ERFMAN:
Hi Gordy & Chris
Bob Norris was one of the founding directors along with Roy Barnett.They both originated from the old Tower Hill Transport Co and came to Pompy to run their operation.The original office was in Hampshire Terrace and was originally a clearing house they then started to build their own fleet and moved to a small yard in Coham High Street Portsmouth and eventually moved to Flathouse Quay where the still operate today. Bob & Roy are both decesed but util recently the Directors were Janet Martin & Harry Eames.Harry started at MMD as a driver during the Hamshire Terrace days.
The company is now owned by Portsmouth City Council,who own the port and trade as MMD Shipping Services
erfman
Hi Erfman,
Nice to hear from someone who remembers MMD from the old days, and you have a good memory when you mention Hampshire terrace !
Bob Norris was married to my sister, both sadly now gone.
I had many visits to Flathouse or the “Yard” when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s and recall many of the names mentioned here, seemed a happy place to work.
I assume that you worked for Bob and Roy ?
Hi Gordy
No I didn’t work for MMD but got to know Bob & Roy over the years as a truck dealer, tough but fair to deal with,I also went to school with Harry Eames and new a lot of the boys at MMD. I think your right about it being a happy place to work.The bosses wanted their pound of flesh but payed you well
erfman
Thanks for all the information,George was indeed the chap I remember,and I worked with Johnny Rickman at Stringers Twyford Ave Portsmouth in the 60’s.
I also remember a really nice chap who worked as a young lad at the Foden Depot at Cowplain, with Ernie Hall etc.
Regards MaggieD
Your welcome MaggieD
Your going back a bit Stringers Twyford Avenue.I new all the people at Fodens Cowplain and there was an Ernie but I can’t remember his sir name.He was a short tubby scruffy character (good for a laugh) always smoking a but end and came to work on an NSU quickly moped,lived at Denmead? Did a bit of everthing including electrics
MaggieD:
Hi ERFMAN,
Ernie went to Warrens Transport Alton,and then to Urquharts the Bedford dealer in Petersfield.
If I took one of the M’s out of MMD would they be your initials ■■
(Just a shot in the dark!)
Regards MaggieD
Hi MaggieD
Very observant, your right about my initials I suspect erfman may have been the givaway ? I must appologise as i’m afraid youv’e got me beaten.
I suspect MaggieD refers to those great trucks and my only time spent with them was with Michael Pitter (Great boss) but your past at Stringers would seem to rule that out and the old memory is not fast as it used to be.
By the way I think the Ernie Hall you mention didn’t work at Fodens Cowplain but was a driver for J.Ellis of Petersfield who ran some Fodens during the 60’s including a brand new 2 stroke 8 wheeler (the regular driver was Darky Stubbs)I new Ernie went to Warrens but I didn’t know he went to Urquharts. You’ve got me guessing now!
Regards
Mike (erfman)
Hi I’m Linda, Harry Eames’ daughter. My dad started at mmd 16 may 1964 as a driver with a 308 dodge, and the longest trailers they had were 30ft flatbeds. He ended up as MD and retired at 60, but is still working there as a group consultant at the age of 69, so he knows a little bit about the history of mmd. He had 6 Lorries when he first started!
Hi everyone. I came across this site a few days ago when my step-daughter was trying to find a phone number for MMD.
Her father (Ian Brough) was one of their drivers and sadly died last sunday whilst doing a delivery in london.
My father (Ed / Ted Stephens) also worked for MMD in the late sixties earlier seventies driving an Atkinson (OTP 760H) all over the country.
He also, for a while, in the early seventies, was based in MMD’s Newhaven depot.
I also have some pictures of him driving the Atkinson in the 1970 Southsea carnival but have not been able to copy them to this site. If anyone can advise on how to do this, then please let me know.
mydadH.EAMES: Hi I’m Linda, Harry Eames’ daughter. My dad started at mmd 16 may 1964 as a driver with a 308 dodge, and the longest trailers they had were 30ft flatbeds. He ended up as MD and retired at 60, but is still working there as a group consultant at the age of 69, so he knows a little bit about the history of mmd. He had 6 Lorries when he first started!
Hi Linda,
My sister was married to Bob Norris and I remember your dad at flathouse quay in the early 1980’s.
mouse:
thanks for the comments guys, does anyone have any pictures of the SK’s or ERF’s? or are there any ex drivers around??
hello mate , i have some photos, my dad also was a driver, he started back in the 60,s and 70s 80s 90s left and came back about 5 times, the longest time was 19 years, he was still driving 4 mmd at the age of 72, when i was a boy , he drove a volvo f86 and had the 1st new 1628 merc FBP 221X,DAF 2500… A347 MJT and a DAF 2800ATI D381JRU, ERF S313 ,various daf 95XF,and all of the DAF 105,s before retireing at 2009,he was allway a truck driver in the town, JOHN PULLEYBLANK photo 2 follow
Hi I’m Linda, Harry Eames’ daughter. My dad started at mmd 16 may 1964 as a driver with a 308 dodge, and the longest trailers they had were 30ft flatbeds. He ended up as MD and retired at 60, but is still working there as a group consultant at the age of 69, so he knows a little bit about the history of mmd. He had 6 Lorries when he first started!