davemackie,just had a peek at your website,just got to say mate it’s ace 
mushroomman:
Fred there is no need to feel guilty about showing your photo of that bear, I am sure that everybody on this forum agrees with how badly the poor animals were treated but if you remember at the time most of the people in Eastern Europe and Asia didn’t have much of a great lifestyle either. I think that everybody on here will be pleased that you did take the photo and shared it with us as it’s things like this that back up some of the stories that people mention on here. The first time that I saw a Dancing Bear in Istanbul I must admit that I was a bit scared (but thats another story for later), it had a muzzle on it but it’s claws looked as though they could do a lot of damage. To me it was still a wild animal and I know that it only needed to take a split second to turn a happy crowd of onlookers into a scene of carnage. After I had arrived back in the U.K. I was tipping at a place near Hull and I remember one of the off loaders asking me what Turkey was like, when I mentioned about seeing a dancing bear I could tell that he didn’t believe me. To me dancing bears were something that I thought had died out in the Middle Ages, don’t forget there was not as many television documentaries back then apart from Whicker’s World and The World About Us. It’s not really surprising how many old blokes on here have said I never took any photos but I wish I had done now, well as we know it was expensive to develop a roll of film and there was always the chance that if your cab was broken into then your camera would be stolen.
One photo or even a comment can spark off a chain reaction of memories for somebody else so lets hope that some more of the people who read this thread will start posting soon.
I am surprised and sorry that not as many Astran drivers or their subbies have contributed some of their experiences on here as I did think that they were saving them all until Ashley’s absolutely brilliant book The Long Haul Pioneershad been published. Sadly this has not been the case and it would of been great if we could of had more stories like the ones from Gavin Smith, The Red Desert Fox and Truckyboy that we have had over the last three years.
The mention of the Suicide Mirror, well thats something that I have never thought of for over twenty odd years but now the memories have come flooding back, I did have one although I never liked to use it. It was on a motor that I took over from Billy McDonald and it was always handy to carry a spare wing mirror whenever you went through Kapicule as there was always a good chance that it would get “clipped” from somebody.
Like yourself bestbooties I can’t remember which photos I have posted on other threads so I apologise if I happen to post the same photo twice on the same thread.
And Ian, you did mention some time ago about another Chapman and Ball driver called Johnny Roberts, well here is another photo that somebody gave me and when I asked who this guy was I was told that it was John Roberts so lets hope that somebody will be able tell us if it is John or not.
Regards Steve.
Steve,
A bit older than when I knew him,but that definitely looks like Johnny Roberts,who,along with Alan Jones,two of the best blokes I have ever had the priveledge to work with.
John never had much hair from the first time I met him in Mama’s at Spielfeld,when we both worked for C & B,but what a mate,like myself,always found something to laugh about.
Very interesting post Steve well done - I agree with your observation re: Astran drivers having disappeared on here, they should have more stories than Beecham,s have got pills ,and have you noticed that most of the post highlights the active side of our job and we tend to forget the little gems that Ian raised about the mirror ? well l delved into my memory bank and l recall that l had a small curtain hook that was screwed into the top inside of my door and l put the chain of my air horns onto it at night so as to announce any unwelcomed visitors (Good aye) and that gave me peace of mind and l had a double dose of Bourne Vita and got the head down - how bad is that - Come on then you’ve got to beat that someone !! I’m waiting, and NO untroooofs. Regards all - Fred H
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nobody told me that they drive on the right…OOOOP’s
Just thought that someone may appreciate a giggle to start the day - If you feeling a bit down try this - Go into Marks & Spencers and wander into the fitting room - give it a couple of minutes and call the attendant - when she comes and asks “What is the problem sir”
Just say that there is no toilet paper in here!!! and wait for the responce - yeah - Fred H
freshir:
Just thought that someone may appreciate a giggle to start the day - If you feeling a bit down try this - Go into Marks & Spencers and wander into the fitting room - give it a couple of minutes and call the attendant - when she comes and asks “What is the problem sir”
Just say that there is no toilet paper in here!!! and wait for the responce - yeah - Fred H
Fred, for heavens sake don’t put that post on jj72 Last Of The Summer Diesel thread some of the posters on there just might do it. 
Yes those Turkish air horns that you could get fitted at The Mocamp, they were cheap but most of them always sounded like a cow with a bad cough.
O.K. I am sorry to say that I had one of those air whoopy horns fitted which made a whirlling noise but it did seem funny at the time whenever I used it at a Zebra crossing if a pretty girl was in front of the truck .
