Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed an honour being referred to as the ‘late’ great Laurence Kiely but I can assure you all I am very much alive.
I think what started these rumours of demise was one of many trips I did for Peter King to Kuwait way back in 1991. In those days Peter did a lot of work for Orient Freight hence the livery on the truck D455JMU.That piece made the front cover of T+D magazine.
On my return from that trip Peter asked me if I would immediately do another one but I could not. T+D wanted the story and pix ASAP. It was then Peter introduced me to a good guy who would do the next trip instead. This guy, I ashamedly at the time of writing this can not remember his name, was married and had a young child. (Have since learned from brenics77 that Hal Rossco was the gentleman who was killed.)
Hal had not been on the road for ten years so I gave him a run down on equipment to take, borders to cross, perils etc. He arrived in Kuwait safely but on his return through Syria he had a head on crash with an Arabic truck. He was killed instantly. D455JMU was obliterated.
Perhaps because after the smash, that truck was on the front cover of July 1991 Truck + Driver magazine, people heard about the fatality i.e. one of Peter King’s drivers and associated it with me. It is sad that notwithstanding everybody’s best intentions such sadness was not directed to the right man and his young family. RIP Mr Rossco
Once i have waved goodbye to last nights “companion” i will have to go to my local watering hole and enjoy a few Singhas to the good health of Laurence Kiely.
It is so good when one gets a positive outcome, something sadly so lacking in the world of today…
M&C steve:
Once i have waved goodbye to last nights “companion” i will have to go to my local watering hole and enjoy a few Singhas to the good health of Laurence Kiely.
It is so good when one gets a positive outcome, something sadly so lacking in the world of today…
M&C Steve
Hullo Steve,
Sounds to me like you’re just waving Goodbye to a positive outcome
Cheers, Archie.
Laurence:
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed an honour being referred to as the ‘late’ great Laurence Kiely but I can assure you all I am very much alive.
I think what started these rumours of demise was one of many trips I did for Peter King to Kuwait way back in 1991. In those days Peter did a lot of work for Orient Freight hence the livery on the truck D455JMU.That piece made the front cover of T+D magazine.
On my return from that trip Peter asked me if I would immediately do another one but I could not. T+D wanted the story and pix ASAP. It was then Peter introduced me to a good guy who would do the next trip instead. This guy, I ashamedly at the time of writing this can not remember his name, was married and had a young child. (Have since learned from brenics77 that Hal Rossco was the gentleman who was killed.)
Hal had not been on the road for ten years so I gave him a run down on equipment to take, borders to cross, perils etc. He arrived in Kuwait safely but on his return through Syria he had a head on crash with an Arabic truck. He was killed instantly. D455JMU was obliterated.
Perhaps because after the smash, that truck was on the front cover of July 1991 Truck + Driver magazine, people heard about the fatality i.e. one of Peter King’s drivers and associated it with me. It is sad that notwithstanding everybody’s best intentions such sadness was not directed to the right man and his young family. RIP Mr Rossco
Hello Laurence and welcome back to the land of the living! I’m sure you must have an absolute treasure trove of pics and stories, so maybe a few on here?! On a more serious note, always very sad to hear of tragedies involving lorry drivers just doing their job, very sad.
freshir:
Just come up with an old photo approaching Quazvin, not particularly exiting but ‘Might’ interest some .regards Fred
Fred, Barry Longden phoned me up last week and mentioned a couple of names from way back, George Ginn was one of them . We got on to Yiddle Davis and Barry told me that back in the seventies a women called Arabella who he seemed to think was a daughter of either Yiddle Davis or was she something to do with Cantrells Cowboys ?. Anyway I told Barry that would I put it on here to see if anybody can remember Arabella from London who he thinks used to drive down to the Middle East in the early seventies. He can remember her going out on a couple of breakdowns and thinks that she might of married Roger Hambleton.
Does the name Arabella ring any old bells to anybody ?.
Regards Steve.
The things you do on a quiet Monday afternoon - ie trawl through old threads!
Arabella was Davis’ daughter and married Tony Hambleton ( Roger was his brother, used to run a DAF together for Dow). Got divorced way back in the mid 80’s. Haven’t heard of her for ages, last time in the 90s she was driving a coach down Norfolk way. Roger, FYI, has a couple of vans/trucks on fridge work round Wem.
Laurence:
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed an honour being referred to as the ‘late’ great Laurence Kiely but I can assure you all I am very much alive.
I think what started these rumours of demise was one of many trips I did for Peter King to Kuwait way back in 1991. In those days Peter did a lot of work for Orient Freight hence the livery on the truck D455JMU.That piece made the front cover of T+D magazine.
On my return from that trip Peter asked me if I would immediately do another one but I could not. T+D wanted the story and pix ASAP. It was then Peter introduced me to a good guy who would do the next trip instead. This guy, I ashamedly at the time of writing this can not remember his name, was married and had a young child. (Have since learned from brenics77 that Hal Rossco was the gentleman who was killed.)
