Any one know who this charoot sucking chap is , always in alight or not
Buzzer:
Any one know who this charoot sucking chap is , always in alight or not
Dunno John…but the dogs the prettiest… 
He was a good dog Buster we had him for 14 years and he now rests in our garden not to far from his old basket, he did miles on the carriage with me and our other lab Molly. She is getting on a bit now as well and not quite so nimble any more but they are unconditional and it hurts when its time for them to go, JD.
JD … Didn’t you have one called " Deefer " ( D for Dog ) at one time? Or was that one of your little jokes?
With all this talk of cows and dogs , I feel I should relate a story of something that happened about two weeks ago.
A Cautionary Tale. Or should that be Tail…
I’m currently living on a farm in County Cork. My Landlord , one Cornellius O’Sullivan , has 150 acres , with a good herd of cattle and countless sheep.
I was at home a while back when there was frantic knocking on the door and shouting. " Quick , come and help, Sammy’s dead in the yard! " Sammy being his faithful tractor and JCB dog. I rushed outside and sure enough there he was , spread eagled facedown in the mud. Con lifted him up by the back legs and I frantically beat the dogs chest. We then had the idea of getting oxygen into him by way of the farm oxy acetylene welding set. We pushed the nozzle into his mouth and turned it on full blast… Amazingly , Sam started to show signs of life whilst emitting copious amounts of drool and goo… 10 minutes later he was up and about , although a bit groggy. However, as I write this he’s out there in the yard " with not a bother on him " as they say round here.
The cause of his near demise? Fumes from the slurry pit.
Con had been stirring up the slurry with some sort of PTO driven stirring machine…
I said to Con that we’d saved Sams life , but he reckons Sam saved his, as he was about to venture into the cow shed when Sam collapsed.
I’m sure any farmer types reading this are aware of the dangers , and I’ve read many times in the papers of deaths in similar circumstances , but this was a lesson in just how quick things can happen.
Anyway. Cue the theme from The Archers and let’s get back to Andrews Holiday Snaps… 
I thought you’d given up the cancer sticks Buzzer.
Matsolex with Steve Matthews.
Haven’t seen Mappo on here for a bit, is he OK ?.. 
Gazzer I aint had a roly since 2008 but I keep naggin Horry cos he does. Fergie I aint heard any thing about Mappo less he gone to a fashion conference you know wot he;s like Buzzer.
Gazzer…
Did Matsolex have any units or was it all O/ D ’ s ?
Cheers.
Balders.
Balders I did a bit of traction for Matsolex think Jack Feccitt had a bit to do with them, remember John Compton also another fella from Redlynch pulled for them. Jack had a pub in that village as well. Used to take stuff down just short of Bordeaux to build oil rigs, come to think of it I think they had a green 1626 Merc was it Graham who drove it would’nt pull the skin of a hot rice pudding, M H memories there balders cheers Buzzer.
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Baldrick1953:
Gazzer…
Did Matsolex have any units or was it all O/ D ’ s ?Cheers.
Balders.
Hi Balders,
Hope all is well with you in the Emerald Isle, I seem to remember a chap called Martin Wright (The Bald Eagle) driving for them as an employed driver,I think he went into the office later on,Matsolex became part of Group Charles Andre, Peter Rogerson,David Dunnett,Paul Bowring,& Mike Hunt were in the office,David’s mother was the blonde lady in the film “Hell Drivers” Peggy ■■■■■■■■■
We did a fair bit of work for them,good company,I put this high powered truck !! on for them doing Belgium & Holland groupage every week driven by Mike Mott.
Regards
Richard
Richard, was Mike Mott the little, short of hair chappie? I only say this as I used to pull the self same trailer on occasions doing Belguim Holland groupage (not the best job in the world 
) whilst on for RS Hills. Always shipped Tuesday night through Ramsgate on the dreaded Shiafino line and came home Le Havre Saturday morning.
Peter
Peter 1961:
Richard, was Mike Mott the little, short of hair chappie? I only say this as I used to pull the self same trailer on occasions doing Belguim Holland groupage (not the best job in the worldPeter
Hi Peter,
Yes that sounds like Mick I’ll try and put a photo on tomorrow of him,when Matsolex finished Paul & Mike came to work for me, together with Sharon from the office.
