Harry Monk

[tango_boy]

merc0447:
I picture harry monk to be that auld guy in his avator and tbh if he isnt i would be extremely disappointed!

and me, the name deffo suits the pic i love it. leg end

[harry_monk]

I am just going to add that Gregory Distribution, who I do the vast majority of my work for, have been absolutely wonderful, supportive, understanding of my teething troubles, helpful in structuring work around my home life, and they pay on time, every time, virtually to the minute.

I’ve had dealings with Gregory’s for over 10 years now doing backload work and absolutely everybody who works there, office, warehouse, workshop, drivers is as friendly as could be, you couldn’t meet a nicer bunch of people.

They will take on newly-passed drivers as employees if they have the right attitude, professional, willing to learn, helpful etc and for any newbie in the West Country looking for a start, I would say you could do a lot worse.

[andy_smg]

Will keep an eye out for you Harry, now I know what your motor looks like.

[weewulliewinkie]

harry i,m surprised you and i hav,nt crossed paths before because ive done loads of work for gregory both curtainside and walking floors, mostly from scotland with theyre hayton coulthard connection, but ive spent many days and nights in collumpton, old sodbury, moulton,bedworth and many other gregory customers yards. now i know what your truck looks like im sure we will cross paths in the future. and yes i agree totally with everything you mentioned about gregory and the way they treat they,re subbies, good big company to do business with.

[turnip]

Harry Monk:
I am just going to add that Gregory Distribution, who I do the vast majority of my work for, have been absolutely wonderful, supportive, understanding of my teething troubles, helpful in structuring work around my home life, and they pay on time, every time, virtually to the minute.

I’ve had dealings with Gregory’s for over 10 years now doing backload work and absolutely everybody who works there, office, warehouse, workshop, drivers is as friendly as could be, you couldn’t meet a nicer bunch of people.

They will take on newly-passed drivers as employees if they have the right attitude, professional, willing to learn, helpful etc and for any newbie in the West Country looking for a start, I would say you could do a lot worse.

Devonians Harry ! Nuff said.

[bigvern1]

My Mrs is Devonian. 1 eye right in the middle of her head. Her brother is her Dad. Her Mother is her sister.And the dog has the family surname.

[rigsby]

you’ve made it big harry , when does the harry monk spotters club start ? open a shop quick , you could make a killing on the harry monk branded goods . you should be selling hi viz with harry monk or southern star on the back so we can recognise the dedicated spotters . i don’t know if signed photos would be wise though . harry monk for prime minister eh ?

[mucker85]

turnip:

Harry Monk:
I am just going to add that Gregory Distribution, who I do the vast majority of my work for, have been absolutely wonderful, supportive, understanding of my teething troubles, helpful in structuring work around my home life, and they pay on time, every time, virtually to the minute.

I’ve had dealings with Gregory’s for over 10 years now doing backload work and absolutely everybody who works there, office, warehouse, workshop, drivers is as friendly as could be, you couldn’t meet a nicer bunch of people.

They will take on newly-passed drivers as employees if they have the right attitude, professional, willing to learn, helpful etc and for any newbie in the West Country looking for a start, I would say you could do a lot worse.

Devonians Harry ! Nuff said.

yep.

[turnip]

bigvern1:
My Mrs is Devonian. 1 eye right in the middle of her head. Her brother is her Dad. Her Mother is her sister.And the dog has the family surname.

And you for a partner !

[silver_surfer]

I did see you in Tilbury docks last week H, he’s younger than you might think!

Just to reign in the Gregory’s love in a bit & speaking from experience, it’s the sort of job that if you “know” them as harry does then yes it can be a good touch but there also can be a LOT of empty running which pushes the reasonable job rates down, big time.

I’m sure they’re good for back loads but I wouldn’t recommend them for traction unless there’s a prior back scratching agreement in place.

[silver_surfer]

Also bear in mind H that it will be slower after Christmas.

[mickyblue]

turnip:

bigvern1:
My Mrs is Devonian. 1 eye right in the middle of her head. Her brother is her Dad. Her Mother is her sister.And the dog has the family surname.

And you for a partner !

