Hey eammon ! How’s it going ? I will certainly say hi to the ol fella & Dai ! Good to know your still around !
did croomes ever employ welshboy john brain
rward:
did croomes ever employ welshboy john brain
Yes, John Brain was a driver for Croome for a time. From memory he had 258. I’ll look to send the fleet list again as the company and fleet grew as many not mentioned on the list. MB
Hi Eamonn, good to hear from you and nice pics btw. Remember some of your exploits and recall you used to do quite a few runs coupled with John Marsh. Prob just the way it worked out. Let me know how you upload old pics (?) as I’ve got quite a few from my time there. Cheers
Matty Boy:
Hi Eamonn, good to hear from you and nice pics btw. Remember some of your exploits and recall you used to do quite a few runs coupled with John Marsh. Prob just the way it worked out. Let me know how you upload old pics (?) as I’ve got quite a few from my time there. Cheers
First, goto: photobucket.com/ Open an account, upload your photo or photos. When you’ve done that you’ll see a box at the side of your picture on photobucket. Click on the box to the right of “IMG Code” it’ll say copied. (see photo below) Right click on the text box you want the picture in and select paste and it’ll put in the link to the photo and when you click “preview” at the bottom of your message you’ll see the photo appear!
When you paste it in, it should look something like this:
http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t493/eamonn/DSC00156.jpg
Hope this helps
Eamonn
Eamonn T:
First, goto: photobucket.com/ Open an account, upload your photo or photos. Eamonn
It doesn’t cost you anything either!!
Welcome to the forum Eamonn, glad you made it. (we won’t mention forgetting the name of it 
) I’m the bloke who told you about the Croome thread on here.
Ross.
PS, I might see you next week with some more fish oil
turnip:
Hey eammon ! How’s it going ? I will certainly say hi to the ol fella & Dai ! Good to know your still around !
Pass this on to Dai for me:
Me and Dai in Moscow, waiting to clear customs. I think we had those shirts on from china that we’d loaded out of Dagenham docks! That’s Dai in the picture
Does Dai still say “I was Born Happy!”
Sorry can’t remember the other two’s names (Mick and Bob?), picture taken at Ziesars near Berlin.
A “Nice day in Latvia!”
My Second home, Tambrands in Keiv, Ukraine! Waited there once for 7 days to clear customs 
Happy Days!?
I’ll have to scan some more John, we did have some laughs along the way.
Certainly had some laughs mate.
Mick “palmer” seems to ring a bell. Met him a couple of years after I left , he was on for aa Griggs out of sittiingbourne ! The other guy I recognise but didn’t really know. Dai does indeed say " born happy" still. And he’s still a fruit loop.
turnip:
Certainly had some laughs mate.
Mick “palmer” seems to ring a bell. Met him a couple of years after I left , he was on for aa Griggs out of sittiingbourne ! The other guy I recognise but didn’t really know. Dai does indeed say " born happy" still. And he’s still a fruit loop.
The other guy is Bob Chester, hailed from Gillingham. Nice guy. Think he started in the RHD ‘105’ (Ironically Mick Palmers 1st Motor) then moved into a P-Reg (364) I’ll upload the later fleet stuff at some stage when I have some time. Recall Bob once telling me that a load of Eastern European drivers were Q-skipping @ Ffurt-Oder and he’d had enough of it so pulled-out and went after them. Being in 105/RHD he produced a hammer and smashed their Driver side mirrors as he drove past them all and went straight to the border demanding to be let through before he caused the biggest fight the nation would ever witness. To his surprise they let him straight through! Mind you - being 6’+ and looking like he could ‘weather a few rounds’ they probably did the right thing!
Eamonn T:
Matty Boy:
Hi Eamonn, good to hear from you and nice pics btw. Remember some of your exploits and recall you used to do quite a few runs coupled with John Marsh. Prob just the way it worked out. Let me know how you upload old pics (?) as I’ve got quite a few from my time there. CheersFirst, goto: photobucket.com/ Open an account, upload your photo or photos. When you’ve done that you’ll see a box at the side of your picture on photobucket. Click on the box to the right of “IMG Code” it’ll say copied. (see photo below) Right click on the text box you want the picture in and select paste and it’ll put in the link to the photo and when you click “preview” at the bottom of your message you’ll see the photo appear!
Hope this helps
Eamonn
Cheers for the tip Eamonn - I’ll get on with uploading at some stage and drop a few on here.
littlelegs:
gordon macmillan passed away three weeks ago R.I.P
Littlelegs - would you by any chance be Ray Warner - Used to drive 244?
Matty Boy:
littlelegs:
gordon macmillan passed away three weeks ago R.I.PLittlelegs - would you by any chance be Ray Warner - Used to drive 244?
Was wondering the same thing !!!
bigr250:
Eamonn T:
First, goto: photobucket.com/ Open an account, upload your photo or photos. EamonnIt doesn’t cost you anything either!!
Welcome to the forum Eamonn, glad you made it. (we won’t mention forgetting the name of it
Ross.
PS, I might see you next week with some more fish oil
Hi Ross, should have asked your name at our yard. We’ve got tuna oil coming in next week so Borchard’s (Liverpool) will probably be delivering that. Does your firm sub for them, if so might see you!
