Superb pictures Nipper 
didânt see many 111âs over here with spoke wheels 
Great Stuff.
Nipper:
My personal favourites.
Seeing these reminds me that I was once told that Grangewood had had an ex-Bowker F89, either VCW 33 or 34R - ring any bells?
I only discovered this website recently and thought I would enter information which may be of interest.I joined in 1972 and at that time apart from conventional dock work (royal Docks and Sheerness moving frozen meat) we were transporting into Germany (Quakenbruck with eggs).The transport manager was Tom Tomlinson and the MD was Mike Smith.The continental work was controlled from HQ in Jewry Street at the parent company (E W Taylor) offices by myself (Ray Smith) and Mike Smith (Not related).All the trucks were based at Norman Road,Greenwich.Drivers at that time were John Guest,Ted Bryce,Roy Clemmenson,Trevor Same,Mick Candish,Johnny Streek,Kenny Ward,Ron Tiley and a couple of others whose names escape me.After I joined work expanded and the company was transporting to most of the major Middle East destinations (Kuwait,Amman,Damman,Riyadh,Jeddah and Doha).We were also doing a lot of work out of the old DDR mostly to Spain (fresh meat) and also from Poland to Beirut.Whilst the business expanded we took on extra drivers with Middle East experience - Allan Warner,Alan White,Ray Neil,Roy Reece,John Holland,Ken Searle,Jim Connors,Bernie Bartels (zwei metre fumpf),David Miller,Terry Bishop,Ian Briggs and Allan Balmer.The business further developed into transport fresh meat to Roumania,Yugoslavia and Hungary.We often reloaded from these countries back to Holland or Germany and then from there to the U K.This meant the introduction of a number of owner drivers - Jimmy Buckle,George the Pole,Vic Lee,Terry Baldwin,Sim Jones,Mickey Willis,Bill Allen,Jim McDaid,Peter Langley and Gerry Holmes.We also hired in occasional trucks from Mac Transport,Dartford and S J Selfe,Charlton.Eventually the HQ office moved down to Greenwich so that we were under the same roof.I remember that we had a brilliant fitter - Terry Hamlet - I understand that he now works at Volvo in Maidstone - and a fridge mechanic Peter Greenway - also 1 st class.It was during this time that I passed my HGV class 1 and to my horror I remember been put straight onto one of our F 89âs LMM 712P and told to take a trailer to Sheerness.My very 1 st experience of driving LHD vehicle.Thank God Allan Warner was there at the time to help me get out of the yard.
I am still in contact with Kenny Ward - regrettably Bernie Bartels,Ian Briggs,George the Pole,Jimmy Buckle have passed away - Ken Searle I last heard was somewhere doing security work in Iraq,David Miller is ships chandler in Majorca.Allan Warner I spoke last time was retired living in Birchington.John Holland went to live in Australia.Terry Bishop retired and living in Spain (Torevieja).
After Grangewood I ran my own business for a number of years,then worked for T J Starkes,Inter City Trucks,Dartrans,A Z Freight (London)Ltd and now fed up with a mix of office work and driving am freelance driving for 2 or 3 different firms mostly going to most EEC countries and working in the U K.
