Al
Is this the Geoff and Lynn who lived in the north lincs area if it is i met them at the border in irun in the
mid eighties and spent the weekend with them Lynn could do a lovely trailer box breakfast.
we said our goodbyes and they headed for lisbon and i set off for zonafranca, Barcelona.
never seen them since
Hi All,
If this is the Norseman Freight with the big Orangy coloured Mercedes, that did Spain and Portugal? If it is it was owned by Harold Woolgar, an insurance agent and general wheeler dealer in finance. It was based in Epworth near Doncaster. Ive lost touch with Harold and Ive not seen the truck for years now.
Hi, Al.
Still living near you, is this the trailer.
Dave.
davemackie:
Hi, Al.
Still living near you, is this the trailer.
Dave.
Hi Dave
we seem to have lost touch of late. I was out in Dubai for a year, they offered me
another contract but was missing the family and grandkids. I have an office on Red Scar Ind
estate by the M6 J31A but am currently working on a 24" gas pipeline going into West Burton
power station near Gainsborough. I go past your lane end most Saturdays to work on my
Vintage lorries at Out Rawcliffe. regards Big Al
The garage is at
Archie Paice:
Hi All,
If this is the Norseman Freight with the big Orangy coloured Mercedes, that did Spain and Portugal? If it is it was owned by Harold Woolgar, an insurance agent and general wheeler dealer in finance. It was based in Epworth near Doncaster. Ive lost touch with Harold and Ive not seen the truck for years now.
I see Harold Woolgar every September at the Festival of the Plough held at High Burnham Farm.
I take a couple of Vintage lorries and tractors over there every year. I met Geoff through a
friend of mine John Brears (of T.C Brears & Sons) I rang John up a couple of weeks ago to see
if he knew any local hauliers would pick me up some loads out of Germany to deliver to my
site near Gainsborough. John did’nt know of anyone but he said a friend of mine is here taking
pictures of my lorry, he handed the mobile to Geoff and that is how we met. It turned out I knew
his wife Lynn very well ( my brother and her brother were best mates doing National Service in the RAF
It is a small world. Geoff has emailed me some pictures including one with the Woolgar trailer I will
ask him if I can post them. He is now retired, he tells me he runs an American motor home with
a 220 ■■■■■■■ Engine regards Big Al
Big Al:
Does anyone remember Norseman lorries used to run to The Middle East ?
Geoff Walker was an owner driver, I think he started with an F88.
His wife Lynn also drove lorries regards Big Al
Hi Al,
I remember that Norseman did do Middle East in the 70’s /80’s and I always thought that their orange livery and trailers were very distinctive and looked the right tools for the job.
What I am not so sure about is did they also have a Merc and I seem to remember their depot being near or at Pops Cafe on the A56 ? and did they move to Birkenhead as I can remember seeing their tilt parked somewhere near the docks in the 80’s. I am also not sure if two Scoucers called Micky Cosgrove and Bob Matthews drove for them doing M/E work, or was it that Geoff sold one his trailers to Lucus Transport in Birkenhead who also did M/E 
Best regards Steve.
mushroomman:
Big Al:
Does anyone remember Norseman lorries used to run to The Middle East ?
Geoff Walker was an owner driver, I think he started with an F88.
His wife Lynn also drove lorries regards Big AlHi Al,
I remember that Norseman did do Middle East in the 70’s /80’s and I always thought that their orange livery and trailers were very distinctive and looked the right tools for the job.
What I am not so sure about is did they also have a Merc and I seem to remember their depot being near or at Pops Cafe on the A56 ? and did they move to Birkenhead as I can remember seeing their tilt parked somewhere near the docks in the 80’s. I am also not sure if two Scoucers called Micky Cosgrove and Bob Matthews drove for them doing M/E work, or was it that Geoff sold one his trailers to Lucus Transport in Birkenhead who also did M/E
Best regards Steve.
Hi Steve, how’s it going there down under ? I was speaking to Lynn Walker last night she tells me they never had a Merc, they started with the F88 then Geoff had an ERF
custom built with a 14 litre ■■■■■■■ engine. I think the mix up might be the company names, Geoff & Lynn bought the company off Harold Woolgar of Epworth, their company name was Norsman International liveried in Coffee and cream. The company at Birkenhead was Norseman Freight with the orange livery. I will get more info today as Geoff is calling into my office on Sturgate Airfield near Gainsborough. He has sent me some pictures which I will try to get up on this site. regards Big Al
Archie Paice:
Hi All,
If this is the Norseman Freight with the big Orangy coloured Mercedes, that did Spain and Portugal? If it is it was owned by Harold Woolgar, an insurance agent and general wheeler dealer in finance. It was based in Epworth near Doncaster. Ive lost touch with Harold and Ive not seen the truck for years now.
Archie spoke with Geoff & Lynn last night, they bought the company from Harold Woolgar, they also sent me pictures of some of their lorries.
Geoff & Lynn would like to know if the ERF reg number L505 JBE survived and where is it today ? regards Big Al
Hi Al.
Super photos, those were really nice looking vehicles werent they. I knew that the Company was Harolds, but where I got the idea that they were of an Orange colour I dont know, I didnt even realise that there were two companies with that name, and I also thought that they had a new (at the time) Mercedes. Oh well I must be getting a bit senile I suppose. Bring your Vehicles up to Pickering Traction Engine Rally, in August. Ill be home at that time and Ill buy you a beer. (if I can remember)
Cheers, Archie.
Hi Al,
In answer to the Norsman questions.
Lynn and myself started as owner drivers in 1983 after a shakey start we teamed up with the then owner of Norsman International Harold Woolgar. The company was mothballed as such. Our first truck was a Volvo F88 290 which we changed for a second hand F12 330 servicing a contract with UBC in London on mainly Spain with the occasional Italy run. Lynn passed her test and we double drove for the next 13 years. We progressed to a new Scania 142 420 in 1987 and shortly after changed to fridge work with D R Bailey of Littlehampton.
After a year we bought our own Meat Hanging fridge and in 1990 a brand new 1748 Mercedes which had a Globetrotter roof conversion in Holland and went to work for Bondalpha in Grimsby where we stayed until Ken Bevis sold out to Dave Wilson at Billingboro in Sth Lincs.The ERF was bought in 1993 assembled special for us in Sadbach, out of all the trucks this was by far the best buy, Ken kindly handed us on to Dave Wilson where we stayed until we finished running abroad in 1999. Lynn bought a cafe which she ran until she retired in 2006 and I had a five year contract to supply transport to a large food production company in the Scunthorpe area, we went from 1 truck up to 3 trucks and five drivers and back down to one at the end of the contract in 2004. I sold the last truck a FH12 360 in 2004. I also co owned a fishing tackle business until I to retired in January 2008 I am now 54 and in our International career we went as far North as Bremerhaven in Germany, as far East as Kavala in Greece and to the Southern points of Spain and Malta. We never went to the Middle east because we never wanted to, we earned a living in Europe. We visited 15 countries covered about 2 million miles met some fantastic people and saw places most people could never imagine, looking back I wouldn`t have missed it for the world. We now own an American RV painted in the same Norsman livery as the trucks
The orange Mercedes people are refering to belonged to Noresman Freight of Birkenhead they had a little pepper pot style viking emblem on the trailer and ran all over Europe I believe.
Hope this clears a few things up
Geoff & Lynn Walker
in Nth Lincolnshire.