freshir:
rondavies:
freshir:
Hi - Sorry but I did not make any reference re: Malcolm from Manchester concorde but I find it very interesting that you have contacted me, You mentioned Barry Longden who I know very well and I am in close contact with him, I first met Barry when we were snowed up for four days at Imranli on route to Teheran in 76, would appreciate a bit more info about yourself as I wondered if I know you - I would mention that I am new to this site and you are my first contact, I have spent many long hours reading thru the endless pages on this site and found them most interesting and seeing a multitude of names that were lost but not forgotten and I was amazed to see that I got mention of page 73, I was with Pan-express - Grangewood - and Concorde, - Cheers for now, hoping to hear from you and any more old Jockeys out there - regards FH
Hi âfreshirâ, was that in the winter 75/76 when you were caught in the snow on Imramli? I have related a story about being stuck in a blizzard on the mountain on Imramli on âSimon Internationalâ page 3 on this forum. Just wondered if you were one of the drivers there at that time?
Hi Rondavies - thanks for your reply - yes it was definately 76, I was with Billy Hamm, Barry Longden and another driver from Manchester and all of the same firm who are mentioned with a photo earlier on this forum, I shud have referred back and come up with some more possitive info but I will learn eventualy as I mentioned I am not fully conversant with this forum as yet but I also have a photo of this snow-in - I dont know how to spell his name but did you know Bob Laâcont on Simons ? Oh for a digital camera in 76 eh? regards Fred H
Sorry, I donât recall a Bob Laâcont on Simons. By the way, what I was trying to establish was whether it was at the start of '76 or the tail end of that year when you were stuck at Imramli?
Do you remember Bernie aka âzwei meter funfâ and âJoe the Poleâ with the gammy leg when you were on for Grangewood? Both did work for Simons whilst I was there before they went to Grangewood. Joe was an owner driver and did traction for Simons with a maroon 140 Scania.
Hi - Re; Imranli, was late 76 and I was with 3 of Jenkinsonâs Barry Longden, Billy Hamm (Bionic Bill - RIP) Barry tells me that the third driver is now in Australia, cant remember his name - re; Grangewoodâs - yes I knew George the Pole I last heard down the grapevine that he had lost his eyesight, and Bernie Bartels (Zwei metre funf) was also at Grangewoods the same time as me , sorry to say that Bernie is no longer with us (RIP) - I dont recall any of Simons at Imranli on that occasion perhaps you copped it on the way back - I only wish that my photoâs were of better quality as the white stuff was as high as the trailer, I did not meet up with BILLY HAMM for a long time after that until I was at Munchen waiting for the puffa, on that occasion I had my wife with me (The Management) and being a bit of a ladies man we couldât get rid of him, oh well memories eh - I wont bore you anymore, we all get carried away, I have taken quite an interest since finding this site and being well retired (Self unemployed) it certainly passes time, brings back memories and a lot of forgotten names - Good Luck, Ivâe gone
hello, fred,no wonder u r still about no beer no â â â â . say hello to barry. watch out for mr paice on this site thinks he owns it ,sounds like a bit of a aerosoul. concorde/ect, u was on for concorde b 4 gradie got phil ralph to run the 2. 2 other lads brian fisher , bob power. bet u miss your old daf 3600 , and patrick at addinkerk
Hello Fellows,
whatĂ´s up?
No Pictures any more? I read only something about internasâŚ
IS THIS THREAD DEATH?
Regards from the continent and a little confused visitor!
Franz
o.k. fred got your pm. as you said i cant remember anyone called paice, but he giveâs it large on here (sado) as 4 barry tell him he still owes me a pint. we used to go over to the bozzer on the roundabout when he kipped up in his 16.5 tonner. tell him he is still a bum living in that big house up north. i was always telling him u came down south to nick our birds and money and then â â â â off back up there. anyway he was a top bloke. 2 more names pete ramsey, alan baker.
where r u:
o.k. fred got your pm. as you said i cant remember anyone called paice, but he giveâs it large on here (sado) as 4 barry tell him he still owes me a pint. we used to go over to the bozzer on the roundabout when he kipped up in his 16.5 tonner. tell him he is still a bum living in that big house up north. i was always telling him u came down south to nick our birds and money and then [zb] off back up there. anyway he was a top bloke. 2 more names pete ramsey, alan baker.
