John Williams would be the chap with the beard from the Destination Doha DVD I take it?
I have no idea as i haven’t seen the DVD yet although it is on order and 'er indoors is on strict instructions to call the minute it arrives
There was a magazine article about John doing a Charity run to Albania, he got some very bad press about that, and never forgave the organisers. He told me that he had warned these muppets not to follow him over the mountain without chains. He waas going to bring them back in a land rover after he got over the top. Someone decided he knew better and tried to follow him, blocking the road for days.
That article doesn’t ring a bell, i am sure the article was about the pioneers of the M/E run and how it all started with (and i am not too sure on this) moving equipment for the oil companies and that he was the first person to actually do it.
My old boss was a tuggie with P&O during that era and he got talking to a few in the docks and was amazed with the stories he was told, it was apparently the stories of thier adventures that got him trucking again and to become an O/D and eventually run more trucks with a partner. He has retired now so don’t see him but he had some amazing stories the furthest he went was Moscow and he always regretted missing the M/E…
Have never seen a TIR seal Malc but thanks for the info some of the so-called M/E hands at my place thought i was off my rocker going on about coins and Czech exit visa’s nearly had me doubting that i had read it good to know the memorys not going
Have just watched Destination Doha for the 1st time with my 6 year old, what an superb documentry Linux Jnr even moaned it wasn’t long enough.
John Williams seemed to have been a very knowelagble and talented man i bet he was held in very high regard by all who knew him, definatley a legend that unfortunatley isn’t around anymore His tales would have been amazing.
What struck me was the lack of hassle from the office, no mobiles and just left to get on with the job and that must of been heaven. The stopping and chatting to other drivers was something else that doesn’t seem to happen anymore especially in the UK as everyone is in too much of a rush.
It would of been good if another crew followed Chris Hooper on his last trip as a sort of them and now.
Does anybody know what the other 3 guys are doing now?
Anyway off to watch it again, thank god it’s on DVD and not video otherwise i’d wear it out.
Can we look forward to some of your stories Malc?? please??
Ive posted a few old Asian Transport / Astran pics which have been scanned from a book ive got some of you old M/E hands on here may know some of the faces or even be one of them who knows.
one of the oldest pioneers i knew and worked for was Bob Paul…it was he and his partner who started the middle east work (at least from the u.k.) when i first went for an interview he showed me all the photos of him and the old leylands they started with…carrying their old tank tracks (ex w.w.2) these had to be used for negotiating the very bad dessert roads in those days…they offered a service that no one could match…door to door to the middle east…it was cheaper than a ship…and a lot quicker…and cheaper than flying it out…he was a true pioneer…then came Pete Cannon…who became the transport manager…the drivers included first of all the great ■■■■ Snow…amongst others …of course John Williams…Jeff Ruggins (my teacher)…a dane…a frenchman…and many drivers from different countries who wanted to be part of that era…of course Asian transport was the company i worked for in those days and Astran was the shippers and forwarders…obviously a tax ploy in those days before it all became Astrans as we know and love today…(sadly fell by the wayside)
The piece I wrote concerning the pioneering days about Asian Transport (Astran) was published in Truck, April 2001.
This was nothing to do with the aid convoy that you talk about. Pls dont confuse the two. JW was a great bloke.
Dave Poulton is doing UK work currently driving nights. Frank Hook is driving for a Kent company doing mostly UK work with a little bit of Northern European.
Astran is still going and recently there has been an increase in the amount of loads going down to the Gulf. Sadly the rates, combined with high running costs make it unviable for UK operators to run good modern equipment and pay sensible wages to drivers.
nlg14.
nlg 14:
The piece I wrote concerning the pioneering days about Asian Transport (Astran) was published in Truck, April 2001.
This was nothing to do with the aid convoy that you talk about. Pls dont confuse the two. JW was a great bloke.
Dave Poulton is doing UK work currently driving nights. Frank Hook is driving for a Kent company doing mostly UK work with a little bit of Northern European.
Astran is still going and recently there has been an increase in the amount of loads going down to the Gulf. Sadly the rates, combined with high running costs make it unviable for UK operators to run good modern equipment and pay sensible wages to drivers.
nlg14.
Whos Dave Poulton driving for on nights?, iam on regular nights myself,
i bet he could tell a few good stories over a brew one night if i spot him.
I called in to see the bloke who I use to sub contract from. JW and Chamberlain worked for him too. I was hoping I could shed some light on this Albanian trip.
