KW:
Running down the A12 the other week and I was reminded of ‘May’s Cafe’ just at the end of the Brentwood by-pass.
It’s still standing there,though it closed down many year’s ago,but I always remember ‘Len’ and his missus who ran it,and their miserable git of a son who just seemed to hate driver’s!
But Len had a habit of licking his thumb when he was picking up the sliced bread,you know,like some people lick their thumb when turning over pages of a newspaper.
Tended to put me off a bit that did.
Another favourite watering hole was the OK Cafe at Kelvedon (Now a Happy Eater or something) and us container bods would always stop there on the way back to Felixstowe.It was a good place for a ‘Dodgy’ night-out too.
That’s another thing,you don’t see any driver’s thumbing a lift home on a ‘Dodgy’ anymore!
Speaking of disgusting habits,I was in the queue one morning in Kate’s Cabin,on the A1 near Peterborough,and one of the old girls behind the counter was pouring out tea’s while the other one took the order’s for breakfast.
Well,I was watching the one pouring tea out for the bloke in front of me whilst he was giving his order to the other one.Only he didn’t see the big drop of snot that dripped from her nose straight into his teacup!
I did.I had a can of pop.
And the ‘Truckers Paradise’ at Godmanchester,which then was on the A604 (Now the A14) I’d called in there one morning for a quick cuppa,and picked out a scone from the cabinet on the counter.
The woman behind the counter then say’s to me “Ooh! I wouldn’t have one of them,they’ve been in their for two weeks”!
Just a tea then please.
Aah! Happy Day’s!
Now you tell me about the Afton. I lived there for 3 days in the early 70’s when my Leyland Buffalo blew it’s turbo and I had to wait for it to be fixed… bed seemed clean enough though. ugh.
Russell.
Tankerman:
[ Probably sold out to Barretts ( houses, not the hauliers from Tittensor).
Or even Bassett’s
Senior moment perhaps, Russell?
Tell me about it
Oh dear, you’re right on both counts, Bassetts of Tittensor, and yes a senior moment. I get too many nowadays. beers I mean. We used to go past Bassetts soon after we had called into the Woodley cafe for breakfast. Or was it before, too many turns on the crank to remember everything…
Talking about Bassetts, do you remember the cafe at the offset crossroads at Bassets Pole? I think we past it on the way to the A5 from the A38, after leaving Derby.
Cheers Russell.
Tankerman:
There was another good cafe before the M45 at Dunsmore, .
Any names spring to mind regarding the location or name of the cafe.
Russell.
I think this was called ‘Bob’s Cafe’ at Stretton on Dunsmore. On the A45 about half a mile before it became the M45.
The last time I went past it was a couple of years ago, (it’s right next to a Texaco filling station.)
A brick building, timber sheets covering the windows, 3 foot high weeds growing in the parking area and concrete blocks at the entrances to discourage the ‘illegal campers’ or ■■■■■■, as they are sometimes known.
There must be dozens like that, all over Britain - a sign of the times, although it surprises me - I’d always thought there was money to be made in any type of catering. You obviously need to be in a good location though. Once a bye-pass or new stretch of motorway is opened you lose most of your passing trade at a stroke, and although your regulars will continue to call if you are not too far off a junction or slip road, once those old customers retire or go on other routes for other employers for example, then there are no new customers to replace them.
I sometimes get the impression that the newer drivers feel more comfortable sticking to the motorways and main routes, and are reluctant to experiment and go on alternative 'cross-country ’ shorter, more direct A roads - or maybe their sat-navigation just doesn’t let them!
Another thing - taking the quieter A roads would mean not being on cruise-control for hours on end each day and not being able to drive on the limiter constantly, and actually have to do some proper ‘driving’ for a change, different gears for different hills, a bit of stopping and starting at lights and roundabouts, etc.
Perhaps that’s the real reason…Bloody young 'uns nowadays!
Tankerman:
There was another good cafe before the M45 at Dunsmore, .
Any names spring to mind regarding the location or name of the cafe.
Russell.
I think this was called ‘Bob’s Cafe’ at Stretton on Dunsmore. On the A45 about half a mile before it became the M45.
The last time I went past it was a couple of years ago, (it’s right next to a Texaco filling station.)