Strange post 
, having known Barry for over thirty years itâs the first bad word that I have ever heard anyone say about him .
I can only think that there were two Barry Longdens who worked for Jenkinsons of Salford and Concorde Express.
The Barry Longden that I know who is well respected by all of his workmates and appreciated by all his former employers. He liked a pint with all the lads and still does but he was just as content sitting in his cab, reading a book and smoking his pipe, a quite man who got on with the job and knew it inside out without boasting about it. As far as I know he wouldnât let you down, well he certainly never let me down and I canât think of anybody who didnât like running with him. I had many good trips with Barryâs younger brother Dave R.I.P. and the last time that I saw Dave he was sat on an industrial estate just outside Blackpool for a week with an exhibition trailer for Concorde.
Itâs always good when somebody like Marcus The Bubbleman or Trucker Ash sticks a photo on here and I think, I remember seeing that motor 
.
Well here is a photo from Barry of the one that he drove for Jenkinsons.
I remember years ago Barry telling me that he worked for Ashworths from Burnley or was it Blackburn doing work to Teheren before he joined Dow.
Here is a photo of Barry with his Transcon.
Terrific pics -I am in constant touch with Barry, he now lives inland from Fleetwood at Poulton le Felde, I dont know who you are referring to regards anyone knocking Barry, Certainly not me, and reading back thru the site I can only see a member (Where r u ) making a reference to him owing him a pint - all good fun remarks i suppose - also that is the same Barry in your pics that worked for DOW and Concorde Conbrook, So hope you accept my comments in good faith, Again I think that your pics are terrific, since joining this site I now reaslise that I should have taken more pics, I have 3 big volumes but regretfully thery were polaroid and have faded , oh for a didgital camera in the 70âs eh ? regards Fred H
freshir:
Hi - Re; Imranli, was late 76 and I was with 3 of Jenkinsonâs Barry Longden, Billy Hamm (Bionic Bill - RIP) Barry tells me that the third driver is now in Australia, cant remember his name - re; Grangewoodâs - yes I knew George the Pole I last heard down the grapevine that he had lost his eyesight, and Bernie Bartels (Zwei metre funf) was also at Grangewoods the same time as me , sorry to say that Bernie is no longer with us (RIP) - I dont recall any of Simons at Imranli on that occasion perhaps you copped it on the way back - I only wish that my photoâs were of better quality as the white stuff was as high as the trailer, I did not meet up with BILLY HAMM for a long time after that until I was at Munchen waiting for the puffa, on that occasion I had my wife with me (The Management) and being a bit of a ladies man we couldât get rid of him, oh well memories eh - I wont bore you anymore, we all get carried away, I have taken quite an interest since finding this site and being well retired (Self unemployed) it certainly passes time, brings back memories and a lot of forgotten names - Good Luck, Ivâe gone
Ah! Thanks for clearing that up âfreshirâ. So it was late '76, eh? I was stuck up on the mountain early '76 or it might just have been very late '75. The winter of 75/76 was apparently one of the worst winters in Turkey for many years. Late 76 I was broken down in Bulgaria (homeward bound)for over two weeks with a blown oil cooler on my transcon.
I had heard that Bernie was no longer with us. Surprised that George the Pole is still aroundâŚhe seemed like a bit of an old cogger when I first met him in 1975 but put him behind the wheel and he could go like the wind!! 
Hi Ron - re; George the Pole, Just to make a correction - As I said I know he lost his eyesight thru natural causes but whether he is still around or not I do not know, I am sure that he returned to Poland tho - Fred H
where r u:
tell him he is still a bum living in that big house up north. i was always telling him u came down south to nick our birds and money and then [zb] off back up there.
Sorry Freshir for the sense of humour slip but I have been trying a few times to get Barry and Val on this site for the last couple of years now and I feel that a comment like that would not be the kind of thing that Valery would wish to read.
