I wrote a reply to BigG-Unit and Curnock but it has not been posted any ideas fellers, what did I do wrong may have clicked save by mistake, where are posts saved 
Hi ciggy110, You can click on quote on post you want to reply to, or click on postreply at bottom of page. When you have written your reply, best to click on Preview to check it ,then click on Submit and should be job done. All the best, BigG-Unit.
you are right Curnock, Carl married Bill Bodens eldest daughter Eileen and was transport manager for Bill.
I drove 3 trucks from new for Bill an Albion Reiver lad (5115 DH ) a 24t Big J8 ( GDH 36H ) and last but not least a 30t Big J8 with a ■■■■■■■ 220 I could push this beast up to 70mph fully loaded. We did a lot of work through Spencer Abbot and Kendricks.
When Carl left to start his own business I went with him to drive his only truck a D series luton van ( POG something ) I believe it stood in the corner of his yard at Northcote Street for some years.
I took over the workshop in Sid Tappers yard in Rolling Mill St,and after a few moves ie across the road into Derek Hortons garage, then up to Leamore, down to John Stokes Forgings I finally finished up at District Works Birchills Street where I stayed until ill health forced me to pack up in 2002 .
I’m still in constant touch with Carl through Email and he’s suffering with knee and back trouble as am I ( probably caused by doing so much kneeling praying for customers to pay up ) LOL. I have sent him this URL so I expect to see a post from him on these pages.
Getting back to Boden’s a few drivers names that spring to mind are: Alf Chiltern, Howard Jenkins, Bunny Clews, Tommy Gough (deceased ) Tex, (deceased ) Horace, Jimmy, and Johny Lycett who I think is still driving for a woodworking firm in Leamore.
The photo of the Guy Big J8 could well be my old ■■■■■■■ as it caused quite a bit of interest ( and a bit of jealousy ) when it arrived new from Mayfair Garage Fazeley Tamworth.
Transport in Walsall what about Wheway Watson the chainmakers, just up from Carls yard and Allports Transport I know it was in Sutton but not far from Walsall.
I think that will do for now the old grey cells are slowing down, but I’d still like to know where your Post goes when you press save by mistake. C Yall
How are you all?, thinking back, Tom Nichols pal Phill Jenkins he ran some 6wheeled Scammell T45s and I think a Saviem SM32240 from Bilston, off Vulcan Rd, near to Beck and Politzers and Starr Roadways, around the corner from Astons. Phill was from Delves, the Walsall connection, originally drove for Reg Cooper and then a beautiful Mandator for Listers Gas at West Bromwich. No wonder he could afford a Norton Atlas!! Cheerio.
here a still i’ve taken a cine film not very good pic of a savem my dad use to run in the 70’s out of west bromwich
Saviem:
How are you all?, thinking back, Tom Nichols pal Phill Jenkins he ran some 6wheeled Scammell T45s and I think a Saviem SM32240 from Bilston, off Vulcan Rd, near to Beck and Politzers and Starr Roadways, around the corner from Astons. Phill was from Delves, the Walsall connection, originally drove for Reg Cooper and then a beautiful Mandator for Listers Gas at West Bromwich. No wonder he could afford a Norton Atlas!! Cheerio.
jenkins had a contract with boresteel in brockhurst cresent delves
heres a pic of uniforce circa 60,s 70,swas up top of brownhills then i think they moved to bloxwich■■?,.driver is amos smith trailer mate is peter smith
Hello Poacher58, and everybody, Uniforce, now theres a name to conjour with. Amos complained the FB88 was not pulling very well. Hartshornes could not sort the problem, so an appointment was made for Volvos Regional Engineer to test the unit out. I can still remember the expression of disbelief on Malcolm Rudges face (Volvos Engineer) when Amos trundled into Hartshornes yard, (some of you will remember just how tight access could be) with the complete outfit well laden with a full compliment of Crane weights filling the entire trailer, with that sort of “rolling and bowing motion” that only outfits in excess of 90tons seem able to proceed!!! All that with 240hp,oh happy days, sadly long gone. Cheerio.
Saviem:
Hello Poacher58, and everybody, Uniforce, now theres a name to conjour with. Amos complained the FB88 was not pulling very well. Hartshornes could not sort the problem, so an appointment was made for Volvos Regional Engineer to test the unit out. I can still remember the expression of disbelief on Malcolm Rudges face (Volvos Engineer) when Amos trundled into Hartshornes yard, (some of you will remember just how tight access could be) with the complete outfit well laden with a full compliment of Crane weights filling the entire trailer, with that sort of “rolling and bowing motion” that only outfits in excess of 90tons seem able to proceed!!! All that with 240hp,oh happy days, sadly long gone. Cheerio.
