PAUL GEE's PHOTO COLLECTION (Part 1)

[deanb]

Chris Webb:
Morning Dean.
A and E Transport are from Sheffield,not sure if they are still operating though

Cheers for the info Chris.

boardo96:
Morning all, I think I’m right in saying John Pointon are from Leek,
they deal with animal byproducts, ran a few Merc as well.

Thanks for the info “boardo96” sounds like they would have been smelly motors to be stuck behind.

ergomatic man:
“DEANB”

Anyone know where the WA Cope Foden is from ■■?w a cope are from brownhills ran alot of erf,s and fodens over the years,mainly scanias now still as 1 cat powered alpha.

Good stuff “ergomatic man” thanks for posting.

Heres an advert from 1965 that you may find intresting.

Click on twice.

tyneside:
“boden”“tyneside” "Buzzer"Apologies for posting but thought this was interesting as it was about the first all alloy livestock container built on a 1936 Albion with a P6 engine, as you know livestock things I like, Buzzer.

Interesting article, Ambrose Fox at Lancaster Built a couple of containers for us in the mid sixties using that alloy planking. But he used wood for the uprights, floor and decks. The alloy was also used for the fold down sides on the top deck. They were good strong builds but but the s*** used to stick in the grooves of the alloy which made for a lot of brushing when washing out.

Tyneside

Cheers Tyneside

We had a couple of Fox bodies, single deck wood in 1966 and two deck ally in 1969, I’ve got the bill for the last one £650, about £11,500 nowadays, what would a two deck 24’ box cost today ? I think its fair to say they were a bit rough buildwise but rock solid, but as you point out them ally boxes were crap-literally- when it came to washing out. I never drove them other than round the farm yard, I was 13 in 1969 so nowt to do with me!

Hi Boden

Did you ever go to Fox’s place in Lancaster ? IIRC it was down a little lane in the middle of of the town which opened up onto the canal side.
We would take a new chassis cab over on a Sunday and Ambrose and his son were always there. We would go back over a few weeks later to collect, again on a Sunday and would always have to hang around for a couple of hours while the paintwork was being finished !!
Not sure if you are still involved with livestock but Parkhouse coachworks have a good website with videos demonstrating all the different combinations of lifting decks etc. that they build. Everything is alloy now and would not like to even guess the price of a new container.
Tyneside

Thanks for your input “tyneside and Boden” regarding the livestock bodies. Those alloy boxes must have been so much easier to
maintain compared to the old wooden bodies which i asume you had to treat the wood yearly ■■? They must have been heavy as well.

The other thing i always find intresting is body builders back in the 60’s would literally build anything,unlike the more modern ones
that tend to stick to one type of body mainly, like building tippers or flats. We had a local body builder that used to build anything
one week they would build a flat bed and the following week they would build a pantecnicon. They were obviously very skilled
workers in some of these body builders.

Heres a Jennings advert from 1962 & 1974 that illustrates what i mean.

Click on pages twice.

Brochure.

oiltreader:
“Trevor, Harris Road Haulage Scania from Shropshire”
Sister wagon at Dingwall which was quite regular.
Oily

Thanks for the pics Oily.

bluemikehill:
“DEANB”

Anyone recognise the Volvo bulker ■■

the Volvo fm tipper is portcullis transport Shropshire

Thanks for the input chap.

pete smith:
"robthedog"Anyone know where the WA Cope Foden is from ■■?

Pete Smiths neck of the woods (I think)
Hi Rob and Dean,
I think ergomatic man has answered the question?
Wally Cope is from Brownhills and as ergoman has stated ran Fodens but is now operating Scania’s, usually see them down Linghall quarry/landfill site in Rugby, that Foden in its previous livery. Cheer’s Pete

Thanks “robthedog” and Pete for the comments and pic.

[deanb]

Cockerdog:
Who did you drive for “Cockerdog” ■■?