You sure that’s Devon? sounds like Wisbeach to me

[bigvern1]

turnip:

bigvern1:
My Mrs is Devonian. 1 eye right in the middle of her head. Her brother is her Dad. Her Mother is her sister.And the dog has the family surname.

And you for a partner !

Well her luck had to change sometime!

[own_account_driver]

weewulliewinkie:
harry i,m surprised you and i hav,nt crossed paths before because ive done loads of work for gregory both curtainside and walking floors, mostly from scotland with theyre hayton coulthard connection, but ive spent many days and nights in collumpton, old sodbury, moulton,bedworth and many other gregory customers yards. now i know what your truck looks like im sure we will cross paths in the future. and yes i agree totally with everything you mentioned about gregory and the way they treat they,re subbies, good big company to do business with.

Think they’ve gone from the old TNT yard in Sodbury, it’s empty with just a plane in it now.

[toby1234abc]

I was told that the multi millionaire vacumn man did not like the noise from that yard and told them to quieter, they refused as it is an active yard, he bought the yard so it could be left empty.
His mansion is at the bottom of the valley with the view of Wales.

[bigvern1]

Who…J.Edgar Hoover,or that little Henry sucker?

[pete-b]

Silver_Surfer:
I did see you in Tilbury docks last week H, he’s younger than you might think!

Just to reign in the Gregory’s love in a bit & speaking from experience, it’s the sort of job that if you “know” them as harry does then yes it can be a good touch but there also can be a LOT of empty running which pushes the reasonable job rates down, big time.

I’m sure they’re good for back loads but I wouldn’t recommend them for traction unless there’s a prior back scratching agreement in place.

Agreed! Rates were ■■■■ poor And LOTS of empty unpaid miles

[harry_monk]

I would describe rates as “slightly above average for that type of work” although it’s not as much as I charge when I get my own work. Certainly, there’s at least one firm I know of with half a dozen or so trucks whose business model exists exclusively on subbing to them, and another which seems to have three or four permanently on for them. There’s a living in it.

I expect I’ll always do work for them as and when, but the whole point of Southern Star is that it is hopefully going to be a specialist exhibition, promotion and roadshow company and this is a stepping stone towards that, getting a trading history behind me and building a credit rating so that I’m ready to expand when we do come out of recession.

This will probably be the only way I stand a chance of ever seeing Istanbul again, and the prospect of that makes all the grief worth while!

[toby1234abc]

Not Henry the vacumn man, that is Mr Duncan down at Chard, it was one his employee`s that was murdered in that burnt out car in Somerset.
It is James Dyson, he did not like the dirty and noisy lorries in his back yard.

[goldfinger]

Harry Monk:

esser:
Pleasure to meet you and the Southern Cross outside Great Bear the other day. Regards Esser

Actually, it’s “Southern Star” if you don’t mind.

As this thread does have my name on it, I’ll just post a few pics of the old girl.

The day I went to view it. I travelled from Ramsgate in Kent to Bowburn in Durham to have a look. Most people thought I was a bit mad to go so far to see a truck, but I figure that if I’m going to have it for three years, it’s got to be worth spending a few hours on the train to get the right one.

The day I picked it up, about three weeks later.

The first job I did with it, about 90 minutes after I picked the old girl up I was hooking up to a Lucking’s trailer in the middle of Newcastle to take overnight to Shoreham-on-Sea in Sussex.

The vinyl graphics going on about three weeks later.

Near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.

Unloading in Aberdeen.

Next Spring I’m going to have some detailing work done, front grille colour-coded and then the horizontals shadowed in gunmetal vinyl, but for now I think she looks fine, and it’s a lovely truck to live in, with the flat floor particularly.

For anyone living in Kent, if there is another truck show at Lydden Hill next year, I’ll probably show her there, mainly so me and the kids can have a cheap weekend camping and watching the motor racing, so keep an eye out for that, around early July 2013 and come and say “Hello” if you go.

Otherwise, look out for me on the road and give me a wave, or if you see me parked up on a break, come up and introduce yourself, it’s always good to make contacts, whoever they are and I’m very rarely too busy to chat.

So that’s where she went!

I’ve seen that truck many a time up here. Always thought if I ever became an O/D, I wouldn’t need to change the decals etc. I shared the same surname.