Oostende dosser:
I only discovered this website recently and thought I would enter information which may be of interest.I joined in 1972 and at that time apart from conventional dock work (royal Docks and Sheerness moving frozen meat) we were transporting into Germany (Quakenbruck with eggs).The transport manager was Tom Tomlinson and the MD was Mike Smith.The continental work was controlled from HQ in Jewry Street at the parent company (E W Taylor) offices by myself (Ray Smith) and Mike Smith (Not related).All the trucks were based at Norman Road,Greenwich.Drivers at that time were John Guest,Ted Bryce,Roy Clemmenson,Trevor Same,Mick Candish,Johnny Streek,Kenny Ward,Ron Tiley and a couple of others whose names escape me.After I joined work expanded and the company was transporting to most of the major Middle East destinations (Kuwait,Amman,Damman,Riyadh,Jeddah and Doha).We were also doing a lot of work out of the old DDR mostly to Spain (fresh meat) and also from Poland to Beirut.Whilst the business expanded we took on extra drivers with Middle East experience - Allan Warner,Alan White,Ray Neil,Roy Reece,John Holland,Ken Searle,Jim Connors,Bernie Bartels (zwei metre fumpf),David Miller,Terry Bishop,Ian Briggs and Allan Balmer.The business further developed into transport fresh meat to Roumania,Yugoslavia and Hungary.We often reloaded from these countries back to Holland or Germany and then from there to the U K.This meant the introduction of a number of owner drivers - Jimmy Buckle,George the Pole,Vic Lee,Terry Baldwin,Sim Jones,Mickey Willis,Bill Allen,Jim McDaid,Peter Langley and Gerry Holmes.We also hired in occasional trucks from Mac Transport,Dartford and S J Selfe,Charlton.Eventually the HQ office moved down to Greenwich so that we were under the same roof.I remember that we had a brilliant fitter - Terry Hamlet - I understand that he now works at Volvo in Maidstone - and a fridge mechanic Peter Greenway - also 1 st class.It was during this time that I passed my HGV class 1 and to my horror I remember been put straight onto one of our F 89âs LMM 712P and told to take a trailer to Sheerness.My very 1 st experience of driving LHD vehicle.Thank God Allan Warner was there at the time to help me get out of the yard.I am still in contact with Kenny Ward - regrettably Bernie Bartels,Ian Briggs,George the Pole,Jimmy Buckle have passed away - Ken Searle I last heard was somewhere doing security work in Iraq,David Miller is ships chandler in Majorca.Allan Warner I spoke last time was retired living in Birchington.John Holland went to live in Australia.Terry Bishop retired and living in Spain (Torevieja).
After Grangewood I ran my own business for a number of years,then worked for T J Starkes,Inter City Trucks,Dartrans,A Z Freight (London)Ltd and now fed up with a mix of office work and driving am freelance driving for 2 or 3 different firms mostly going to most EEC countries and working in the U K.
Hullo Oostende Dosser,
Just a quickie, when you are speaking to Kenny Ward again, please say Hullo from me will you. (Archie Paice from Pickering.) I only saw him once after Glynis died, he was I think going to work in a Christian Salverson office somewhere. Its good to know hes still around.
Cheers, Archie.
Archie - Ken very much alive - he remarried to Susan and is co owner of company called Advance European.However Ken cannot sit still for too long and has been driving an exhibition truck throughout Europe and Scandinavia (and to Turkey) for a Swedish company.He is looking much the same as he ever was but just a little greyer.He is off on another tour on April 4 th for a number of months.I will pass your regards on to him.
Ray Smith
Oostende dosser:
Archie - Ken very much alive - he remarried to Susan and is co owner of company called Advance European.However Ken cannot sit still for too long and has been driving an exhibition truck throughout Europe and Scandinavia (and to Turkey) for a Swedish company.He is looking much the same as he ever was but just a little greyer.He is off on another tour on April 4 th for a number of months.I will pass your regards on to him.
Ray Smith
Hullo Ray,
Thank You, good to hear that, can`t keep us old Ăšns down can they.
Cheers, Archie.
Oostende dosser:
After Grangewood I ran my own business for a number of years,then worked for T J Starkes,Inter City Trucks,Dartrans,A Z Freight (London)Ltd and now fed up with a mix of office work and driving am freelance driving for 2 or 3 different firms mostly going to most EEC countries and working in the U K.
remember you from dartrans ray, around 1995 what was your oppoâs name in the office? i was in murfittsâ office at the time
As far as i know Alan Warner (Pops)is now retired in Cornwall not sure where,now theirs a fella that should write a book,
certainly has had a very intresting life. Top fella was still doing Turkey well into his 60s finally stopped with Ralph Davies
at about 70/71 .One of the funniest things i heard him say was when a younger driver in his 30s was telling a group of
others drivers where he had and hadnt been in a lorry when Warner sudddenly piped up and said âSON IVE DONE MORE
MILES IN REVERSE THAN YOU HAVE DONE IN FORWARD GEARSâ stopped the younger driver in his tracks whilst the rest
of us were laughing! 