Heres a few pics of the companies you mentioned. :wink

I’ve never been a driver Dean, except for a couple of years working for a marquee hire firm who had a few 7.5 tonners and even then I didn’t drive much.
My dad was/is the driver. I stumbled across Trucknet a few years ago looking for some pictures from the companies that dad drove for - he’s got a few but not too many so wanted to find some more.
This thread has been an absolute gem so, thanks to you and all the other contributors.
Dad’s first driving job was with a haulage company called Warwick & Barr from Whitchurch, Hampshire. Photo’s for this company must be rare as rocking horse ■■■ because I’ve not managed to find any - yet!! I think they went out of business in the late 1970’s
Dad left Warwicks in the mid 60’s and went to a company called Boyle & Ellis from Ramsdell, Hampshire. You have posted some pictures of lorries from John Boyle Transport - this is the same company although I’m not sure what happened to Ellis!!!
Then in 1969 he left Boyles and went to Smith Bros of North Waltham and to all intents and purposes is still there now!! He ‘survived’ all the sales and ‘take overs’ so worked for Smiths, All Seasons, Blandford & Webb, UAM, Cargill, Masstock and Agrii without changing job.
For the record he will be 78 this year and is still a full time driver but not HGV anymore!!
When something he would find interesting comes up, I make sure he gets to see it. He reckons Christopher Hill had a feed store on Poole quay which is where the Weatherspoons is now - if anyone would know the answer I’m sure you would, is he right?
Keep up the good work.
I love this thread.

Yes your dad is right, Christopher Hill’s definately had a seed store and main office in Castle Street which is behind the building’s on the quay.
Your dad was probably thinking about the mill that is on the quay,see below.
Heres a Brian Galpin pic of the seed store.

Advert.

They also operated a mill along the quay which was situated just as you turned onto the quay before going over lthe
lifing bridge it was about 200 feet from the junction. Spent many hours delivering there as a kid.

Seen here derelict before being knocked down years after it was shut.

NMP

They also operated an even larger mill in Poole as you came over the flyover and it was on the edge of the backwater before
the Holes Bay road was built.

Some of their trucks.

Not sure if Dorset feeds were part of Christopher Hill’s, or if Christopher Hill’s bought them out as early
Chrisopher Hill’s motors were the same colour as these tractors loading grain onto a ship alongside the quay.

NMP

In the background of the pic there is a conveyor belt that use to transport coal above the road into the gas works.

When i was a kid there were a couple of grain silos on the edge of the quay near the conveyor belt
that ship’s i imagine used to unload into. Not sure if Christopher Hills owned them or Poole Harbour Commisioners.
They were demolished in the 1980’s i think.

[gingerfold]

^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

[deanb]

gingerfold:
^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

I bet you have that on VHS tape Graham ! They liked there Leylands and the Marathon’s were replaced by Roadtrains as you are aware.

[deanb]

Dont think we have had a G.Thomas tanker on before ■■

Dont think we have had a Owens rigid on before.

Anyone know where the C.Pike Volvo is from ■■?

Verco Mercedes.

Anyone recognise the Welsh ERF ■■?

Rawcliffe heavy haulage Mercedes.

Griffiths Scania.

D.T.Hunkin Renault.

Anyone recognise the Volvo ■■?

MDW MAN & lamp post !

[logger]

C Pike ltd are from Broad street Common , Newport ,South Wales .were a family firm recently sold out to MCL

[paul_c_gee]

logger:
C Pike ltd are from Broad street Common , Newport ,South Wales .were a family firm recently sold out to MCL

Thanks for the info “logger” - always a shame to hear another family company being swallowed up - here is a shot I took last December M5 Northbound near Portishead - from what I can remember it was absolutely freezing!!!

[boden]

tyneside:

boden:

tyneside:

Buzzer:
Apologies for posting but thought this was interesting as it was about the first all alloy livestock container built on a 1936 Albion with a P6 engine, as you know livestock things I like, Buzzer.

