Was a good job and you never knew where the next trip would be
or…when you would finally get home but yeh…a great firm and a great bunch of blokes.
Hi All, I used to work in the office for Croome and enjoyed my time there. For those that worked there, below is a list (from memory) of the fleet no’s, some of the reg’s and the great and good drivers that were there when I first joined in 1996:
‘Box A-Frames’:
101 - Paul Stevens
102 - Mac? (Welsh chap)
103 - Mel Stevens
104 - Ian McDonald
105 - Mick Palmer
106 - Chris Oram
‘Tilt A-Frames/GLZs (except 131 - Straight frame)’
131 - Albert Smith
132 - Dave Barber
133 - No Driver
134 - Joe Pranczke
135 - Steve Price
136 - Bill Arnold
137 - Ron Seymour
’ First swap-body fleet - Volvo F10 sleeper pods - straight frames’
181 - H556 - Dai Roderick
182 - H557 - Malcolm Baker
183 - H558 - Dennis Newsome
184 - H559 - Steve Barron
185 - K144 SKP - Jerry Page
186 - K149 SKP - John Jones
187 - K150 SKP - John Pullen
188 - Kxxx SKP - Pete (Basher) Dodds
Rest of fleet to follow. MB
And the rest…
‘Volvo FH12 (340bhp engines I think!) - Straight-frames’
240 - L89 GKM - Martin Dobbie
241 - L87 GKM - Gordon MacMillan
242 - L91 GKM - Tony O’Brien
243 - L94 GKM - Dave Banks
244 - L96 GKM - Malcom Baker
245 - L93 GKM - Laszlo Fuzes
246 - L98 GKM - Dave Wakefield
247 - L95 GKM - Pete Stoneman
248 - L92 GKM - John Everest
249 - L97 GKM - John Turner Snr
250 - M112 PKR - Brian Court
251 - M113 PKR - John Turner Jnr
252 - M114 PKR - Mike Thomas
253 - M115 PKR - George Lunn
254 - M634 ■■■ - Eamonn Tully
255 - M652 ■■■ - John (Farmer) Marsh
256 - N256 ■■■ - Ron Allen
Some very happy as well as challenging times there. Great drivers and great business to/from Eastern Europe. will hopefully supply some more snaps and reminiscent yarns at some stage. MB
…and not forgetting…The original swap-body pairing of high-wheeled awkward motors with trailing tags…
‘Volvo F10 Pods - Long straight-frame bar’
161 - F329 ■■■ - Colin (Catweasel) Bell
162 - F983 ■■■ - Terry Pickett
The 240’s onwards were FH12 Globetrotter sleeper-cabs
MB
Drove down and past the depot in Cullet Drive today…must have been busy as there was only one Volvo drawbar being loaded up ( curtainsider drawbar ) no other trucks, but another was coming down the road returning to base.A few demountable bodies parked up.Yes all LT plates in Queenborough and weekends looks like a little Lithuania when a lot of the rigs park in the yard and sometimes all the way down Cullet Drive outside the depot as well complete with clothes hanging on the washing lines between the trucks !( the depot is too small to accomodate all the units as they now have a large complex built within for offices of Croome ) The brothers operation is on UK plates, same livery , operating out of part of the Lenham Storage complex.Still an impressive sight on the road, but some of the Queenborough kit is looking a bit tired now.
Some updated info on some of my last posts, now with my brain in a higher gear!
182 = H557 - was driven by John Baker and not Malcolm Baker. Think John went on to drive for TAFT.
188 = K154 SKP
Welcome any feedback from any former Croome drivers out there.
MB
Ex Croome driver Martin Dobbie now works with me on Fowler Welch at Teynham.We also had another ex Croome man here for a while Cyril Gardiner.
gordon macmillan passed away three weeks ago R.I.P
Mark R:
Ex Croome driver Martin Dobbie now works with me on Fowler Welch at Teynham.We also had another ex Croome man here for a while Cyril Gardiner.
Cyril is the Wifes Uncle. Was a few years ago the last time she spoke to Cyril, then he was working at Morrisons at Aylesford. He told the wife that years ago while he was at Enterprise he remembered meeting a young geordie lad in Italy working for Mark Young of Uttoxeter, that’ll have been Me then, long before I’d met the wife 
littlelegs:
gordon macmillan passed away three weeks ago R.I.P
Very sorry to hear the news of Gordons passing. He was a top driver at Croome with bags of experience. I had the pleasure of accompanying him, Paul Stevens and Tony Merry on a trip to Russia in Winter 1998. We had a hoot on the Kiel-Klaipeda ferry. The old bugger had all my spare cash playing cards. Will try and upload some photos at some stage…M
Mark R:
Ex Croome driver Martin Dobbie now works with me on Fowler Welch at Teynham.We also had another ex Croome man here for a while Cyril Gardiner.
Please pass on my regards to Martin, I hope he’s well. Cyril was ironically the catalyst for me starting a career at Croome after I’d read an article in Trucking International (think it was following a Fransen driver to Moscow). Cyril featured with a large mug of tea in hand (I believe a frequent sight!). Ironically he’d left Croome by the time I’d joined but had the pleasure of meeting him at a company reunion BBQ.
i used to work with a ex croome driver i think his name was ray warner (small bloke)
Sad to hear of the passing of Gordon Macmillan, met him many times over the years and liked to class him as a good mate, and truly nice feller. RIP Gordon
Ossie
Hi Matt. Just spotted this thread. Are you the Matt that came from Plymouth originally ■■
I’m jt jnr.