Hey Nipper cracking pics any more of those 89s â â ?
jj72:
Oostende dosser:
After Grangewood I ran my own business for a number of years,then worked for T J Starkes,Inter City Trucks,Dartrans,A Z Freight (London)Ltd and now fed up with a mix of office work and driving am freelance driving for 2 or 3 different firms mostly going to most EEC countries and working in the U K.remember you from dartrans ray, around 1995 what was your oppoâs name in the office? i was in murfittsâ office at the time
His name was Richard Gray.Now living in Cheltenham.I beleive he is working for a recruiting agency.
Oostende dosser:
I only discovered this website recently and thought I would enter information which may be of interest.I joined in 1972 and at that time apart from conventional dock work (royal Docks and Sheerness moving frozen meat) we were transporting into Germany (Quakenbruck with eggs).The transport manager was Tom Tomlinson and the MD was Mike Smith.The continental work was controlled from HQ in Jewry Street at the parent company (E W Taylor) offices by myself (Ray Smith) and Mike Smith (Not related).All the trucks were based at Norman Road,Greenwich.Drivers at that time were John Guest,Ted Bryce,Roy Clemmenson,Trevor Same,Mick Candish,Johnny Streek,Kenny Ward,Ron Tiley and a couple of others whose names escape me.After I joined work expanded and the company was transporting to most of the major Middle East destinations (Kuwait,Amman,Damman,Riyadh,Jeddah and Doha).We were also doing a lot of work out of the old DDR mostly to Spain (fresh meat) and also from Poland to Beirut.Whilst the business expanded we took on extra drivers with Middle East experience - Allan Warner,Alan White,Ray Neil,Roy Reece,John Holland,Ken Searle,Jim Connors,Bernie Bartels (zwei metre fumpf),David Miller,Terry Bishop,Ian Briggs and Allan Balmer.The business further developed into transport fresh meat to Roumania,Yugoslavia and Hungary.We often reloaded from these countries back to Holland or Germany and then from there to the U K.This meant the introduction of a number of owner drivers - Jimmy Buckle,George the Pole,Vic Lee,Terry Baldwin,Sim Jones,Mickey Willis,Bill Allen,Jim McDaid,Peter Langley and Gerry Holmes.We also hired in occasional trucks from Mac Transport,Dartford and S J Selfe,Charlton.Eventually the HQ office moved down to Greenwich so that we were under the same roof.I remember that we had a brilliant fitter - Terry Hamlet - I understand that he now works at Volvo in Maidstone - and a fridge mechanic Peter Greenway - also 1 st class.It was during this time that I passed my HGV class 1 and to my horror I remember been put straight onto one of our F 89âs LMM 712P and told to take a trailer to Sheerness.My very 1 st experience of driving LHD vehicle.Thank God Allan Warner was there at the time to help me get out of the yard.I am still in contact with Kenny Ward - regrettably Bernie Bartels,Ian Briggs,George the Pole,Jimmy Buckle have passed away - Ken Searle I last heard was somewhere doing security work in Iraq,David Miller is ships chandler in Majorca.Allan Warner I spoke last time was retired living in Birchington.John Holland went to live in Australia.Terry Bishop retired and living in Spain (Torevieja).
After Grangewood I ran my own business for a number of years,then worked for T J Starkes,Inter City Trucks,Dartrans,A Z Freight (London)Ltd and now fed up with a mix of office work and driving am freelance driving for 2 or 3 different firms mostly going to most EEC countries and working in the U K.
Hi All,
I stumbled onto this website by chance, my grandfather is mentioned here, Vic Lee, I used to accompany him to the depot and on journeys at weekends and during the school holidays, sadly my grandfather past away last year but it has brought back some pleasant memories seeing the old pictures and stories, if there are anyone remembers my grandfather, I would love to hear the stories. 
Hi Oostende dosser, is that the same Kenny Ward from braintree way who became an owner driver with a Man and a very short fuse in the mid eighties?