Interesting article, Ambrose Fox at Lancaster Built a couple of containers for us in the mid sixties using that alloy planking. But he used wood for the uprights, floor and decks. The alloy was also used for the fold down sides on the top deck. They were good strong builds but but the s*** used to stick in the grooves of the alloy which made for a lot of brushing when washing out.

Tyneside

Cheers Tyneside

We had a couple of Fox bodies, single deck wood in 1966 and two deck ally in 1969, I’ve got the bill for the last one £650, about £11,500 nowadays, what would a two deck 24’ box cost today ? I think its fair to say they were a bit rough buildwise but rock solid, but as you point out them ally boxes were crap-literally- when it came to washing out. I never drove them other than round the farm yard, I was 13 in 1969 so nowt to do with me!

Hi Boden

Did you ever go to Fox’s place in Lancaster ? IIRC it was down a little lane in the middle of of the town which opened up onto the canal side.
We would take a new chassis cab over on a Sunday and Ambrose and his son were always there. We would go back over a few weeks later to collect, again on a Sunday and would always have to hang around for a couple of hours while the paintwork was being finished !!
Not sure if you are still involved with livestock but Parkhouse coachworks have a good website with videos demonstrating all the different combinations of lifting decks etc. that they build. Everything is alloy now and would not like to even guess the price of a new container.
Tyneside

Cheers Tyneside

No, I’ve no involvement with livestock though we still have the farm and there is some stock there but nowt to do with us. I’m on a weekly phone call update at the moment from my brother who lives there which is only a couple of miles away. I’m actually some weeks into early retirement which is going very well, nowt to do with current situation, I told the gaffer in February I would be calling it a day in the middle of March, which since 1982 has been fridge work and since 1991 permanent nights, a lot better than days ,for me at least. Anyway, yes, I just went the once to Fox’s place in 1969 though It was a lot of years later when I was told it was down the side of the canal. Interesting stuff from Buzzer with regard the the alloy cattle boxes. A couple of weeks ago I put “cattle trucks” into the Commercial Motor archives to see what I could find out about Carmichael bodies. They exhibited an alloy box as early as 1954 and an article about Shrewsbury market had a bloke there who had been using alloy Williams Boxes since 1956. I just looked at the 1950’s and 60’s sections, there was some interesting stuff about what operators thought about wood versus alloy.

[gingerfold]

DEANB:

gingerfold:
^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

I bet you have that on VHS tape Graham ! They liked there Leylands and the Marathon’s were replaced by Roadtrains as you are aware.

Each division within the RHM group had it own vehicle buying policy. RHM Agriculture was strong on AEC’s, then Leyland after AEC was closed down. Flour Milling division was dominated by Foden for donkey’s years, then ERF got a presence from the mid-'70s. Lighter bagged flour delivery lorries were Dodge K Series and Ford D Series. British Bakeries division was mainly lighter vehicles for wholesale bread delivery rounds, and it was either BMC FG, or Ford D Series. Individual bakeries either one or the other. Bigger vehicles for inter-bakery trunking could be anything, Ford D Series, ERF, Seddon, AEC Mercury. Grocery Products division was anything and everything, but a strong Ford presence. I reckon that in the mid-'70s the total RHM Group fleet was about 4,000 vehicles.

[oiltreader]

At Mid Calder, West Lothian.
Oily

[tyneside]

Thanks to everyone for their input with livestock containers and their build, some interesting stuff.
Boden, congrats on your retirement, My wife and I did the same in 2007. Personally I have never sat in a HGV since 1992. We sold the fleet in 1988 and I worked as owner driver with a six wheel tipper for 4 years. The housing market recession in 1992 sickened me off and I got out of the business altogether. Worked for one of the big banks and then the Civil Service before retiring. Tyneside

[evs127]

DEANB:
Dont think we have had a G.Thomas tanker on before ■■

9

Hi Dean, G Thomas used to be an independant fuel supplier based near Ammanford in South Wales. They were taken over by and are still part of NWF fuels of Cheshire. I am pleased to say that I am very honoured to be featured as it is I driving that tanker. Can I just pass on my thanks to you and Paul for this brilliant thread and long may it continue.

