I worked at Noblett & Underwood when they opened their “London” office which was in Powder Mill Lane Hawley Dartford - then they moved to Horton Kirby Paper Mills before moving to Northfleet - way back in the 70’s - the first loads we moved abroad were loads of kraft liner from Kent Kraft Mills to Belgium - a 3 day round trip
The HO was in Fennel Street Warrington
The French connection came about in the 80’s with Trpts Escude & Philippon who are now part of the Giruad Groupe
Good times when log books were being phased out - the M25 had not been built and Townsend Thoresen and Sealink were the two main Ferry Operators ! Roping and sheeting …
Noblett’s fleet was Albions with 25’ scammell coupled trailers
The first F86 was a wonderful tool…
Running continental was a totally new concept - before N Dentrassangle was on the scene - as far as Pakistan
NUDIST was the telex answer back Noblet t & UNderwood DISTribution - Telex 965507
I worked for them for 14 years before moving on - learnt a lot and had lots of good memories
Lots of contacts made - and lost through time
Wilds of Altrincham - Collinson Bros - Chopwell James Caffery Northwich RH Trotman JR Harros and Sons Dartford and many more
Anybody remember Mike Pooley of Northfleet he had a place in what I think was an old kraft paper mill he used to load us with Scotch traffic in the early eightys. Eddie.
Brought back some memories there gripper Cafferys Wilds I worked for Collinsons, should know you whats your personal,there was also a lad from Stoke or Stafford called dave owner driver had a leyland 4 wheeler flat with sleepercab worked out of Nobbys everyweek it was an ex Gallacher moter from up our way a Firm I went on to work for in 1996. He was great crack had many a night with him in the bar.
Used to get backloaded from them in the early 80s , yard was in Northfleet and the load was usually Napollina tinned food - thier slogan was NUDIST.
Also got loads from Bowater paper, out of Gravesend via LV Tpt, Len Valser/Vasler ?, who i believe are still going strong?
You didn`t do France for them did you suedehead? Used to backload off them once or twice a week myself when I worked for Collinson Bros of Chopwell.
Soon as I stuck me head through the window it was come in put the Kettle on Kenny it must be tea time Paul Grist lovely fella heard he went to work for Edwards
Also used to load tinned Veg French company Bonduele Tranship off Frenchmen lots of other French products Apples for Gateshead Market Plastic powder for Nairn Floors Kircaldy & Armstong Cork Stockten. Caterpiler parts in stillages for Uddingston couple of times transhipped Caterpiller D6s in Dover Heavy Lift used to get funny looks off Cawthorn Sinclair drivers on the way back up because it was one of there main jobs.Loaded off them from about 1976 to 1987 when I left Collinsons, spent many an hr in the pub next to the Football ground. Len Vasler still going I think seen moters of his about cant remember where as I`m just trunking now so only get as far as i can then back in a shift.Did many a load of reels for him as well but usually back to Hartlepool or somewhere up here.
greek:
You didn`t do France for them did you suedehead?
No, didnt go over the water in those days but the firm i was working for at the time(Hughes Tpt) used to do a bit of traction for N/U - France/Belg,Berliet unit.
Wasnt it mainly Girauds that used to tip there?
Parked nr the footie ground on many occasion, cant remember the name of the pub but remember it used toget a bit lively
when the womens darts team was playing !!
Happy days
Yes remember Hughes Trspt. The reason I asked about France was one of the guys I used to see in there regular was from Swindon Blue F10 cannot emember whether it was sign written or whether it was Hughes, Long Haired guy slim build & I used to marvel at the way he could walk across the top of a tilt in his clogs I couldnt walk across the yard in mine but I did like to drive in them. Yep Giraud & another big French company I cant remember their name smart but plain their name just on the headboard long name racking my brain but its just a blank Collinsons when I first started going in there F86 ,F88 then F7we also had Saviem 2500 Daf & A Roman one of those Romanian MAN`s plain blue on bottom white top half & just the name on the Headboard.
Hi Greek, I think you’ll find the blue F10 belonged to Trottman and son from Purton near Swindon who used to do France for N & U out of Northfleet, I can’t remember the other french haulage company but I know they were taken over by Norberts. Who was the other guy in the office who worked with Adrian Adcock. The guy who wore the clogs slim build long hair was called Slim.
Chazzer
The French firm in question was Rene Escude from Grenoble.
Yes Trotmans used to sub contract of N & U in Northfleet.
The other guy with Adrian was Richard Penfold who had a lot of european work.
He had his own firm out of Worcester park near Kingston Surrey. he went bust joined up with N & U and started N&U off on European work.
Mick Martin was subbing of Richard when he went bust and was the first driver to do any european traction work all local, CH, F,D,B,NLand LUX.
Dad had the pick of the work used to leave his truck up there at weekends. the years were 78-81.
I remember them buying new trailers and they were short pin on tri axles dad prefer to carry on hireing at TIP used up the road in Grays.
When Mick packed it all in i recall they were doing around 30-40 jobs a week.
I hope that may help you on any un answered questions they were the first british firm to get Escude into Britain.
I also recall Adam Offergeld had a relationship with N&U, as Mick went to there place quite a bit.
Back in 1990 i enquired about rates and they were so poor i decided to turn around and look elsewhere!
Ye Trotmans & Slim memories coming back thats them chazzer.
Was Richard the guy probably had a public school education if not certainly spoke with a posh accent (may have the wrong guy).As far as triaxles go can`t remember any English men come in with them on At the time it was still 32t Uk French came in with triaxle but would only be carrying
17t which was good for us as we would get say£170 for the powder to Stockton then fill out with bits & pieces pallets of tea & coffee etc back to our yard but end up making a payload of say £280 which was reasonable for the time as full backloads of paper steel & timber out of Kent & Essex only paid around the £160-£180
chazzer:
Hi Greek, I think you’ll find the blue F10 belonged to Trottman and son from Purton near Swindon who used to do France for N & U out of Northfleet, I can’t remember the other french haulage company but I know they were taken over by Norberts. Who was the other guy in the office who worked with Adrian Adcock. The guy who wore the clogs slim build long hair was called Slim.
Chazzer
Thats right , the blue F12s would have been Rex Trottmans,other drivers at the time would have been Jimmer(aka “apple turnover”) and John Piff.
Completely forgot about Warrington depot - didnt they store stuff in the old hangers nr Burtonwood ?
Also , did N+A run any of thier own motors , or was it all 3rd party haulage?
They didn`t have any of their own at Northfleet although they had a guy with a couple of units that worked for them callled him Dave (Turner not sure) had a couple of tilts with their logo on but not sure whether they were Daves or Noblets seem to remember a rigid as well thats where you probably remember NUDIST from. All of Daves gear was in a container on hard standing next to the front of the warehouse.
greek:
They didn`t have any of their own at Northfleet although they had a guy with a couple of units that worked for them callled him Dave (Turner not sure) had a couple of tilts with their logo on but not sure whether they were Daves or Noblets seem to remember a rigid as well thats where you probably remember NUDIST from. All of Daves gear was in a container on hard standing next to the front of the warehouse.
I remember seing NUDIST on a panic van, could have been a Renualt, also had “ask the driver for the bare facts”
written on it,- sad i know but one of those things that stick in my mind !!
Happy days
