M&C Jamie:
I also was under the impression that Jeff Ruggins passed away in Doha. At that time Astrans had a few Drivers Based out their Doing internals One of them being Bobby Erskine, Ex Frank White driver, I remember him telling me about the carry on arranging a Lead lined coffin etc to get his body home.It’s a long time ago now and the old grey matter is not what it was.
The last time I saw him was just before the Irani revolution when he was on his way into Iran for a German company that had won a pipeline contract. Does any one else remember that job where they hired a lot of british drivers to start in Germany and drive the artic’s with flat trailers and pipe bolsters out to iran to do internals on the pipeline. Jeff was one of the road foremen and Tony Baker was another,. It must have been some mob.
Regard’s Jamie.
A Scot Lost In the Valley’s.
jeff ruggins lived in convent way southall middlesex (in a tower block) with rita his girlfriend, and thats where he died. jeff had a heart valve problem from when he was born and could have died at anytime because it was never found. he was good friends with jonny ellingham (bosphros trd. and trucking) also lived in southall, and as you all know worked for astran pie simons and a guy called sid the pig out of hortrus road southall. jeff called everyone babe and if he did not like you stuck the nut on you jeff was ex sas and his funeral was massive with a lot of ex sas boys there, they dont forget there own. jeff had one son. r.i.p. jeff ruggins
I would have thought 5 weeks in the Brecon Beacons and a yomp over the mountain would have found a dodgy heart valve, they found mine in 7 minutes on a treadmill
Jeff (RIP) - In an earlier post Hutpik gave JR a mention to which I responded in all honesty after which other old mates have come up with their thoughts and views on his last days, I would like to raise a point here that this is getting a bit tacky so lets drop the subject in RESPECT - Thanks - Fred
Hi all.I think that the driver that Roger means was a guy called Peter Fanning who was also ex army and died whilst working for Astrans[i’m not exactly sure where].The problem is that technology has advanced so fast that we tend to forget that even only 20 years ago we knew much less about medicine and suchlike so many things that we take now for granted were less well known then,i mean, they can change your heart and clone you but can’t stop a cold
Only friday evening my old boss from Holland phoned to say that a colleague had died. He loaded in Antwerp and pulled forward to clear the bay and just died,only 55.He was also ex dutch anti terrorist police so was no wimp.
None of us know when our sell by date is due.
Almost every day we hear that another old mate is gone.Ithink this job IS more hazardous than the S.A.S. Take care.Mike
Do you mind if I place this picture in the old timers section?
EWU 204H shows the vehicle was registered between May 1970 until July 1970 in the west riding of Yorkshire (Leeds) It could be one missing from the Guy register.
Hi Freshir.Where was the guy parked,was it on tahir.I vaguely remember seeing that but age stops me from remembering exactly where.I remember the atkinson from Taffy Davies on the road up from Horasan as i stopped to try and help.
I remember the winter of 75\76 when you could see a truck on it’s side almost every km through Turkey.Mike
hutpik:
Hi Freshir.Where was the guy parked,was it on tahir.I vaguely remember seeing that but age stops me from remembering exactly where.I remember the atkinson from Taffy Davies on the road up from Horasan as i stopped to try and help.
I remember the winter of 75\76 when you could see a truck on it’s side almost every km through Turkey.Mike[/quote
Yes Mike TIHER, - Horasan was one of the coldest places that I ever experienced, I came across a driver crying with cold and hunger and he had burnt all of his clothes in an effort to get his vehicle running but to no avail so I kitted him out, made him a nosh but he decided to stay his veh - memories eh?
Do you mind if I place this picture in the old timers section?
EWU 204H shows the vehicle was registered between May 1970 until July 1970 in the west riding of Yorkshire (Leeds) It could be one missing from the Guy register.
Great Image
Hi Wheel Nut - Ok mate you carry on, I have not felt so important since I had a standing ovation on my wedding night - Fred
No disrespect to anyone,but drivers were made of sterner stuff then,alas these days the driver would just do one and abandon the whole lot,as in 95 one of my drivers cooked a truck going up mont blanc and dumped it in the services never to be seen or heard of again,also the M/E drivers had a stronger sence of loyalty and more comeraderie,long live the old school,come on you dinosaurs get them stories out,its great to here,regards
WHEELNUTZ:
No disrespect to anyone,but drivers were made of sterner stuff then,alas these days the driver would just do one and abandon the whole lot,as in 95 one of my drivers cooked a truck going up mont blanc and dumped it in the services never to be seen or heard of again,also the M/E drivers had a stronger sence of loyalty and more comeraderie,long live the old school,come on you dinosaurs get them stories out,its great to here,regards
Not so sure, there were enough trucks dumped in the National in Belgrade.
I done my running money Guv, will you get me a drink? Lend me a tenner, lend me a permit, let me have some diesel!!
Certainly there was more camaraderie, but the rush wasn’t as great, if any
Wheel Nut:
I done my running money Guv, will you get me a drink? Lend me a tenner, lend me a permit, let me have some diesel!!
I’ve met plenty of them all over Europe, the best are the ones who run out of cash before they’ve even tipped, bladderd on the boat, wrecked at Clauds, ■■■■■■ at Victors SKINT before Madrid!!! Gawd knows how they’d be with a couple of grand on the middle east!! Hence the Brit trucks abandoned at the “National” eh?
Interesting article in the latest (April) Heritage Commercials mag’ about S Jones (Aldridge) / Trans-Arabia, some interesting photos & story, bonneted Macks in Jones’ colours!! Jog anyones memory?
any more■■? V8lenny, as its allways good to see more photos, the 110 hard as nails them old girls, what year is that one then, with the headlights in the bumper.
Take care.Mike