[ray_smyth]

gingerfold:

DEANB:

gingerfold:
^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

I bet you have that on VHS tape Graham ! They liked there Leylands and the Marathon’s were replaced by Roadtrains as you are aware.

Each division within the RHM group had it own vehicle buying policy. RHM Agriculture was strong on AEC’s, then Leyland after AEC was closed down. Flour Milling division was dominated by Foden for donkey’s years, then ERF got a presence from the mid-'70s. Lighter bagged flour delivery lorries were Dodge K Series and Ford D Series. British Bakeries division was mainly lighter vehicles for wholesale bread delivery rounds, and it was either BMC FG, or Ford D Series. Individual bakeries either one or the other. Bigger vehicles for inter-bakery trunking could be anything, Ford D Series, ERF, Seddon, AEC Mercury. Grocery Products division was anything and everything, but a strong Ford presence. I reckon that in the mid-'70s the total RHM Group fleet was about 4,000 vehicles.

During my time as a registered carrier with Rank Hovis Ltd from 1979 until 1997, I bought several Ford D Series
direct from the company. They were about 5 years old and fairly low mileage. These are 2 of them which were
from 1976, GYF 628N and HHX 310N, 13,000kg GVW, with 18ft long bodywork by Southfields of Loughborough.

Ray Smyth.

[paul_john]

Hi Dean. The 8 wheel ERF tipper is probably in its second life there. Iirc when new it worked out of British Dredging in Cardiff supplying sand to RMC plants on Dowlais top and Gilwern at the foot of the black rock.
Two were based in Rhymney driven by ex Brewery drivers. They also ran a B series and F7. Not sure who owned them, but had close ties with PLD haulage who supplied both plants with chippings from Vaynor Quarry in Merthyr Tydfil.

Paul

[cockerdog]

DEANB:

Cockerdog:
Who did you drive for “Cockerdog” ■■?

Heres a few pics of the companies you mentioned. :wink

I’ve never been a driver Dean, except for a couple of years working for a marquee hire firm who had a few 7.5 tonners and even then I didn’t drive much.
My dad was/is the driver. I stumbled across Trucknet a few years ago looking for some pictures from the companies that dad drove for - he’s got a few but not too many so wanted to find some more.
This thread has been an absolute gem so, thanks to you and all the other contributors.
Dad’s first driving job was with a haulage company called Warwick & Barr from Whitchurch, Hampshire. Photo’s for this company must be rare as rocking horse ■■■ because I’ve not managed to find any - yet!! I think they went out of business in the late 1970’s
Dad left Warwicks in the mid 60’s and went to a company called Boyle & Ellis from Ramsdell, Hampshire. You have posted some pictures of lorries from John Boyle Transport - this is the same company although I’m not sure what happened to Ellis!!!
Then in 1969 he left Boyles and went to Smith Bros of North Waltham and to all intents and purposes is still there now!! He ‘survived’ all the sales and ‘take overs’ so worked for Smiths, All Seasons, Blandford & Webb, UAM, Cargill, Masstock and Agrii without changing job.
For the record he will be 78 this year and is still a full time driver but not HGV anymore!!
When something he would find interesting comes up, I make sure he gets to see it. He reckons Christopher Hill had a feed store on Poole quay which is where the Weatherspoons is now - if anyone would know the answer I’m sure you would, is he right?
Keep up the good work.
I love this thread.

Yes your dad is right, Christopher Hill’s definately had a seed store and main office in Castle Street which is behind the building’s on the quay.
Your dad was probably thinking about the mill that is on the quay,see below.
Heres a Brian Galpin pic of the seed store.

9

Advert.

1

They also operated a mill along the quay which was situated just as you turned onto the quay before going over lthe
lifing bridge it was about 200 feet from the junction. Spent many hours delivering there as a kid.