Eamonn T:
Hi Ross, should have asked your name at our yard. We’ve got tuna oil coming in next week so Borchard’s (Liverpool) will probably be delivering that. Does your firm sub for them, if so might see you!
I pulled two tanks out of the dock today for next week, we don’t sub for Borchard we work direct for the shipping company, Borchrd are obviously higher up ‘the food chain’ I think we only get it if they’re too busy with their own work.
Might see you next week
Ross.
Matty Boy:
rward:
did croomes ever employ welshboy john brainYes, John Brain was a driver for Croome for a time. From memory he had 258. I’ll look to send the fleet list again as the company and fleet grew as many not mentioned on the list. MB
Fleet and Driver list from around the turn of the century (from my ever greying memory…so welcome any feedback and corrections!)
181 - H556 DKR - Dave Banks (UK Shunter)
182 - H557 DKR - Brian Pilgrim (prior to Brian - Eric Pocock from S.Wales)
183 - H558 DKR - Mel Stevens
184 - H559 DKR - Steve “Santa” Redsell
185 - K144 SKP - Bob Chester
186 - K149 SKP - Roger Hearn
187 - K150 SKP - Bill Moore (ex-Middle East chap from Devon)
188 - K154 SKP - Tony O’Brien (UK Shunter)
240 - L89 GKM - John Brain
241 - L87 GKM - Gordon MacMillan
242 - L91 GKM - Steve Barron (is he still hauling chickens up nr his hometown of Hull?)
243 - L94 GKM - Paul Stevens
244 - L96 GKM - Ray “Littlelegs” Warner
245 - L93 GKM - Laszlo Fuzes
246 - L98 GKM - Ian MacDonald
247 - L95 GKM - Pete Stoneman
248 - L92 GKM - John Chapman (ye olde pony-tailed one from S.Wales)
249 - L97 GKM - Nigel Smith (who started this thread)
250 - M112 PKR - Chris Oram
251 - M113 PKR - John Turner Jnr
252 - M114 PKR - Mike Thomas
253 - M115 PKR - John Curry
254 - M634 RKM - Sean Steedman (Formerly of Eagle Freight)
255 - M652 RKM - Chris “Bungalow” Mynard
256 - N256 ■■■ - Nick “Stress” Doherty
257 - N86 YKK - Jim Broder
258 - N?? ■■■ - Terry Pickett
259 - N281 BKL - John Jones
Matty Boy:
Matty Boy:
rward:
did croomes ever employ welshboy john brainYes, John Brain was a driver for Croome for a time. From memory he had 258. I’ll look to send the fleet list again as the company and fleet grew as many not mentioned on the list. MB
Fleet and Driver list from around the turn of the century (from my ever greying memory…so welcome any feedback and corrections!)
181 - H556 DKR - Dave Banks (UK Shunter)
182 - H557 DKR - Brian Pilgrim (prior to Brian - Eric Pocock from S.Wales)
183 - H558 DKR - Mel Stevens
184 - H559 DKR - Steve “Santa” Redsell
185 - K144 SKP - Bob Chester
186 - K149 SKP - Roger Hearn
187 - K150 SKP - Bill Moore (ex-Middle East chap from Devon)
188 - K154 SKP - Tony O’Brien (UK Shunter)
240 - L89 GKM - John Brain
241 - L87 GKM - Gordon MacMillan
242 - L91 GKM - Steve Barron (is he still hauling chickens up nr his hometown of Hull?)
243 - L94 GKM - Paul Stevens
244 - L96 GKM - Ray “Littlelegs” Warner
245 - L93 GKM - Laszlo Fuzes
246 - L98 GKM - Ian MacDonald
247 - L95 GKM - Pete Stoneman
248 - L92 GKM - John Chapman (ye olde pony-tailed one from S.Wales)
249 - L97 GKM - Nigel Smith (who started this thread)
250 - M112 PKR - Chris Oram
251 - M113 PKR - John Turner Jnr
252 - M114 PKR - Mike Thomas
253 - M115 PKR - John Curry
254 - M634 RKM - Sean Steedman (Formerly of Eagle Freight)
255 - M652 RKM - Chris “Bungalow” Mynard
256 - N256 ■■■ - Nick “Stress” Doherty
257 - N86 YKK - Jim Broder
258 - N?? ■■■ - Terry Pickett
259 - N281 BKL - John Jones
The one and only Tony ‘smooth operator’ Merry also drove 251
Newer Volvo FH ‘POD’ Fleet and some of the regular drivers around 2002. Some of the drivers switched back to the older ‘Globetrotter’ Fleet as they became available (also shown) Again I’ll stand corrected for those whose brain cells are still fully functional!
360 - R67 GKM - Albert Smith
361 - R71 GKM - Any takers?