HAHAHAHA’ Even my missus who knows f…all about transport is still rolling about laughing…
Hello Wagsie, you keep late hours! In my rush to get out on the tractor I never concluded the storey. Malcolm declined to drive the outfit, weight, regulation breech, (fear )■■? Anyway after some skillfull shunting Amos turned the outfit round (remember how tight the yard was) and with Malcolm in the passenger seat sort of floated away down the access road. The entire Hartshorne staff then went back to work!! Next thing is we see the top of the FB88 going south down the M6!! (remember there were no buildings blocking the view then across Bentley Mill Lane) oh dear, Malcolm according to his debrief was by then trying to get under the dashboard, (and those who knew Malcolm will confirm he was not a shrinking violet)! Having never travelled at such velocity, or weight! I cannot remember how the issue was resolved, but it must have been, because the lack of power was not mentioned again, lack of brakes, yes, power no. Gosh the memories flood back, most are funny, and the real characters that seemed to be about then, but I have to get work done, (irrigation, despite the rain), will try again, and see if I can get some of my photos on, (Bill Bodens Big J, Everitts Seddon, Heads FB86 Peartrees and Jenkins Saviems etc), but I aint good with this electric wizardry! but I will give it a go! Cheerio for now.
Hello all, well it looks like this thread is expiring! Last one from me, Keith Mallen, Ablewell st, Antique man, Bedford Marsdens, (one written off in Belgium) and a very nice day cab Scania 80, I think Bill Wright supplied it from B&W in Derry St.Had a spread axle box behind it, used to park them on Hills cafe so they could be seen from the M6, gave image of" big operation"!! The 80 ended up in Clive Smiths (Comart) at Stoke on Trent, ownership, I bet it did do some miles, probably knew its own way to Italy!! she was J reg, Cheerio, last one put the lights out!!
yes mate carl some to work at bakers when i was there then he moved on i moved to chambers and cook after a while i got carl a job there know we both work at pma logistics tipton keith is workin for a firm over walsall way.
Saviem:
Hello all, well it looks like this thread is expiring! Last one from me, Keith Mallen, Ablewell st, Antique man, Bedford Marsdens, (one written off in Belgium) and a very nice day cab Scania 80, I think Bill Wright supplied it from B&W in Derry St.Had a spread axle box behind it, used to park them on Hills cafe so they could be seen from the M6, gave image of" big operation"!! The 80 ended up in Clive Smiths (Comart) at Stoke on Trent, ownership, I bet it did do some miles, probably knew its own way to Italy!! she was J reg, Cheerio, last one put the lights out!!
I remember when Keith Mallen had the Scania 80 new and probably serviced it a few times too, I was talking to Bill Wright at Oswestry the other week, he’s still selling trucks !
Saviem:
Hello all, well it looks like this thread is expiring! Last one from me, Keith Mallen, Ablewell st, Antique man, Bedford Marsdens, (one written off in Belgium) and a very nice day cab Scania 80, I think Bill Wright supplied it from B&W in Derry St.Had a spread axle box behind it, used to park them on Hills cafe so they could be seen from the M6, gave image of" big operation"!! The 80 ended up in Clive Smiths (Comart) at Stoke on Trent, ownership, I bet it did do some miles, probably knew its own way to Italy!! she was J reg, Cheerio, last one put the lights out!!
theres a couple of mallins scania 80 on this site somewhere
Hello Curnock, Bill is probably the only real lorry salesman left in the Midlands, if not the country! He must have had a passport to get to Oswestry, or found out that its a wicked town! Or maybe he has finally made a takeover for ■■■■ Phillips territory!! Cheerio.
Sorry Trev H, old tired and dyslexic, long day in the rain, apologies Curnock, any idea where the pictures are?? Cheerio.
cant remember its been a few months back,but deffo on here somwhere !!!
curnock:
i worked for carl sharman early 90’s,he had an old photo of a boden 8 wheeler tipper on the office wall.i’m sure billy boden was his father in law.
Hi Curnock, Carl dug this out of his attic for me. Its a photo of part of Bill Bodens fleet, some of his Albion Reiver LADs and thats me by my Big J 8
found a few photos on the net of rushall village near walsall taken 1954.older drivers will remember rushall was a through route from north to south pre m42.i in my school days spent many a dinner break sitting on the george and dragon pub (now mcdonalds) watchin the endless stream of wagons …
Hi currnock, Love the photos mate! I keep studying them, but still can’t work out what’s what! I moved up to Clayhanger in 1964, then to various places around, and must have been through there thousands of times, but there just seem too many roads off to me! Mind you, I’ve been over here since '94 and my mind ain’t what it used to be! 
Which road is from Walsall wood?