Hal had not been on the road for ten years so I gave him a run down on equipment to take, borders to cross, perils etc. He arrived in Kuwait safely but on his return through Syria he had a head on crash with an Arabic truck. He was killed instantly. D455JMU was obliterated.
Perhaps because after the smash, that truck was on the front cover of July 1991 Truck + Driver magazine, people heard about the fatality i.e. one of Peter King’s drivers and associated it with me. It is sad that notwithstanding everybody’s best intentions such sadness was not directed to the right man and his young family. RIP Mr Rossco
ive got all them articles mate and im glad your still with us you look younger now then you did then i also have some of your my mistakes will find them all and get them posted and do you have any more pics you can post up please
M&C steve:
I made a repeat booking for tomorrow night…
Steve.
Blimey Steve, could this be love■■?
Rgds Ron
Ron, i think ■■■■ would be a better word to use !!
How is life treating you in Kanchanaburi ■■ I’ve not been that way for a long time now, waiting on a new bike to arrive from the UK, when it does i will come and visit you again mate.
Did you ever have the pleasure of meeting Laurence at all, or maybe you remember some of his articles in the press ■■
freshir:
Just come up with an old photo approaching Quazvin, not particularly exiting but ‘Might’ interest some .regards Fred
Fred, Barry Longden phoned me up last week and mentioned a couple of names from way back, George Ginn was one of them . We got on to Yiddle Davis and Barry told me that back in the seventies a women called Arabella who he seemed to think was a daughter of either Yiddle Davis or was she something to do with Cantrells Cowboys ?. Anyway I told Barry that would I put it on here to see if anybody can remember Arabella from London who he thinks used to drive down to the Middle East in the early seventies. He can remember her going out on a couple of breakdowns and thinks that she might of married Roger Hambleton.
Does the name Arabella ring any old bells to anybody ?.
Regards Steve.
The things you do on a quiet Monday afternoon - ie trawl through old threads!
Arabella was Davis’ daughter and married Tony Hambleton ( Roger was his brother, used to run a DAF together for Dow). Got divorced way back in the mid 80’s. Haven’t heard of her for ages, last time in the 90s she was driving a coach down Norfolk way. Roger, FYI, has a couple of vans/trucks on fridge work round Wem.
Hi Steve, Nice to hear from you, I have no recollection of Arabella but I knew of George Ginn, I never came across any women on M/E although I have read of a few mentioned on this thread. as for Yiddle Davis well that brings back memories of my younger days - back in the early 50’s when I was a nice young lad I traveled with my old dad on his 3 ton Bedford ( Jellous ? )
up yo Covent Garden to load fruit back to Brentford (Dont mention the football team) and Yiddle’s lorries were part of the scene
in fact they were dominant in the fruit game, Sorry that I have drifted away from your story but when the memory is activated I have to make use of it, I will also ring Barry weekend for a natter, the first thing that he will say to me is " Where are my bloody jammy dodgers " I assisted him in demolishing his biscuits when we were waiting four days in Khorramshawr to load Dates and that must have been late 70’s and he has never forgotten this, memories eh ? I would like the hear from the old contributors to this thread as it has gone a little naff, lets hear a few more stories - don’t worry if they are lies, nobody will know
I will keep you info’d when I speak to Barry then Steve, chow for now, Regards Fred
Good to hear that you are well and have signed up. As the others have said it would be great to hear some of your stories of the overland trips or see any old pics that you may have,maybe some of the old Marathon that you drove and gave you dramas?
And as pointed out it’s very sad to hear of the other bloke Hal Roscco who died in the truck smash and it’s with his family that our thoughts should go.
Wheel Nut:
Are we all fired up to rebuild Libya chaps? It seems like Mr Gaddafi is coming to the end of his reign!
He should have listened more to my Cousin Neville
In 1972 Neville Atkinson left a career as a night fighter pilot in the Royal Navy to take up a position as personal pilot to The President of Libya, Col Gadaffi. During the next ten years his role was to fly The President, Government Ministers and many world dignitaries around the Middle East and Africa. During the course of these flights his relaxed conversations and perceptive observation of his passengers gave him a rare insight into their personalities, and the politics and happenings of the time.
The turmoil of the Middle East meant almost constant uncertainty and danger. His Falcon 20 executive jet was fired on by anti-aircraft guns as he came into land in South Yemen; in Egypt the terrifying experience of surviving six SAM II missiles fired at the plane while conveying the Libyan Prime Minister to Egypt during the Arab-Israeli war. The crew was forced into taking Carlos The Jackal and his three fellow terrorists from Algiers to Mogadishu in Somalia after they had kidnapped the OPEC conference in Vienna - a thoroughly unnerving and obnoxious ordeal.
bullitt:
If you scroll back to page 14 of this thread you will see, just over half way down, a post from newmercman who states that Mr Kielly was killed in Turkey!!