362 - P620 - Malcolm Sanders (244)
363 - P621 - Dave Banks
364 - P622 - Bob Chester
365 - R72 GKM - Colin Bell
366 - John (ex-watchmaker-■■■-truckdriver: an interesting Career change)
367 - Sean Steedman (254)
368 - Nick Doherty (256)
369 - Steve Marsh (John Marsh’s son)
370 - Clive Brown
371 - Malcom ‘Sergeant’ Wilson (242)
372 - Bill Arnold
The 101, 132, 161 and 181 series were eventually sold to Fairground or Circus outfits and I believe a couple went down to a Greek buyer (186/187). 134 I think ended up in Bulgaria or Romania. Some of the 240/250 series were eventually sold to Croome Franchisee hauliers based in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia (notably 240, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 258 plus some of the 360’s in the end). The cab of 362 was pretty much destroyed in a nasty accident (I think in Austria). The Bulgarian driver (who was not at fault) managed to survive, how, nobody knows, as the cab was a complete wreck. Ray and Barry Acott completely rebuilt the cab to its former glory (with a little help from Jimmy Acott on the electrics!) We also had our fair share of ‘overturns’. Steve Price in 135 in Germany I believe, and I recall a Lithuanian driver in N.Ireland doing the same with a full load of 2nd hand clothing. Messy. James was ‘on-call’ at a BBQ we were all at when he got the call from the N.Ireland constabulary. I remember his face draining of colour! 
Matty Boy:
Newer Volvo FH ‘POD’ Fleet and some of the regular drivers around 2002. Some of the drivers switched back to the older ‘Globetrotter’ Fleet as they became available (also shown) Again I’ll stand corrected for those whose brain cells are still fully functional!
360 - R67 GKM - Albert Smith
361 - R71 GKM - Any takers?
362 - P620 - Malcolm Sanders (244)
363 - P621 - Dave Banks
364 - P622 - Bob Chester
365 - R72 GKM - Colin Bell
366 - John (ex-watchmaker-■■■-truckdriver: an interesting Career change)
367 - Sean Steedman (254)
368 - Nick Doherty (256)
369 - Steve Marsh (John Marsh’s son)
370 - Clive Brown
371 - Malcom ‘Sergeant’ Wilson (242)
372 - Bill Arnold
The 101, 132, 161 and 181 series were eventually sold to Fairground or Circus outfits and I believe a couple went down to a Greek buyer (186/187). 134 I think ended up in Bulgaria or Romania. Some of the 240/250 series were eventually sold to Croome Franchisee hauliers based in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia (notably 240, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 258 plus some of the 360’s in the end). The cab of 362 was pretty much destroyed in a nasty accident (I think in Austria). The Bulgarian driver (who was not at fault) managed to survive, how, nobody knows, as the cab was a complete wreck. Ray and Barry Acott completely rebuilt the cab to its former glory (with a little help from Jimmy Acott on the electrics!) We also had our fair share of ‘overturns’. Steve Price in 135 in Germany I believe, and I recall a Lithuania driver in N.Ireland doing the same with a full load of 2nd hand clothing. Messy. James was ‘on-call’ at a BBQ we were all at when he got the call from the N.Ireland constabulary. I remember his face draining of colour!
Think Chris Mynard had 361 to start with now my brain is working…
Hi Matt. Steve baron is now hauling glass out of goole !
Pete stoneman is back in the woods cutting trees, so the world is a safer place.
Banksy is on spar deliveries out of saltash.
A couple of lads are residing in Denmark but 1 probably doesn’t want the world to know so no names.
Myself , Dai roderick & snr are all on for m&d out of Devon on hanging meat.
Ron Allen is running his own van doing hot shots for a car manufacturer.
John & Steve marsh are working for a Dover based haulage company but name escapes me ! ( active maybe ).
John brain last time I saw him was pulling a fridge on channel
Hop work. But splits his time between uk & phillipines where he has a wife :-/
Ian McDonald is on maritime out of Brum.
Paul stevens & a few others are working for micheal croome !
If I think of more ill be back on.
Any idea what mike Thomas is doing now ■■
turnip:
Hi Matt. Steve baron is now hauling glass out of goole !
Pete stoneman is back in the woods cutting trees, so the world is a safer place.
Banksy is on spar deliveries out of saltash.
A couple of lads are residing in Denmark but 1 probably doesn’t want the world to know so no names.
Myself , Dai roderick & snr are all on for m&d out of Devon on hanging meat.
Ron Allen is running his own van doing hot shots for a car manufacturer.
John & Steve marsh are working for a Dover based haulage company but name escapes me ! ( active maybe ).
John brain last time I saw him was pulling a fridge on channel
Hop work. But splits his time between uk & phillipines where he has a wife :-/
Ian McDonald is on maritime out of Brum.
Paul stevens & a few others are working for micheal croome !
If I think of more ill be back on.Any idea what mike Thomas is doing now ■■
Good to see the update on a few of the guys. Last I heard, Mike was working for Mike Beer out of Dover. In his last yr at Croome he did a carnival float for a group Im involved with…will have to upload the pics (amongst others). Think Colin Bell also went to work for Alcaline out of Lympne. Seeing Stoneman chopping wood makes me laugh. Have you seen the Kids film ‘Hoodwinked’? He IS the woodcutter (LOL). Who are M&D pulling the hanging for these days…much cross-channel work? I thought North Devon Meat closed down a few years ago.