Shame to hear that about Ray, I worked with him at Van Hee and he also worked with my Father at Steenburgs, Dad said him and his mate Bill Ashworth were loading 200cwt bags off a boat and Ray Caldwell the traffic manager said he was sending a new lad along to help and he was a big lad so they might have trouble keeping up. Sure enough Ray turned up and he was as mentioned but as big as he was he couldnāt handle the bags so Bill who had less fat than a Butchers pencil showed him how to take them onto his shoulder and use the weight as momentum to move up the trailer and position them in one cast, a technique no doubt now lost and thankfully one I later didnāt have to master. Ray cracked it eventually but had to admit size wasnāt everything! We all had to learn somewhere and much later Ray gave me a good tip when roping an awkward load, thatās what it was all about passing on the skills and tips gained over the years. All the best Ray.
Frankydobo:
Shame to hear that about Ray, I worked with him at Van Hee and he also worked with my Father at Steenburgs, Dad said him and his mate Bill Ashworth were loading 200cwt bags off a boat and Ray Caldwell the traffic manager said he was sending a new lad along to help and he was a big lad so they might have trouble keeping up. Sure enough Ray turned up and he was as mentioned but as big as he was he couldnāt handle the bags so Bill who had less fat than a Butchers pencil showed him how to take them onto his shoulder and use the weight as momentum to move up the trailer and position them in one cast, a technique no doubt now lost and thankfully one I later didnāt have to master. Ray cracked it eventually but had to admit size wasnāt everything! We all had to learn somewhere and much later Ray gave me a good tip when roping an awkward load, thatās what it was all about passing on the skills and tips gained over the years. All the best Ray.
I agree with you Frankyā itās very sad to hear that Ray has been so cruelly afflicted. He was always the biggest and noisiest bloke the pub on a night out, great company !! Regards Kev.
Aye Jimmy Simmons, Another lad from Steenburghs, I new him years ago He was a real true gent was old Jimmy, Nowt was a bother to him, Get him loaded for anywere & he would do it, A very sad loss to all his pals & the Haulage Cos that had him working for them as Ive allreadey remarked they didnt come any better than Jimmy, Regards Larry.
AYE I must agree, those were the days my friends when we all worked together, the money was poor , but we allways worked bloody hard & earned our KEEP, but sadley to say those happy hard working are long gone, What has things come to ? Dont work, & get what you can from like, by doing sweet ā ā ā ā all, Larry, retired but still fired up.
Lawrence Dunbar:
AYE I must agree, those were the days my friends when we all worked together, the money was poor , but we allways worked bloody hard & earned our KEEP, but sadley to say those happy hard working are long gone, What has things come to ? Dont work, & get what you can from like, by doing sweet [zb] all, Larry, retired but still fired up.
Jimmy was one of the best,never complained,just did his job.From the old school.
He lost his life going over blubberhouses early morning to Darwen.
It is so sad to say but some drivers dont know the names of other drivers in there firm,
They park up alongside each other and pull there curtians along and stay in the cab all night.
That never happened in my day,But we never had sleeper cabs.
Iād been talking to Jimmy in the Derry one morning, I hadnāt seen him for a while, had a good natter, another Blyth lad joined us and Jim said to him this is a son (their were five of us) of me old mate Ernie Dobson, taught me everything I know. The other lad said thatās not much then is it, Jim replied Aye but its still a bit more than you! we laughed at the usual breakfast table banter but Jim had a great respect and fondness for the bloke he called āFathaā and my old man was just as proud to have Jim as a mate, they did night trunk together for a couple of years and my Dad said he couldnāt run with anyone better. Less than a week after our chat in the Derry Jim was killed, I had to go round to my Fathers, who was now retired and give him the bad news but he had already see it on the telly, he was quite upset, very sad time, we attended the funeral and Iām pleased to say there was a huge turn out. One of the industries characters and not forgotten by our family. Cheers Franky
Frankydobo:
Iād been talking to Jimmy in the Derry one morning, I hadnāt seen him for a while, had a good natter, another Blyth lad joined us and Jim said to him this is a son (their were five of us) of me old mate Ernie Dobson, taught me everything I know. The other lad said thatās not much then is it, Jim replied Aye but its still a bit more than you! we laughed at the usual breakfast table banter but Jim had a great respect and fondness for the bloke he called āFathaā and my old man was just as proud to have Jim as a mate, they did night trunk together for a couple of years and my Dad said he couldnāt run with anyone better. Less than a week after our chat in the Derry Jim was killed, I had to go round to my Fathers, who was now retired and give him the bad news but he had already see it on the telly, he was quite upset, very sad time, we attended the funeral and Iām pleased to say there was a huge turn out. One of the industries characters and not forgotten by our family. Cheers Franky
Iff i remember rightly Franky, David Dargue [RIP] drove the old dodge lorry with the coffin on the back from his home to the crematorium in Blyth with his family walking behind the lorry.Everybody was upset at Ferguson by the sad loss of Jimmy who was a great charachter and well liked by everyone.