And the op titled little legs, is that ray Warner by any chance ■■
I often speak to some the lads all still going well except for Gordon and George Lunn rip. a loss of two real characters.
Not forgetting dear old Terry Pickett - top bloke and much younger than either when he went 
Would you be the fellow whose dad worked for Tosh and got you the job? I’d already escaped 
so we don’t know each other as such
Yes as said and badly forgotten by me Terry Pickett an absolute gentleman of the highest order.
And Charlie parsley also although not a driver in my time.
jj72:
Not forgetting dear old Terry Pickett - top bloke and much younger than either when he wentWould you be the fellow whose dad worked for Tosh and got you the job? I’d already escaped
That’d be me JJ but surprisingly Dad didnt get me the job, he never talked shop at home and I was away at Uni when we had to seek a years employment in the transport sector off our own back. It wasnt until after I’d got the job he mentioned that Croome did work for Tosh. Was quite funny as all the office gang (and drivers!) thought the same and were weary of me to start with. Happy days.
turnip:
Hi Matt. Just spotted this thread. Are you the Matt that came from Plymouth originally ■■
I’m jt jnr.
And the op titled little legs, is that ray Warner by any chance ■■
I often speak to some the lads all still going well except for Gordon and George Lunn rip. a loss of two real characters.
Thats the one JT, good to hear from you. Hope alls well ‘down yonder’. I’m still on Sheppey but working for a Global outfit @ LHR (Killer Commute!). Family all still down in Tavi and we’re often down that way every few months…now with kids in tow 
…Hows Father?
Matty Boy:
turnip:
Hi Matt. Just spotted this thread. Are you the Matt that came from Plymouth originally ■■
I’m jt jnr.
And the op titled little legs, is that ray Warner by any chance ■■
I often speak to some the lads all still going well except for Gordon and George Lunn rip. a loss of two real characters.Thats the one JT, good to hear from you. Hope alls well ‘down yonder’. I’m still on Sheppey but working for a Global outfit @ LHR (Killer Commute!). Family all still down in Tavi and we’re often down that way every few months…now with kids in tow
Well “father” has not really changed much ! Nuff said.
I’m back in biddy working for a local fridge outfit with father & Dai roderick. Married with 2 kids ( sound familiar ?) .
Paul stevens is still working for micheal out of lenham. I can fill you in on what a few of the others are doing too but would rather pm them. Let me know !
As for mr banks I see he has changed his profile name. ! Ask him what is was before.
Matty Boy:
And the rest…
‘Volvo FH12 (340bhp engines I think!) - Straight-frames’
240 - L89 GKM - Martin Dobbie
241 - L87 GKM - Gordon MacMillan
242 - L91 GKM - Tony O’Brien
243 - L94 GKM - Dave Banks
244 - L96 GKM - Malcom Baker
245 - L93 GKM - Laszlo Fuzes
246 - L98 GKM - Dave Wakefield
247 - L95 GKM - Pete Stoneman
248 - L92 GKM - John Everest
249 - L97 GKM - John Turner Snr
250 - M112 PKR - Brian Court
251 - M113 PKR - John Turner Jnr
252 - M114 PKR - Mike Thomas
253 - M115 PKR - George Lunn
254 - M634 ■■■ - Eamonn Tully
255 - M652 ■■■ - John (Farmer) Marsh
256 - N256 ■■■ - Ron AllenSome very happy as well as challenging times there. Great drivers and great business to/from Eastern Europe. will hopefully supply some more snaps and reminiscent yarns at some stage. MB
M634 RKM if you were wondering!
I’ve not driven now for 4-5 years, I was running the transport for a local stone company then got grand ideas of Transport management, got my international CPC then the recession hit. Now working for Croda chemicals in Leek, Staffordshire unloading/loading tankers(it pays the bills!) that’s where a driver told me about this site. I’ve been up this way for 10 years now, had several driving jobs since leaving Croome transport, milk tankers, tippers, even worked driving for the BBC for a while on outside broadcasting.
Some of you may not be aware of it, for the two years I was driving for Croome I didn’t have the right license! I passed my class 2/3 six months to late to qualify for grandfather rights on driving a drawbar, I could only tow a trailer up to 750kgs. I did ask Andy (I think that was his name, went to Murffits?) and he said it was ok for me and I never looked into it till after I left. I do recall they gave a job to a bloke with PSV license until it was spotted, I think he actually had C1E (7.5 Ton and trailer) still the picture looks like a drawbar next to it on your licence! I ended up doing my class one about six months after I’d left Croome’s
Good to see all those names that I’d forgotten. Shame about Gordon, George and Terry. Fine gentleman! Hello to JT Junior hope your keeping well say hello to Dai Roderick and your Dad for me! Matt, I think you started just before I left 1996/7?
I did bump into Lazlo on a ferry a few years ago, he doesn’t change!
Eamonn
I’ll dig some more photos out.
Latvia Border
That’s 14 Jan 1996
All Nice and New!!