Newmercman used to write for the trucking magazines as well so im guessing he may have some more upto date info for you.
I read it somewhere, I think it was announced in Trucking or T&D, just goes to show you can’t trust trucking journos
Well then Laurence, glad you’re not dead after all
RIP to Hal Rossco
Now, as you’ve found this site and this thread in particular, would you please do us all the honour of sharing some of your tales with us, pictures too, as I’m sure many will agree, M/E pictures are pure ■■■ rated truck ■■■■
I’m also one of the blokes who read your magazine articles and was inspired by them, not just to drive, but to write too, I’m still doing both, so thanks for that
Hi Steve, Nice to hear from you, I have no recollection of Arabella but I knew of George Ginn, I never came across any women on M/E although I have read of a few mentioned on this thread. as for Yiddle Davis well that brings back memories of my younger days - back in the early 50’s when I was a nice young lad I traveled with my old dad on his 3 ton Bedford ( Jellous ? )
up yo Covent Garden to load fruit back to Brentford (Dont mention the football team) and Yiddle’s lorries were part of the scene
in fact they were dominant in the fruit game, Sorry that I have drifted away from your story but when the memory is activated I have to make use of it, I will also ring Barry weekend for a natter, the first thing that he will say to me is " Where are my bloody jammy dodgers " I assisted him in demolishing his biscuits when we were waiting four days in Khorramshawr to load Dates and that must have been late 70’s and he has never forgotten this, memories eh ? I would like the hear from the old contributors to this thread as it has gone a little naff, lets hear a few more stories - don’t worry if they are lies, nobody will know
I will keep you info’d when I speak to Barry then Steve, chow for now, Regards Fred
[/quote]
Hello Fred,
I would just like to add as the widow of George Ginn, that I did do the middle east and have the pasports and photos to prove it, both before and after I married George.
Regards Sharon
PS To anyone I havent thanked already, Thankyou for giving George such a good send off last week, it is a great comfort to know he was so highly regarded.
M&C steve:
I made a repeat booking for tomorrow night…
Steve.
Blimey Steve, could this be love■■?
Rgds Ron
Ron, i think ■■■■ would be a better word to use !!
How is life treating you in Kanchanaburi ■■ I’ve not been that way for a long time now, waiting on a new bike to arrive from the UK, when it does i will come and visit you again mate.
Did you ever have the pleasure of meeting Laurence at all, or maybe you remember some of his articles in the press ■■
Regards Steve.
Pretty quiet in Kanchanaburi. New bike? Don’t want the BMW anymore? Bumped in to Johnny Scott (Bon Scott’s brother from AC/DC) the other week who lives here with his big Harley…And I know what you think of those
Don’t think I had the pleasure of meeting Laurence. In fact I’m often surprised of how many names I didn’t know that are mentioned on here. There again it might have something to do with being a Simon’s driver…with our reputation one could often be given a wide berth when it came to parking up time by many for fear of having their diesel siphoned (at the very least ) plus I very rarely used the National or the Harem.
Ron, ( sorry to everyone else for being off-topic )
I had to sell the BMW as my son ( don’t you love them !! ) had some money problems and so i had to sell that to bail him out, otherwise my house may well of been sold by the lovely reciever ( as Matthew, my son, was buying it off me at the time ). The house has now been sold so we have a few funds again.
I have a Honda Valkyrie, for two years now, and have bought a second one which although is 10 years old has only done 9,000 miles. It is on a boat on route here now. When it is all sorted then my present one will be sold.
Harleys, well best we don’t go down that road…
Take care pal, and hope to see you in the not too distant.
M&C steve:
Harleys, well best we don’t go down that road…
It’s reassuring to know that ‘good taste’ is alive & well and living in Thailand, who in their right mind would choose to ride an American pile of ■■■ that emits an exhaust note that shouts “potato, potato, potato” as you ride down the road■■?
For all you guys out there, especially M&C steve, brookie, dreva + NZ Jamie, thanks for your compliments. Here are a few pix from long ago. This one is for M+C Steve. It is one of the trucks he kept going often at formidable odds for Mervyn King.
If you go to http://www.laurencekiely.co.uk you can click on any truck image and get a bigger version.
This one was taken on the Abdaly Road, Kuwait about 1991. The Volvo F12 in the background is in fact D455JMU. It belonged to Mervyn’s cousin, Peter King who ran Peterlea Trucking.
This was featured in T+D July 1991.
More will follow …
Take care now, all of you
Laurence Kiely
Great pic’s Laurence, keep them coming mate.
The MAN was either NMT 199X or 200X, i think the latter ?
I also done most of the maintenance for Peter too.
Looking forward to reading your tales of old pal.