A brick building, timber sheets covering the windows, 3 foot high weeds growing in the parking area and concrete blocks at the entrances to discourage the ‘illegal campers’ or ■■■■■■, as they are sometimes known.
There must be dozens like that, all over Britain - a sign of the times, although it surprises me - I’d always thought there was money to be made in any type of catering. You obviously need to be in a good location though. Once a bye-pass or new stretch of motorway is opened you lose most of your passing trade at a stroke, and although your regulars will continue to call if you are not too far off a junction or slip road, once those old customers retire or go on other routes for other employers for example, then there are no new customers to replace them.
I sometimes get the impression that the newer drivers feel more comfortable sticking to the motorways and main routes, and are reluctant to experiment and go on alternative 'cross-country ’ shorter, more direct A roads - or maybe their sat-navigation just doesn’t let them!
Another thing - taking the quieter A roads would mean not being on cruise-control for hours on end each day and not being able to drive on the limiter constantly, and actually have to do some proper ‘driving’ for a change, different gears for different hills, a bit of stopping and starting at lights and roundabouts, etc.
Perhaps that’s the real reason…Bloody young 'uns nowadays!
Spot on Deesider, Bobs it was.
Regarding the young ones not straying too far off motorways, I used to smile when the motorways had a closure due to road works or accidents and see all the youngsters sat at the top of the slip road with a map on the steering wheel.
One of my first jobs with the tankers was running napthalene from Irlam to Wilton, Middlesbrough. Through Manchester over Standedge, Huddersfield Thirsk etc and if we had a good tip get back to Thirsk and park on the cobbles and bed down at the Victoria (correct me if I am wrong) Another job was Shell at Ellesemere Port to BP Hull. Similar route but after Huddersfield we went through Wakefield and a good cafe was the Woodley near Goole. If we had a good run we could just about get pumped off at Hull and stay in digs up Spring Bank. I did a lot of that with a long nose Scammell Highwayman. Now that was gear changing, big gate crash box.
Scotch was via Lancaster, Kendal, dinner in the Jungle cafe, then Penrith, even time for a pint at the Cross Keys at High Hesket (if you could park for the southbound Scotchmen) then through Carlisle, then loads of road works on the A74 as they were just about to make it dual carriageway.
Can you imagine what Holme Chapel and Knutsford would be like today with all the traffic. Bob Manleys at the top of Talke was another favourite of mine and a decent dig was Durose just north of Newacastle under Lyme.
Are we showing our age and were the “Old days” really that good? If you didn’t like the look of your log book just tear out the page and write another one.
While we are on the subject of caf’e’s. thats how this posting started, does anybody remember Jacks Hill outside Towcester on the A5, the bedrooms were outside in converted stables, thats how old that place was. Maybe it’s still there, anybody know?
Tankerman:
While we are on the subject of caf’e’s. thats how this posting started, does anybody remember Jacks Hill outside Towcester on the A5, the bedrooms were outside in converted stables, thats how old that place was. Maybe it’s still there, anybody know?
Russell.
Jack’s Hill is indeed still there Russell, though I suspect it’s changed! I’ve got one driver I can’t keep away from the place!
Tankerman:
While we are on the subject of caf’e’s. thats how this posting started, does anybody remember Jacks Hill outside Towcester on the A5, the bedrooms were outside in converted stables, thats how old that place was. Maybe it’s still there, anybody know?
Russell.
Jack’s Hill is indeed still there Russell, though I suspect it’s changed! I’ve got one driver I can’t keep away from the place!
Thanks Chris, After loading at Stanlow it was the first night out on the way to Esso at Fawley, second night out was Totton after tipping. Bet you would sack your drivers nowadays if they didn’t do it in the day.
ps. for the younger lads all the above are in England, I am not talking about continental trips.
Tankerman:
While we are on the subject of caf’e’s. thats how this posting started, does anybody remember Jacks Hill outside Towcester on the A5, the bedrooms were outside in converted stables, thats how old that place was. Maybe it’s still there, anybody know?
Russell.
Jack’s Hill is indeed still there Russell, though I suspect it’s changed! I’ve got one driver I can’t keep away from the place!