Seen here derelict before being knocked down years after it was shut.

NMP

8

They also operated an even larger mill in Poole as you came over the flyover and it was on the edge of the backwater before
the Holes Bay road was built.

7

Some of their trucks.

6

5

4

3

2

Not sure if Dorset feeds were part of Christopher Hill’s, or if Christopher Hill’s bought them out as early
Chrisopher Hill’s motors were the same colour as these tractors loading grain onto a ship alongside the quay.

NMP

0

In the background of the pic there is a conveyor belt that use to transport coal above the road into the gas works.

When i was a kid there were a couple of grain silos on the edge of the quay near the conveyor belt
that ship’s i imagine used to unload into. Not sure if Christopher Hills owned them or Poole Harbour Commisioners.
They were demolished in the 1980’s i think.

Apologies for replying to the whole post but, there are a lot of evocative memories there . Bizarrely not the Christopher Hill mills though, even though dad says he’s been to all of them, quite a lot, which means, seeing as I spent as much time ‘on the lorry’ when I was a kid as I could, must mean I’ve been to some of them!!
I do remember being with dad and loading grain boats on the Quay - not via a conveyor though, tipped straight on to the floor and then transferred to the boat by a grab bucket on a mobile crane.
The Seddon is just like the one that dad drove for All Seasons - put the white and blue livery on it and it could be the one!!
The one that brings it all back though, is the Leyland Bison. Dad had a six wheeler when driving for Smiths which was fitted with a Barham Bodies, fold flat, bulker body which meant he got the best (or worst) of both worlds!
I hate to think how many miles I travelled sat on that engine cover (my older brother always got the passenger seat!!) - wouldn’t change it for the world though, I loved every minute.

[deanb]

gingerfold:
^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

Amazing what memories are brought back via a photo of a truck. Heres a bit about the 1979 dispute.

Click on page twice to read.

logger:
C Pike ltd are from Broad street Common , Newport ,South Wales .were a family firm recently sold out to MCL

gingerfold:
“DEANB” “gingerfold”^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

I bet you have that on VHS tape Graham ! They liked there Leylands and the Marathon’s were replaced by Roadtrains as you are aware. :wink.

Each division within the RHM group had it own vehicle buying policy. RHM Agriculture was strong on AEC’s, then Leyland after AEC was closed down. Flour Milling division was dominated by Foden for donkey’s years, then ERF got a presence from the mid-'70s. Lighter bagged flour delivery lorries were Dodge K Series and Ford D Series. British Bakeries division was mainly lighter vehicles for wholesale bread delivery rounds, and it was either BMC FG, or Ford D Series. Individual bakeries either one or the other. Bigger vehicles for inter-bakery trunking could be anything, Ford D Series, ERF, Seddon, AEC Mercury. Grocery Products division was anything and everything, but a strong Ford presence. I reckon that in the mid-'70s the total RHM Group fleet was about 4,000 vehicles.

Good stuff Graham. 4,000 motors was a huge fleet. They must have had some serious buying power.
BRS were the largest fleet but were there many other fleets with 4,000 or more motors back in the 70’s you can
think of ■■?

oiltreader:
At Mid Calder, West Lothian.
Oily

Thanks for the pic Oily.

tyneside:
Thanks to everyone for their input with livestock containers and their build, some interesting stuff.
Boden, congrats on your retirement, My wife and I did the same in 2007. Personally I have never sat in a HGV since 1992. We sold the fleet in 1988 and I worked as owner driver with a six wheel tipper for 4 years. The housing market recession in 1992 sickened me off and I got out of the business altogether. Worked for one of the big banks and then the Civil Service before retiring. Tyneside

Thanks for the comments “tyneside and boden”

Evs127:
“DEANB” Dont think we have had a G.Thomas tanker on before ■■

Hi Dean, G Thomas used to be an independant fuel supplier based near Ammanford in South Wales. They were taken over by and are still part of NWF fuels of Cheshire. I am pleased to say that I am very honoured to be featured as it is I driving that tanker. Can I just pass on my thanks to you and Paul for this brilliant thread and long may it continue.