It is very sad in any company when a colleague looses his life doing the job they loved.
f troop:
Frankydobo:
Iād been talking to Jimmy in the Derry one morning, I hadnāt seen him for a while, had a good natter, another Blyth lad joined us and Jim said to him this is a son (their were five of us) of me old mate Ernie Dobson, taught me everything I know. The other lad said thatās not much then is it, Jim replied Aye but its still a bit more than you! we laughed at the usual breakfast table banter but Jim had a great respect and fondness for the bloke he called āFathaā and my old man was just as proud to have Jim as a mate, they did night trunk together for a couple of years and my Dad said he couldnāt run with anyone better. Less than a week after our chat in the Derry Jim was killed, I had to go round to my Fathers, who was now retired and give him the bad news but he had already see it on the telly, he was quite upset, very sad time, we attended the funeral and Iām pleased to say there was a huge turn out. One of the industries characters and not forgotten by our family. Cheers FrankyIff i remember rightly Franky, David Dargue [RIP] drove the old dodge lorry with the coffin on the back from his home to the crematorium in Blyth with his family walking behind the lorry.Everybody was upset at Ferguson by the sad loss of Jimmy who was a great charachter and well liked by everyone.
It is very sad in any company when a colleague looses his life doing the job they loved.
F troop, Davey Dargue is another name from the past, was he the lad with either a false eye, or did it have a turn in it? Regards Kevmac47.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Another one from Les Douglas.
OMG Richardsons of Forest Hall gave me my first job on a tipper. It was old man Frost who had the company at the time (any one know the history). Any way he only had a weeks work for me and must have been desperate as I was only 21 and just past my test. Grateful for the chance to prove myself. Got through the week without any mishaps leading from Sunderland to Lemington on a Barretts homes site. That was my training on tipper work to add to my CV. 
toonheed:
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Another one from Les Douglas.OMG Richardsons of Forest Hall gave me my first job on a tipper. It was old man Frost who had the company at the time (any one know the history). Any way he only had a weeks work for me and must have been desperate as I was only 21 and just past my test. Grateful for the chance to prove myself. Got through the week without any mishaps leading from Sunderland to Lemington on a Barretts homes site. That was my training on tipper work to add to my CV.
Colin, I hope you added my name to the CV list. 
regards Kev.
toonheed:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Another one from Les Douglas.OMG Richardsons of Forest Hall gave me my first job on a tipper. It was old man Frost who had the company at the time (any one know the history). Any way he only had a weeks work for me and must have been desperate as I was only 21 and just past my test. Grateful for the chance to prove myself. Got through the week without any mishaps leading from Sunderland to Lemington on a Barretts homes site. That was my training on tipper work to add to my CV.
Heres a photo you might know these lads ? Regards Larry.
I worked for Gordons of Stakeford at the end of the 70ās as a JCB driver. Does anyone have any photos of their trucks? When I was there, their low loader was an A series ERF driven by Bill Kelly,which was later replaced by a Seddon Atkinson (I think) and they also had a couple of D series fords. They had a fleet of tippers before my time which I think were ergo cab AECās?
The very popular Harry Peverley was a fitter there at the time.