Thanks Chris, After loading at Stanlow it was the first night out on the way to Esso at Fawley, second night out was Totton after tipping. Bet you would sack your drivers nowadays if they didn’t do it in the day.
ps. for the younger lads all the above are in England, I am not talking about continental trips.
Russell.
Stanlow to Fawley via Towcester?? Seems rather out of the way, somehow. Which way would you go?
And you’re right - down and halfway back home in the day!!
Tankerman:
You obviously need to be in a good location though. Once a bye-pass or new stretch of motorway is opened you lose most of your passing trade at a stroke, and although your regulars will continue to call if you are not too far off a junction or slip road, once those old customers retire or go on other routes for other employers for example, then there are no new customers to replace them.
Tankerman:
While we are on the subject of caf’e’s. thats how this posting started, does anybody remember Jacks Hill outside Towcester on the A5, the bedrooms were outside in converted stables, thats how old that place was. Maybe it’s still there, anybody know?
Russell.
Jack’s Hill is indeed still there Russell, though I suspect it’s changed! I’ve got one driver I can’t keep away from the place!
Thanks Chris, After loading at Stanlow it was the first night out on the way to Esso at Fawley, second night out was Totton after tipping. Bet you would sack your drivers nowadays if they didn’t do it in the day.
ps. for the younger lads all the above are in England, I am not talking about continental trips.
Russell.
Stanlow to Fawley via Towcester?? Seems rather out of the way, somehow. Which way would you go?
And you’re right - down and halfway back home in the day!!
Memory loss again Chris.
It was from BP Saltend I should have said. Load first thing and down the A1, M18, M1 then accross to Towcester and Banbury, Kiddlington, Newbury, Winchester, Fawley.
The M1 ended near Watford and the first cafe after was The Busy Bee, just threw that in.
From Stanlow it was a bit of the M6 wheverever it finished I can’t remember, down to Stonebridge, and straight accross the roundabout, quick brew at Lincoln farm then past Balsall Common
I think we passed Gaydon near a test track for a BL or Rover and worked our way to Banbury and as before.
Night out at digs at London rd Newbury on way down or even Eastleigh, I once had a drink there with a driver of yours, now deceased , Jack Leach, he married the first Mrs Tankerman after I had done with her so I bought him a few pints as a way of thanking him.
Then after pumping off at Fawley get back to Stonebridge at the best.
( Moderator please delete if not suitable)
Does that make more sense?
Question 2, did the Thorneycroft in Bowkers Livery have carbide lamps? and if so do they work. I still have one off a motorbike.
Tankerman:
Stanlow to Fawley via Towcester?? Seems rather out of the way, somehow. Which way would you go?
And you’re right - down and halfway back home in the day!!
Memory loss again Chris.
It was from BP Saltend I should have said. Load first thing and down the A1, M18, M1 then across to Towcester and Banbury, Kidlington, Newbury, Winchester, Fawley.
The M1 ended near Watford and the first cafe after was The Busy Bee, just threw that in.
From Stanlow it was a bit of the M6 wheverever it finished I can’t remember, down to Stonebridge, and straight accross the roundabout, quick brew at Lincoln farm then past Balsall Common
I think we passed Gaydon near a test track for a BL or Rover and worked our way to Banbury and as before.
Night out at digs at London rd Newbury on way down or even Eastleigh, I once had a drink there with a driver of yours, now deceased , Jack Leach, he married the first Mrs Tankerman after I had done with her so I bought him a few pints as a way of thanking him.
Then after pumping off at Fawley get back to Stonebridge at the best.
Russell.
Ah, that makes more sense! Digs in London Road? Perhaps at one of the places that has now turned into upmarket guest houses. Newbury has more hotels than you can shake a stick at.
Gaydon is indeed a Land Rover test track (formerly RAF Gaydon), and the motor museum is next door, which is where the Classic Commercial Motor Show is now held each year.
Tankerman:
Question 2, did the Thornycroft in Bowkers Livery have carbide lamps? and if so do they work. I still have one off a motorbike.
Russell.
hello again Russell
No, Bowker’s Thorny has oil lamps - and they work too! They’re the originals that came with it, and it’s never had electric lights fitted to it in its life. Or wipers, or anything else! I once had the pleasure of driving it back from Blackpool in torrential rain all the way, and had to have the screen open to see where I was going (no side windows fitted either), and at a dizzying maximum speed of 18 mph too! I was like the proverbial drowned rat when I got back to Bamber Bridge!