Happy days chap ! Always nice when someone sees one of there trucks on here and we have had a couple lately.

Thanks for your comments.

Ray Smyth:
“gingerfold”

Each division within the RHM group had it own vehicle buying policy. RHM Agriculture was strong on AEC’s, then Leyland after AEC was closed down. Flour Milling division was dominated by Foden for donkey’s years, then ERF got a presence from the mid-'70s. Lighter bagged flour delivery lorries were Dodge K Series and Ford D Series. British Bakeries division was mainly lighter vehicles for wholesale bread delivery rounds, and it was either BMC FG, or Ford D Series. Individual bakeries either one or the other. Bigger vehicles for inter-bakery trunking could be anything, Ford D Series, ERF, Seddon, AEC Mercury. Grocery Products division was anything and everything, but a strong Ford presence. I reckon that in the mid-'70s the total RHM Group fleet was about 4,000 vehicles.

During my time as a registered carrier with Rank Hovis Ltd from 1979 until 1997, I bought several Ford D Series
direct from the company. They were about 5 years old and fairly low mileage. These are 2 of them which were
from 1976, GYF 628N and HHX 310N, 13,000kg GVW, with 18ft long bodywork by Southfields of Loughborough.

Ray Smyth.

Thanks for the input and pics Ray.

Paul John:
Hi Dean. The 8 wheel ERF tipper is probably in its second life there. Iirc when new it worked out of British Dredging in Cardiff supplying sand to RMC plants on Dowlais top and Gilwern at the foot of the black rock.
Two were based in Rhymney driven by ex Brewery drivers. They also ran a B series and F7. Not sure who owned them, but had close ties with PLD haulage who supplied both plants with chippings from Vaynor Quarry in Merthyr Tydfil.

Paul

Thanks for the comments “Paul John” . I assume without looking at google maps that “black rock” is a mountain ?

Cockerdog:
“DEANB”

In the background of the pic there is a conveyor belt that use to transport coal above the road into the gas works.

Apologies for replying to the whole post but, there are a lot of evocative memories there . Bizarrely not the Christopher Hill mills though, even though dad says he’s been to all of them, quite a lot, which means, seeing as I spent as much time ‘on the lorry’ when I was a kid as I could, must mean I’ve been to some of them!!
I do remember being with dad and loading grain boats on the Quay - not via a conveyor though, tipped straight on to the floor and then transferred to the boat by a grab bucket on a mobile crane.
The Seddon is just like the one that dad drove for All Seasons - put the white and blue livery on it and it could be the one!!
The one that brings it all back though, is the Leyland Bison. Dad had a six wheeler when driving for Smiths which was fitted with a Barham Bodies, fold flat, bulker body which meant he got the best (or worst) of both worlds!
I hate to think how many miles I travelled sat on that engine cover (my older brother always got the passenger seat!!) - wouldn’t change it for the world though, I loved every minute.

Sounds like some good memories of your childhood “Cockerdog” and i would think just about everyone on here can relate to doing
miles in the passenger seat with your dad,uncle or grandad ! The thing i can remember is after passing my car test and you
start mouching about i did not need a map. I could remember the road to places like Exeter,Bath etc and the good thing was you
knew all the bad bends/junctions etc and it made you a better driver. It also taught you how to drive watching how the drivers
wihout even thinking about it negotiated junctions,tight turns etc. At the time alhough we probably never realised it,we all
learnt a great deal back then.

I probably did not make it clear in my earlier post but the conveyor in the background was nothing to do with grain. It transported coal
into the gas works that were down on the left hand side. I believe that was demolished in the 60’s possibly very early 70’s.

At the moment i dont think we have a pic of an All Seasons Seddon artic,but you never know what’s coming in the next batch of pics.

