i worked at this firm from 1970 to 1973 i read an article on this web site by a guy named frenchy,i would like to know who it is,i started as a spare driver for the first year then got lumbered driving an old a.e.c which was tarted up at the 0rset depot.it took another year before i got my own new e.r.f.
scareycarey:
i worked at this firm from 1970 to 1973 i read an article on this web site by a guy named frenchy,i would like to know who it is,i started as a spare driver for the first year then got lumbered driving an old a.e.c which was tarted up at the 0rset depot.it took another year before i got my own new e.r.f.
Best you post this on Long departed soton hauliers you’ll get your answer then
I worked for Henry Smithers in Soton about 73 ish.
Frenchy you mentioned is Robin Pike ( brother of John ) who now resides in France.
If you go way back on the Soton thread you will find a photo of me and Robin sat
in our Big J,s.
mappo:
I worked for Henry Smithers in Soton about 73 ish.
Frenchy you mentioned is Robin Pike ( brother of John ) who now resides in France.
If you go way back on the Soton thread you will find a photo of me and Robin sat
in our Big J,s.
thanks for the info,i left henry smithers mid 73 and went to sillcock and collings,i think you must have joined after that because i dont remember your names,i was based in a small office in the back of lex tillotson redbridge,they were building the new yard at the time,a year after i left denny dixon who was a shop steward at smithers came to work at sillcocks,i had a good time there with some good mates, bill, parker, terry white,and lots more,sadly denny dixon died and i hear a few more as well,i have only just joined truck net its a good site,i am still trying to find my way around it,my name is ken carey,thanks for replying.
scareycarey:
mappo:
I worked for Henry Smithers in Soton about 73 ish.
Frenchy you mentioned is Robin Pike ( brother of John ) who now resides in France.
If you go way back on the Soton thread you will find a photo of me and Robin sat
in our Big J,s.thanks for the info,i left henry smithers mid 73 and went to sillcock and collings,i think you must have joined after that because i dont remember your names,i was based in a small office in the back of lex tillotson redbridge,they were building the new yard at the time,a year after i left denny dixon who was a shop steward at smithers came to work at sillcocks,i had a good time there with some good mates, bill, parker, terry white,and lots more,sadly denny dixon died and i hear a few more as well,i have only just joined truck net its a good site,i am still trying to find my way around it,my name is ken carey,thanks for replying.
…
Hello scareycarey
Here are a few more names you might remember from that peroid Dave Jack(Jacko) Reg Hayball(Rabbit) Alan Parsons and Les tull.
I will post more names and photos later.
Here you go Mappo the big Js
Regards Jacko
Henry Smithers started in Southampton in the early 70s the company was owed by OCL (Part of the P&O group)
They were based at Lex Tillison the Leyland Daf garage.They then moved to Rushington Lane in Totton before moving to Nursling Industrial estate where they are based now.I believe Henry Smithers were originally a small London based transport company brought out by OCL for there O licences.The firm was initially set up in Southampton to haul OCL containers out of Southampton docks but also done general haulage.They also had a depot in Orsett in London.The company changed name in the early 80s to P&O Roadways.In the 90s the name changed again to Roadways Container Logistics.In 2005 the company were brought out by Mearsk line a sad end to a once respected company.In 2008 the company were brought out again by Aegeus Transport a privately owed company.In 2014 the company were taken over for the last time by Maritime transport.
My Dad joined the Company in 1972 and worked there till he retired.(38 years in total)
Here are some names of the original drivers
Bill Parker
Alan Parsons
■■■■ Chenery
Mike Hennessy
Terry White (Dart Contract)
Les Tull (Dart Contract)
Fred Peach (Dart Contract)
Denny Dixon (Dart Contract)
Reg Hayball (Dart Contract night man)
Ken Carey
Dave Jack
Bob Mcleish
Transport Managers were Glyn Davis who later started up Russell Davis and Jim Brooks who later ran a Ferry Masters depot.
Here are some photos of Henry Smithers lorries the green and white livery was used in the 70s the lorries were painted green and white the same has OCL Ships.