For the first couple of years after its restoration, we didn’t have a means of carrying it about (that’s why the Big-A Team’s stepframe tilt was converted to a beavertail), so it had to be reliable because I always had to drive it home!
harry: KW I can remember the A12 when Bert’s was there on the bend before Brentwood on the old road. Len used to run it and lived in the bungalow next door. He sold the plot for building land.
I remember the cafe,but it was before my time.
Another one on the A12 was The Bungalow at Marks Tey,which as of last year was still there,as I called in for a dinner.
What was the one called as you came from Chelmsford towards Brentwood on the old A12?
They had a huge breakfast which I think was called the Truckers,it was double everything,with a steak & kidney pie and chips on top of it.The sign said that if you can finish the lot,then you got your money back.
Don’t know if anyone ever did.
And what was the name of the one on the old A45 from Cambridge to St Neots?Just off a roundabout.The Comfort? Or was The Comfort on the A11?
Memory is getting bad.
Deputy Dog’s at Barham,again on the old A45,used to be a good cafe when Tony Doggett opened it up.
Had a few good nights out there when he had the,ahem,exotic dancers on.
Those girls could have been magicians the way they made those pool balls disappear
Never forget the day when the ministry men,as well as the customs,were having there dinner in Deputy Dog’s (the weighbridge was 500yds down the road) and a Dutchman came strolling in with a couple of carrier bags of baccy which Tony used to buy off him to sell in the cafe.
Red faces all around.
dafdave
What was the one right next to the bungalow called?
3300John:
Hiya theres also or was another cafe on the Stoke side of Tean. when you come from Uttoxeter you meet the roundabout
(the one that everyone falls over on)if you go to the right down the old road instead of going to Stoke. there was a good
cafe just down their on the right hand side. Ive just google earthed it. it seems to be a garage on the lorry park now and
the cafe is a Indian restaurant.i can’t remember the name it was called but used it many many times.if you turned right in
tean going towards Cheadle (oppersite the big mill)after about a mile they made a cafe in the old offices of the grave pit
what was on both sides of the road. it may have been called Hilton gravel. we need a pot herb to tell us more.
John
The Cafe in Draycott was indeed the Road House cafe, owned by Bob Brash, closed shortly after the new A50 was built, the other cafe you mentioned was at Hilton Gravel in Mobley near tean, my uncle used to run Austin FF tippers out of there to take gravel to Manchester, we used the Cafe there on a few occasions, i remember the food was dreadful.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0The Eagles Nest Café Shap Fell, Regards Larry.
Brilliant Larry,
What a wonderfully evocative photo of what in real time is not that long ago! My uncle talked about that cafe, and it was visited by a few who post on here. I missed it by a couple of years as a driver, I think. I don’t remember it in 1969, but I’m sure it was there when I went from Barrow to St Boswells when I was 16 in 1964 on my 60cc Puch Cheetah Scooter! Even the lorries were overtaking me up Shap!
Lawrence Dunbar:
0The Eagles Nest Café Shap Fell, Regards Larry.
Brilliant Larry,
What a wonderfully evocative photo of what in real time is not that long ago! My uncle talked about that cafe, and it was visited by a few who post on here. I missed it by a couple of years as a driver, I think. I don’t remember it in 1969, but I’m sure it was there when I went from Barrow to St Boswells when I was 16 in 1964 on my 60cc Puch Cheetah Scooter! Even the lorries were overtaking me up Shap!
John
It ceased to operate in the late 50s, And was replaced by a one on the summit opposite the phone box called The Selside Café, All that’s left of it now is the concrete base where it stood, Ive spent many a freezing cold journey going over Shap, Regards Larry.
I never knew the Eagles Nest, Lawrence (being one of the younger fellows on here ), and was about to ask you if it was the one at the bottom of the hill when I suddenly thought, no that was the Jungle. Am I right? And if I’m wrong, then you are the one who is wrong about the Eagles Nest. I definitely spent a few hours at the bottom of the hill.
I think you are right though. I was on the road from ’ 62 onwards so if it was at the bottom, it was still there then.
Coming from Nottingham My normal route north was not that way and my break of choice was always Stainmore.