Hi - I did pick up on that reckless comment and agree with you 100%, I do not possitively recognise the peson who made it (Where r u ) - Val is the computer-in-chief Barry doesnât get involved with it because it is not LHD - I regularly exchange mail with Val, pity they are far away from me in W.Sussex, your description of Baz is spot on ie the pipe and a book, I have know them and been in constant touch with them since 76 and the infamous experiene at Imranli, he eventualy ended up with me at Concorde Colnbrook (Advanced M/E course) he will love that one !! - Some years back he had a great party at his house in Ashington (Were you there?) there were many Dow,s etc: - I remember asking Baz what the party was for and he said that he would think of something by the time I got there (Dry as ever) Regards - Fred H, be lucky
Sorry to be picky but isnt this the ASTRAN MIDDLE EAST DRIVERS THREAD seems to have drifted away to other things ,dont remember George the Pole having anything to do with Astran I know what he did do and it wasânt work to the ME.
Roger Haywood
sinbin31:
Sorry to be picky but isnt this the ASTRAN MIDDLE EAST DRIVERS THREAD seems to have drifted away to other things ,dont remember George the Pole having anything to do with Astran I know what he did do and it wasânt work to the ME.
Roger Haywood
Sorry Roger 
, I was only trying to keep this thread going again, I didnât think that it was only for Astran drivers so having never been any further east than Iraq I shall send myself to the Sinbin immediately. I have a feeling that Barry Longden might have been pulling loads for Astran in the early seventies but maybe freshir might know if he did or he didnât.
Letâs hope that The Red Desert Fox gets his old photos on here as soon as he gets home.
Gule Gule.
Hi - As previously mentioned I have not been on this forum very long although I have read all thru it (Took ages) and l certainly found it very interesting, I also noticed that other ex M/E drivers came up with some interesting memories and considered the forum open to any memories that could offer or respond to Astrans experiences
and perhaps open up this forum if it is thought to have gone a bit flat âBUTâ consider this with respect as I ran and rubbed shoulders with Astran boys including yourself Roger, and with all the respect that I have for Astran their stories cannot go on forever so a little prop up from outsiders cant be bad eh. Come on Roger I think there are a lot of ex Jockeys out there that would support my comments - Regards - Good Luck - IVE GONE
Hi - As previously mentioned I have not been on this forum very long although I have read all thru it (Took ages) and l certainly found it very interesting, I also noticed that other ex M/E drivers came up with some interesting memories and considered the forum open to any memories that could offer or respond to Astrans experiences
and perhaps open up this forum if it is thought to have gone a bit flat âBUTâ consider this with respect as I ran and rubbed shoulders with Astran boys including yourself Roger, and with all the respect that I have for Astran their stories cannot go on forever so a little prop up from outsiders cant be bad eh. Come on Roger I think there are a lot of ex Jockeys out there that would support my comments - Regards - Good Luck - IVE GONE
Come on RogerâŚThe thread is Astran / Midle East Drivers as in âand / orâ
Many of the stories from non Astran Guys have been really interesting, and in fairness the thread had gone quiet, I for one was pleased to see it brought back to lifeâŚ
All the very best RDF
I appreciated your comments, I put a lot of thought into my remarks before posting as I certainly did not want to offend anyone and surely not RH, i decided to proceed to the sinbin but it was over flowing - Lets all pull in the same direction, thereâs plenty more interesting experiences to be heard and a lot of old jockeys out there sitting back with the wife in charge of the lap-top and not being able to air there stories, thereâs a hint there ladies - Get the old man a lap-top for xmas - I will say this that I agree with RH that there is a lot of non M/E remarks infiltrating the forum -lets get back to reality - good luck - regards
You carry on freshir comment away its a public forum after all. Rita is what Rita is 
Incidently Iâve never been any further down that way than Stanleybul a few times but knew Rita during his many years pulling for Intersped Manolesos in his truck still painted like an Astran/Brinor motor so chat away its all worth hearing/commenting regardless of where youâve been or haveânt been or dreamed of going.
Fly sheet