Chazzer
hi any of you lads remember john kelly worked on grangewoods for a while was friends with Kenny Ward sadly he passed away about 8/9 years ago the dreded C got him. he was 57 . iam his brother retired in 2005 after 42 years on the road uk and europe . and as they say .now enjoying the good life in spain . about an hour from sevilla .still carnt stop driving though of to a few eastern block countrys the end of june get a few more ks in while i can . best of luck to you all . mike kelly
HI , my name is andrew haigh , i used to live at the end of norman road in greenwich & used to walk past grangewoods depot on my way to school , i was about 13 at the time & i got talking to some of the drivers & office staff & got a job there washing down the lorries on saturdays & school holidays when i wasnt out with my dad in his leyland marathon which he drove for WBS of plough way in surrey docks , i also remember being sent down to the little cafe in greenwich high road to get the machanics bacon rolls , i used to love sitting in the VOLVO F89.s ( the SCANIA 111âs wernât bad though ) , but i must admit i did used think the fiat they had was a real stunner ( dont surpose any has a pic of this truck ) , hopefully someone can help with the pic
chazzer:
Hi Oostende dosser, is that the same Kenny Ward from braintree way who became an owner driver with a Man and a very short fuse in the mid eighties?
Chazzer
No its not the same Ken Ward.I knew of the one from Braintree as he was driving to and from Russia and I used to see him occasionally whilst I was working for Inter City Trucks.
done it:
hi any of you lads remember john kelly worked on grangewoods for a while was friends with Kenny Ward sadly he passed away about 8/9 years ago the dreded C got him. he was 57 . iam his brother retired in 2005 after 42 years on the road uk and europe . and as they say .now enjoying the good life in spain . about an hour from sevilla .still carnt stop driving though of to a few eastern block countrys the end of june get a few more ks in while i can . best of luck to you all . mike kelly
Yes I remember John - a real character.He was indeed very friendly with Ken Ward.Ken still going strong driving for Swedish exhibition company throughout Europe.I know he will be thrilled to learn that someone remembers John - I will be talking with him next week.Ray Smith
Hi Mike,
This is Kenny Ward (The Yorkshire one!)
Not many days go by without my remembering John Kelly. I had known him since I was 25, and he was a big part of my life until he sadly died so young. I have happy memories of our UK haulage together, running pies from Cadby Hall, London, to the three Sainsbury RDCs, Charlton, Basingstoke, and Buntingford. Why was it he was called âThe Pie Manâ againâ â ?
I remember meeting John and Ted Brice when they were bound for Hungary and I was en route to Beiruit (for Grangewoods) and we had a high time in Czechoslovakia. I have some treasured photos of us at the time.
I remember meeting you at Johnâs house, and am glad to hear that you are doing OK.
hi ken nice to hear from you .and that you doing well . theres still a few of us alive and kicking. well i hung the wheel up at last licence runs out next week timeto say bye bye to it been in spain 4/5 years now about an hour from seville lovin it . if you have any photos of john can you email the to me . truck1@telefonica.net thanks mike
Hi Andrew, Iâm glad you remember Grangewood, and their Norman Road depot with such affection. You will find a picture of the Fiat in my album on this site. It belonged to Jimmy Buckle, a long standing Grangewood sub-contractor, who sadly died a couple of years ago. I will be uploading some more vintage photos in the near future.
So Bernie aka âzvei meters funfâ has passed away?? Well, well!
I knew he had gone to work for Grangewoods but I knew Bernie when we both worked on Simons. He drove one of the left â â â â â â leyland marathons that Jeffrey had at the time. I do remember one trip that we did together⌠ford spares to Izmir. I had my girlfriend , Annie, with me and I did get the feeling that he wasnât too impressed with me bringing a bit of skirt along. I liked him though.
I remember that he got locked up by the police at Bolu after he had been involved in a traffic accident with a Tonka. Taci Kocman âarrangedâ his release within a couple of days and he got flown out of the country whilst the truck remained impounded. Good 'ol TaciâŚalways a good bloke to know when things went wrong! Still donât know how you could leave the country without the vehicle you entered with as the registration was written in the passport.
R.I.P. Bernie
Hi Kenny , Do you have anymore pics of the fiat or do you no where i might find any , i want to build a model of this truck &could do with some more pics for referance ? Great pic of sym jonesâs scania , Andy