Regards
Richard
Buzzer:
Balders I did a bit of traction for Matsolex think Jack Feccitt had a bit to do with them, remember John Compton also another fella from Redlynch pulled for them. Jack had a pub in that village as well. Used to take stuff down just short of Bordeaux to build oil rigs, come to think of it I think they had a green 1626 Merc was it Graham who drove it would’nt pull the skin of a hot rice pudding, M H memories there balders cheers Buzzer.
Hi John,
Jack also set up Mammoth Transport with John Ward,then Hoveringham Gravel brought them out because they wanted the name after they found remains of a Mammoth in one of their quarries,I’m led to believe.
I think the 1626 driver was Graham Richardson,he bought an IVECO special edition from Pitters later on.
Regards to you and the Boss.When are you coming out for a visit to the Rockingham ? Lenny Carman has printed some permits so shouldn’t be a problem 
Richard
Hi Richard and of course the lovely Angie, you are right Graham Richardson was that man and he did get a Iveco “Californian” I think they called it with twin stacks, we loaded apples in the south of France once him in the much more modern 1626 Merc and me in me much older 110 Scania and I had to wait for him after every hill we climbed, happy days as time was not so pressed back then.
As for Mappo he is a dark horse bet he loves them little girls bouncing on his knee, bet they don’t get the present they asked for, cheers JD.
Got an old blurred photo taken in the late seventies I believe in Mammoth’s yard with a couple of green and white Mercs,looks like the name Crook on them …anyone shed any light on these ?
MaggieD:
Buzzer:
Balders I did a bit of traction for Matsolex think Jack Feccitt had a bit to do with them, remember John Compton also another fella from Redlynch pulled for them. Jack had a pub in that village as well. Used to take stuff down just short of Bordeaux to build oil rigs, come to think of it I think they had a green 1626 Merc was it Graham who drove it would’nt pull the skin of a hot rice pudding, M H memories there balders cheers Buzzer.Hi John,
Jack also set up Mammoth Transport with John Ward,then Hoveringham Gravel brought them out because they wanted the name after they found remains of a Mammoth in one of their quarries,I’m led to believe.
I think the 1626 driver was Graham Richardson,he bought an IVECO special edition from Pitters later on.
Regards to you and the Boss.When are you coming out for a visit to the Rockingham ? Lenny Carman has printed some permits so shouldn’t be a problem
Richard
Good afternoon Richard, hope you and Angie are well.
Was the IVECO special edition know as the ‘Fiat Cowboy’? Orange / Red cab with the twin pipes? I am sure Nigel Ainsworth had one and parked it down by Fingers in Woolston.
Just back last week from Italy, Napoli to be precise for a short break, not a truck in sight… Lovely!!!
Take care, H ■■
Hi JD…
I had the misfortune to drive a 1626 in the early eighties…
There’s a picture posted elsewhere on this forum. The worst motor I ever drove, and that includes Frankie Allens Mandators. ( Any more Goss on son Tim, by the way? )
I had the misfortune to do 2 Lisbons and an Augsburg in it. Uncomfortable seat, terrible driving position and steering like a barge. Lousy gearbox, noisy and gutless. Otherwise it was ok though. 
Richard. All good here thanks!
I didn’t realise Mike Hunt worked for you? Mind you, who hasn’t. Apart from me I mean. You had a lucky escape there…
I had an email from one Steven Johnson the other day. Not heard from him in nearly 30 years!! I think Roy Maclean gave him my email addy.
Anyway , he’s professed an interest in catching up with you , I suspect he smells the possibility of a free pint. Which just goes to prove the old saying, " you can take the lad out of Manchester " etc etc…
Anyway , if you’d like his details! Send me a PM.
Cheers both. Balders.
badboybumpkin:
Got an old blurred photo taken in the late seventies I believe in Mammoth’s yard with a couple of green and white Mercs,looks like the name Crook on them …anyone shed any light on these ?
Hi badboybumpkin,
The Crooks green and white Merc’s,which I believe were non-sleepers were something to do with a subsidary of Hoveringham/Alfreton Transport,I think two of them were transferred down to Belgrave Road for mainly UK work.
Having said that as things usually happen in transport,one of them got shipped out to Rome with a driver called Jim Malpin who lived Salisbury way,Angie and I shipped out with him to Rome as we were in a Maggie Deutz 232 we had no trouble keeping up with each other The funniest part was when we parked up in the services Jim slept across the seats but had no curtains,so he opened all his maps up and taped them round the windsceen and cab windows. He awoke next morning to find a coach load of tourists studying his windscreen to see which way they were going
Another one of JD’s Mary Hopkins moments.
Regards
Richard