I just wondered if any one out there would like to have a guess at these likely lads and name the company it was an unfortunate sombre occasion that bought the full team together, they are all well established M/E lads, I shall leave the photo on here for a few days as I am sure someone would like to have a crack at naming them, or perhaps they may owe you money !! Regards Fred H
Hi boys
The mirror faceing forward has been discused somewhere on TN before. I had one on my 140 then when I had a 141 left hand drive I had one on the other side for driving over here.
Regards Keith
BTW did anyone ever have their gear knobs,steering wheel, hand brake knobs covered in thick coloured plastic in Turkey. 
When I first looked at that pic and before John Roberts name was suggested I immediately thought that it was Charlie Robinson (Robertson) who drove for ORYX’s - Does that nudge anyones memory ? although the post seemed to favour John I must admit that I did not know John so as to to make a comparison - Fred
Can anybody put any names to any of these photo’s from Jimmy Walker as I recognise only one of the faces.
A black trailer with a yellow tilt cover rings a distant bell, could it of been one of Funstones 
looking at the side panels on the trailer with the rubber strips underneath I would guess at being a german or austrian haulier.
Chazzer, I think that trailer is not related to the MAN, the open left door has an idiot mirror on it, so it would be RHD and the colour scheme is Dow Freight black and orange, this is a job for Mushy, if anybody knows it’ll be him 
It also has no number plates, on the back at least, that’d save Dow a few bob when they re registered it as new the folowing year 
Hi Newmercman, the guy in the overalls is Irish John Conneely but I don’t know who the other two lads are. When I first saw this I thought that they were useing a short towbar but now it looks as though they are messing about with the spare wheel.
I thought that Chazzer might of known John when he was working for Bob Kilby from Swindon many years ago.
Regards Steve.
newmercman:
It also has no number plates, on the back at least, that’d save Dow a few bob when they re registered it as new the folowing year
Isn’t that a numberplate just showing above and to the left of the hammer laying on the spare wheel?
rgds Ron
I am sure that is Eddie Mulkerins, the fact that the other man has been recognised as john Conelly more or less comfirms my opinion. I will contact Ed (asap) obviously the tractor is an F12 and RHD with a kerb mirror on the N/S door - also it’s satisfiying to see a bit of action on here as posts had dried up for about 4 days. Regards to all Fred H
freshir:
I am sure that is Eddie Mulkerins, the fact that the other man has been recognised as john Conelly more or less comfirms my opinion. I will contact Ed (asap) obviously the tractor is an F12 and RHD with a kerb mirror on the N/S door - also it’s satisfiying to see a bit of action on here as posts had dried up for about 4 days. Regards to all Fred H
Are you sure about that being an F12 Fred? Kinda looks like an MAN to me.
rgds Ron
Hi Ron - I was going by the rear window, my MAN (1976) pictured with my wife and the bear (Earlier post) had a glass window to the rear with a padded interior, I also recognised the stantion supporting the air intake on the back o/s of the cab and the mudgaurd supports, I had an F12 on Grangewood’s but we are all going back a few years now and I would certainly stand corrected (For a small fee !!) Regards Fred
freshir:
Hi Ron - I was going by the rear window, my MAN (1976) pictured with my wife and the bear (Earlier post) had a glass window to the rear with a padded interior, I also recognised the stantion supporting the air intake on the back o/s of the cab and the mudgaurd supports, I had an F12 on Grangewood’s but we are all going back a few years now and I would certainly stand corrected (For a small fee !!) Regards Fred
… this truck is no Volvo but definitelly a MAN F 8. The rear and the side panels are totally different at Volvos.
Regards
Franz
I will post pics of a MAN F 8later
I will post pics of a MAN F 8later
… all pics are from my archiv and have been made by myself during the last couple of years…
Regards
Franz
rear wall of F8 cabine
door panel left side (this is a LHD, the ME one is a obviously a RHD with the mirror on the top of the door)
rear lights (not he best picture, I know 
)
Hi Franz - Ich war Unrecht. das Gedachtnis werde alt - Respect - FRED
freshir:
Hi Franz - Ich war Unrecht. das Gedachtnis werde alt - Respect - FRED
Don´t worry
We are all getting older, even in my mid 40´s I am loosing more and more hairs 
Maybe in ten years, I will look like Mr. Proper
regards
Franz
PS: Gutes Deutsch für einen Engländer übrigens, ich hoffe mein Englisch ist auch so gut?!