SORRY, No photos , but I remember when their depot was at Stakeford, & they ran some 8 wheel Guys, they did some work for BICC,Cables, the motors were painted brown, I think they had an 8 wheeler Atki at the same time, Was the latter depot at Barrington Ind Est,? Regards Larry.
kevmac47:
toonheed:
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Another one from Les Douglas.OMG Richardsons of Forest Hall gave me my first job on a tipper. It was old man Frost who had the company at the time (any one know the history). Any way he only had a weeks work for me and must have been desperate as I was only 21 and just past my test. Grateful for the chance to prove myself. Got through the week without any mishaps leading from Sunderland to Lemington on a Barretts homes site. That was my training on tipper work to add to my CV.
Colin, I hope you added my name to the CV list.
Top of the list Kevā¦good boss but a tight *** like all haulage operatorsā¦ha ha ā¦Larry, photos were a bit before my time it was 1980 when I passed my test so I was there about then. Can always remember Richardsons and Blacketts from Forest Hall as I used to live not far from their yards when I was a kidā¦
toonheed:
kevmac47:
toonheed:
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Another one from Les Douglas.OMG Richardsons of Forest Hall gave me my first job on a tipper. It was old man Frost who had the company at the time (any one know the history). Any way he only had a weeks work for me and must have been desperate as I was only 21 and just past my test. Grateful for the chance to prove myself. Got through the week without any mishaps leading from Sunderland to Lemington on a Barretts homes site. That was my training on tipper work to add to my CV.
Colin, I hope you added my name to the CV list.
Top of the list Kevā¦good boss but a tight *** like all haulage operatorsā¦ha ha
Thanks Colin, can I use it as a reference?? regards Kev.
kevmac47:
f troop:
Frankydobo:
Iād been talking to Jimmy in the Derry one morning, I hadnāt seen him for a while, had a good natter, another Blyth lad joined us and Jim said to him this is a son (their were five of us) of me old mate Ernie Dobson, taught me everything I know. The other lad said thatās not much then is it, Jim replied Aye but its still a bit more than you! we laughed at the usual breakfast table banter but Jim had a great respect and fondness for the bloke he called āFathaā and my old man was just as proud to have Jim as a mate, they did night trunk together for a couple of years and my Dad said he couldnāt run with anyone better. Less than a week after our chat in the Derry Jim was killed, I had to go round to my Fathers, who was now retired and give him the bad news but he had already see it on the telly, he was quite upset, very sad time, we attended the funeral and Iām pleased to say there was a huge turn out. One of the industries characters and not forgotten by our family. Cheers FrankyIff i remember rightly Franky, David Dargue [RIP] drove the old dodge lorry with the coffin on the back from his home to the crematorium in Blyth with his family walking behind the lorry.Everybody was upset at Ferguson by the sad loss of Jimmy who was a great charachter and well liked by everyone. Yes Kev he did have a false eye, I think maybe thats why he drank a lot he only saw a half instead of a pint, mind you you he was a good grafter, he ended his days working for Douglas Bros as far as I know, Regards Larry.
It is very sad in any company when a colleague looses his life doing the job they loved.F troop, Davey Dargue is another name from the past, was he the lad with either a false eye, or did it have a turn in it? Regards Kevmac47.
Frankydobo:
Shame to hear that about Ray, I worked with him at Van Hee and he also worked with my Father at Steenburgs, Dad said him and his mate Bill Ashworth were loading 200cwt bags off a boat and Ray Caldwell the traffic manager said he was sending a new lad along to help and he was a big lad so they might have trouble keeping up. Sure enough Ray turned up and he was as mentioned but as big as he was he couldnāt handle the bags so Bill who had less fat than a Butchers pencil showed him how to take them onto his shoulder and use the weight as momentum to move up the trailer and position them in one cast, a technique no doubt now lost and thankfully one I later didnāt have to master. Ray cracked it eventually but had to admit size wasnāt everything! We all had to learn somewhere and much later Ray gave me a good tip when roping an awkward load, thatās what it was all about passing on the skills and tips gained over the years. All the best Ray.
hiya franky great to hear about my old mates from the past alive and passed away jimmy and billy alias cannonball was eight stone wet through your father was on night shift jimmy on the other shift was nigel smart and tony hyde when the trunk finnished i got tonys leyland fbb806c regards jimmy