This is a photo of my dad Dave Jack(Jacko)
This is another photo of dad Dave Jack(Jacko)
This lorry was driven by my grandad
Here are some photos of the lorries that were on Dart Contract
These new Volvo F7s just arrived for pre inspection
Here are some photos of the original drivers they would all stay with the company untill they retired
From L/R Dave Jack,Bill Parker and Terry White
Reg Hayball (Rabbit)
Regards Jacko
In the 80s the colour scheme changed to blue and white of P&O with the P&O flag on the door
This is a photo of my grandad stood next to one of many Volvo F7s that P&O ran
Heres one that Bubbleman took
Another photo of dad Dave Jack(Jacko)
In the late 80s early 90s the colour scheme changed again with the dark blue and white with the P&O flag on the door dropping Henry Smithers totally
Again dad Dave Jack(Jacko)
I think Henry Smither’s motors ran out of ISR Hythe in the 70s,mostly “A” Series ERFs IIRC.
mappo:
I worked for Henry Smithers in Soton about 73 ish.
Frenchy you mentioned is Robin Pike ( brother of John ) who now resides in France.
If you go way back on the Soton thread you will find a photo of me and Robin sat
in our Big J,s.
…
Hello scareycarey
Here are a few more names you might remember from that peroid Dave Jack(Jacko) Reg Hayball(Rabbit) Alan Parsons and Les tull.
I will post more names and photos later.
Here you go Mappo the big Js
Regards Jacko
Thanks for digging that out Jacko,
that,s me on the right as you look at it…with all the crap in the windscreen including a transistor radio.
Well there was nowhere else to put it.
Bit different to what I,m driving now.
In the mid 90s the P&O Roadways sign Writing was removed and replaced with the Roadways logo
In earily 2000 Roadways Container Logistics was added to the doors and to the front of the lorries
In 2005 the Container side of P&O were brought out by Maersk Line.In 2008 the colour scheme changed to white keeping the Roadways logo and Roadways container logistics sign writing.
Regards Jacko
That has got to be the best ever history lesson that I have scrolled through, many thanks, like so many I never worked there but did notice the trucks as you passed them on the road.
A couple of pics from John Pike, Frenchy’s brother
Regards Pat
What was the craic with the spoilers on the F7s ?
Suedehead:
What was the craic with the spoilers on the F7s ?
…
Hello Suedehead
Thanks for the kind words of the history lesson.All the photos that have been put on are of Southampton based lorries P&O had depots all over the country.The spoilers did look a bit odd,to me they look like big advertising boards 
Regards Jacko
Thanks Jacko. Some really good pictures. Brings back some good memories of when I went with my Dad in the school holidays. I remember the coffee machine in the drivers room where he would get me a cup of hot chocolate on those very early cold winter mornings while the lorry was warming up.
Please add Bob McLeish to the list.
Give my regards to your Dad.
Anthony.
R-JACKO:
In the mid 90s the P&O Roadways sign Writing was removed and replaced with the Roadways logo
Thanks for posting the pictures of the P&O motors R-jacko , i remember seeing those fodens on the A34 regularly, there weren’t too many of the smaller 3300 series fodens around , but something i did notice, was that southampton P & O depot seemed to operate more 4x2 units than the other P&O depots namely felixstowe ,for some reason…
roadcruiser:
R-JACKO:
In the mid 90s the P&O Roadways sign Writing was removed and replaced with the Roadways logo
Thanks for posting the pictures of the P&O motors R-jacko , i remember seeing those fodens on the A34 regularly, there weren’t too many of the smaller 3300 series fodens around , but something i did notice, was that southampton P & O depot seemed to operate more 4x2 units than the other P&O depots namely felixstowe ,for some reason…
.,…
Hello roadcruiser
The main reason why the Southampton Depot ran more 4x2 units than any other depot was the fact they done a lot of China Clay containers up from Cornwall to Southampton Docks.The company brought mainly VOLVO F7/FL7 and 3300 Fodens.With a uprated 20ft skeleton trailer the lorries could gross nearly as much as a 38tonner doing the same job,if i remember correctly the load weight would have been about 23ton with the container.
Regards Jacko