harry_gill:
Bowkers of Blackburn moved the largest consignment of oranges from
Liverpool to London and all points everywhere in one, in the post-war
years, I remember seeing the picture in their office when I worked at
their Blackburn depot, I’ll dare bet the pic is still around somewhere.
There you go Harry.
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Hiya,
That’s the one M M L I remember I was on the carpet getting a bollocking,
I seem to remember I’d clocked out and was in the pub across the road
when the incident happened , it would have upset Bill Bowker having to
apologise, that was the one and only time I was on the “mat” and I was
innocent but see the picture above I did.
It was 1935, Harry The photo, that is, not you…
From a period text:
“In this instance, six Leyland vehicles were used to collect 3,000 cases containing 750,000 oranges from Liverpool, for delivery at Covent Garden in time for the next day’s 6 a.m. market.”
This was thought to be a record for a single consignment to one buyer but, a few weeks later, an even larger consignment comprising 9,000 cases, was transported from Canning Dock, Liverpool, although this wasn’t an order for a single buyer.
Hiya,
I was under the impression the pic in question was was post war when
fruit from overseas was starting to get back to our shores, thanks for
the enlightenment, Oh’ and Chris I didn’t make the scene until 1936.
DEANB:
Paul, one from your part of the world. Boden trailers ring a bell ?
Advert from 1967. Click on page twice.
When I worked for Smiths of Eccles late 60s we had a few Bodens Trailers built at Royton and remember them being delivered to our yard at Taylor Road Trafford Park Urmston. Kev
DEANB:
Paul, one from your part of the world. Boden trailers ring a bell ?
Advert from 1967. Click on page twice.
1
When I worked for Smiths of Eccles late 60s we had a few Bodens Trailers built at Royton and remember them being delivered to our yard at Taylor Road Trafford Park Urmston. Kev
Kev, What a well turned out Volvo and Boden trailer this is. Is it an old photo,
or is this outfit in preservation. The paint finish and signwriting is excellent.
Regards, Ray Smyth.
DEANB:
Paul, one from your part of the world. Boden trailers ring a bell ?
Advert from 1967. Click on page twice.
1
When I worked for Smiths of Eccles late 60s we had a few Bodens Trailers built at Royton and remember them being delivered to our yard at Taylor Road Trafford Park Urmston. Kev
Kev, What a well turned out Volvo and Boden trailer this is. Is it an old photo,
or is this outfit in preservation. The paint finish and signwriting is excellent.
Regards, Ray Smyth.
Hiya,
Just a tad off topic wasn’t it Boden trailers where the comedy duo
Cannon and Ball worked as welders prior to hitting the big time.
windrush:
I used to do caravan rallies with a chap from Blackburn who (I think) drove for Bowkers many years ago?
Pete.
Hiya,
I did a couple of spells for Bowkers during the 60s to early 70s and can’t
recall coming into contact with a “tin tent” dragger and unless one of
em’ had a secret “roughing it” fetish and kept it to himself.
windrush:
I used to do caravan rallies with a chap from Blackburn who (I think) drove for Bowkers many years ago?
Pete.
Hiya,
I did a couple of spells for Bowkers during the 60s to early 70s and can’t
recall coming into contact with a “tin tent” dragger and unless one of
em’ had a secret “roughing it” fetish and kept it to himself.
Harry, his name was Tom Aspden and he lived at Barwood, Blackburn. I thought it was Bowkers he drove for but may be wrong. Could have been Ridings of course…
windrush:
I used to do caravan rallies with a chap from Blackburn who (I think) drove for Bowkers many years ago?
Pete.
Hiya,
I did a couple of spells for Bowkers during the 60s to early 70s and can’t
recall coming into contact with a “tin tent” dragger and unless one of
em’ had a secret “roughing it” fetish and kept it to himself.
Harry, his name was Tom Aspden and he lived at Barwood, Blackburn. I thought it was Bowkers he drove for but may be wrong. Could have been Ridings of course…
Pete.
Hiya,
No wiser Pete don’t recall the name I also did a short spell for Ridings.
PS I too was a caravanner but didn’t take up rallying or anything like that.
it was book. hook up and go but found the tariffs for the sites was getting
a bit expensive and I found you could book a coach tour and hotel far
cheaper than the better sites could offer, and I hated putting those rag
awning things up a bit like getting there then having to rope n’ sheet.
I did have about four tourers and a static over a period of time but I was
never a real enthusiast and never really got into it. After a week on the
road I preferred to let someone else do the driving.
windrush:
That’s OK Harry. If he is still living he will be well into his nineties I would think so possibly before your time?
Pete.
Hiya,
Thanks Pete I’m a kick in the arse off 83 so when I lived over that way I’d only
be in my 30s so he’d only be in his 40s not much fun this old age mate.
DEANB:
Paul, one from your part of the world. Boden trailers ring a bell ?
Advert from 1967. Click on page twice.
When I worked for Smiths of Eccles late 60s we had a few Bodens Trailers built at Royton and remember them being delivered to our yard at Taylor Road Trafford Park Urmston. Kev
Brady’s of Barrow were big users of Boden tandem axle trailers before 40 footers appeared when the lengths varied from about 26ft to 33ft. Jack Brady was a Pal of Bill Boden and he always spoke well of him. Much of what Crane Fruehauf built after they bought Bodens out was based on Boden designs and They continued to use the Boden name long after they had taken them over. Cheers Bewick.
Brilliant photograph of the Bowkers loading oranges and it would have been the drivers loading, also the ship in the background is a Empress boat, Canadian PACIFIC. PDB.
peggydeckboy:
Brilliant photograph of the Bowkers loading oranges and it would have been the drivers loading, also the ship in the background is a Empress boat, Canadian PACIFIC. PDB.
Hiya,
During the period of fruit haulage in my time at Bowker’s it was all handball,
cased fruit wasn’t bad but open trayed stuff ie’ tomatoes was a nightmare to
sheet up and rope and if you had a tilt it was usually a strip down because
you wasn’t able to get your weight on within it’s limited body so after you
sheeted up you had to try and wrap the tilt cover and stow the darned thing
out of the way usually on top of the load that’s if you could find a forklift to
place it for you, hard but happy days Eh’.
These 2 pictures are scenes from the TV Series “Juliet Bravo” which ran from 1980 to about 1985/6.
I remember seeing Chris Metcalf lorries quite often, particularly if I was in the Keighley and Bradford
areas. I believe Tenneco were involved in the Motor Parts trade, and had an operation in Burnley.
Perhaps the Volvo F12 was an owner driver.
The photo, that is, not you…