Just realised we have not done anything on the Bison so will do something over the next few weeks.

I have a backlog off stuff as i come on here meaning to post something and then see some comments and end up posing
something completely different !

[deanb]

“beanie” Re your message about Austin Wilkinson from Salford.If anyone has any pics of this company can they pop them on as “beanie” is
looking for some as his dad drove for them.

Heres one that “moomooland” Paul popped on here a while back with Austin stood in front of one of his ERF’s.

[buzzer]

Being as we have had a bit in cattle trucks, bought a lot of second hand trucks from Peter in the past, Buzzer

[paul_c_gee]

Following on from all the livestock haulage here is another of the Gilders - Gordon - with a nice top of the range outfit - bet that trailer cost a few bob and probably takes even longer to wash out!!!

[gingerfold]

DEANB:

gingerfold:
^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

Amazing what memories are brought back via a photo of a truck. Heres a bit about the 1979 dispute.

Click on page twice to read.

0

logger:
C Pike ltd are from Broad street Common , Newport ,South Wales .were a family firm recently sold out to MCL

gingerfold:
“DEANB” “gingerfold”^^^^^^^^
In the winter of discontent (1979) transport drivers’ strike I queued with a Christopher Hill Marathon driver in the TGWU committee room they had to approve collections of salt from British Salt at Middlewich, actually we were queuing down the staircase, and the queue of drivers was shown on BBC North West Tonight news bulletin. I was there for Mothers Pride bakery Chesterfield, which was also a RHM group company. We both got our salt as we had letters from the shop stewards at our respective sites.

I bet you have that on VHS tape Graham ! They liked there Leylands and the Marathon’s were replaced by Roadtrains as you are aware. :wink.

Each division within the RHM group had it own vehicle buying policy. RHM Agriculture was strong on AEC’s, then Leyland after AEC was closed down. Flour Milling division was dominated by Foden for donkey’s years, then ERF got a presence from the mid-'70s. Lighter bagged flour delivery lorries were Dodge K Series and Ford D Series. British Bakeries division was mainly lighter vehicles for wholesale bread delivery rounds, and it was either BMC FG, or Ford D Series. Individual bakeries either one or the other. Bigger vehicles for inter-bakery trunking could be anything, Ford D Series, ERF, Seddon, AEC Mercury. Grocery Products division was anything and everything, but a strong Ford presence. I reckon that in the mid-'70s the total RHM Group fleet was about 4,000 vehicles.

Good stuff Graham. 4,000 motors was a huge fleet. They must have had some serious buying power.
BRS were the largest fleet but were there many other fleets with 4,000 or more motors back in the 70’s you can
think of ■■?

Probably at least 2,500 of those would have been bread round vans. Back in the '70s supermarkets didn’t have the monopoly they do now, so more sliced bread was sold through traditional corner shops. RHM had about 70 bakeries, ranging from the biggest which was at Cale Lane, Wigan. I was there for 4 years and at one stage we had 140 BMC FGs, and they all fitted into one enormous van shed, as it was called. Trunking vehicles were ERFs and Ford D Series. When I moved to Mothers Pride Chesterfield there were 50 Ford D Series rounds vans, they were bigger capacity than the FGs. Trunking vehicles were Ford D Series, and I had a Mercedes tractor unit on hire for a few months, until I hired a driver and unit from J. Pass of Chesterfield, which saved me a lot of hassle. Typically and depending on the round, a van salesman would do 30 to 35 shop deliveries daily. They were paid on a basic wage plus commission, which was capped at a certain level. Virtually every van salesman at Chesterfield was on the maximum, Back then Sunday trading wasn’t thought of so Saturday was the biggest sales day. Some of the local drivers did an extra Friday afternoon run because the vans wouldn’t hold all the bread needed for Saturday, for the more distant rounds we sent one of the night trunking vans (tail lifts) to a meeting point on Friday afternoon to feed vans that came to meet it. Happy days.