Laurie Dryver:
Let me refresh your memory a bit old chap.Terry Bean, Glen Savage,John Boxall, Bill Willets, Doug Price, John Williams,Phil Williams, Phil Warren,Roy Tolley, Paul Thompson aka Yanto, Andy Ritchie, Dave Brooks, Neil? from Ashford ex Brian Yeardley,Rod Axford, George Forster (Jock with a Frock) John Farrell, and me of course the tearaway from Tewkesbury? Can’t think of anyone else at the moment except Peter Plant who did weekends along with a bloke who worked at the Council Depot at the top of the hill on theA49 going towards Ross. Ted Morgan, Bloke from Pompey area who drove N254VFO? If I think of any more I’ll let you know. Perhaps it would be worth starting a Sun Valley thread.Going back to the Rokold theme , I first had dealings with them when I was Subbing for Newpark from Wotton Basset in the mid 80’s Guy Marshall RIP and Robin East were both members of an association called Transfrigoroute.
HI just been looking at this thread ,brought back lots of memories i knew ian &kevin (aka gloria) & ■■■■ was with him in greece when he told me he had won a visit to the states iirc something involving coca cola, i am still in touch with yanto from sun valley as was, & also knew john boxall quite well, the last time i saw john was on a ferry just before christmas when he was in the office at sun valley i asked him why he was going away at that time & he said none of the drivers would go,Ian probably wont remember me but he came on for Solstor for a while , i also knew a phil he used to run with yanto quite often it was a good job then dont want to bore you with my memories you all take care Melv.
Of course I remenber you Melv. Top man ( Melvin, Solstor’s and Mervin, Ralph’s… And dont mix em up! lol ). I trust you are well . Didnt you have a little incident with a tanker on the French motorway to Bordeaux once…? Memories are never boring mate…
John Boxall. ( “Skydiver Driver”? Is that him? ). Broke oth ankles once iirc?
Yanto. Great guy. Send him my best when you speak pls Melv.
Hi Nip,
yes i knew all the men you mentioned,however dicks trip to the states was before i started so must have been1980/81??yes also the FRANSEN MEN YOU MENTIONED ALSO SUNVALLEY.Strange i also had a short spell at Solstore,DAVID WAS IN CHARGE…you have not mentioned the photos i know it was not you, you could bejohn,ha, are! you from princees risborough, am racking my brains to see if i can place you…i doubt you would remember me i was the older one?? . were you there when ROBIN DOUBLE MANNED a truck to Coslada, and by luck i switched all the fridges on a soon as i got up, just in time , as they were all about setteled down TO TEMP , and up rolled ROBIN CANNOT REMMEBER WHO WITH, ANYONE REMEMBERwho the other driver was dont think it was jeryme…
deckboypeggy:
Hi Nip,
yes i knew all the men you mentioned,however dicks trip to the states was before i started so must have been1980/81??yes also the FRANSEN MEN YOU MENTIONED ALSO SUNVALLEY.Strange i also had a short spell at Solstore,DAVID WAS IN CHARGE…you have not mentioned the photos i know it was not you, you could bejohn,ha, are! you from princees risborough, am racking my brains to see if i can place you…i doubt you would remember me i was the older one?? . were you there when ROBIN DOUBLE MANNED a truck to Coslada, and by luck i switched all the fridges on a soon as i got up, just in time , as they were all about setteled down TO TEMP , and up rolled ROBIN CANNOT REMMEBER WHO WITH, ANYONE REMEMBERwho the other driver was dont think it was jeryme…
No. I am not John Morris from Princes Risborough… He was in the office when I started. But I was part of the “Wycombe Mafia”…lol. I think about 6 of us on there from Wycombe.
I started 1988 but I have no idea who smashed that truck. I’m sure I can find out though. I have heard that story before re Robin double manning from other sources and the fridge starting scenario. I have a feeling it was Roger Keen he drove down with but again, I could clarify that for definite.
Hi Nipper,
yes there were a lot of local lads on,i could well have left when you started,Iremember well the day i told ROBIN iwas going,he did not like it one bit ,he went from standing by the fuel tank at BICESTER and kicked the concrete post in front of the shutter doors…not because i was any differnt from anyone else,it was where i was going ■■■■■■ him off ,lol. any one who worked for ROKOLD ,we were groomed to work as owner drivers,but did not relise it…ps the crash driver was from NORTHAMPTON ,not GEOF.
Iforgot to say the real reason ROBIN double manned as it was to try to smooth over the SPANISH LADY who run the Spanish end of the Macdonolds burger bun imports,from HEMEL HEMPSTEAD. and back loads etc ,as it had been taken off a firm from ASHFORD area and the uk drivers had got there feet well under the table.lots of little dodgeys going on,and she hated it allthough she had to do as she was told,the empty pallets that went back were not T formed as a paying load,but they were a load, …we were not popular, heho…LONG TIME AGO.also it was me who drove ROBIN IN Mardrid to see her, i was there all through the meeting …ithink i put the fear in him before we got there, driving solo unit,lots of near missises…
I always thought the Mc Donalds work to Madrid was PJK work as their trucks were always on the industrial estate before RACE as you enter Madrid , did PJK sub the work from Rokold ?
kerbut:
I always thought the Mc Donalds work to Madrid was PJK work as their trucks were always on the industrial estate before RACE as you enter Madrid , did PJK sub the work from Rokold ?
No. Rokold had the work long before PJK. Like most other loads back from Europe, it changed around many companies. You’re only as good as you’re last quote…!
deckboypeggy:
Iforgot to say the real reason ROBIN double manned as it was to try to smooth over the SPANISH LADY who run the Spanish end of the Macdonolds burger bun imports,from HEMEL HEMPSTEAD. and back loads etc ,as it had been taken off a firm from ASHFORD area and the uk drivers had got there feet well under the table.lots of little dodgeys going on,and she hated it allthough she had to do as she was told,the empty pallets that went back were not T formed as a paying load,but they were a load, …we were not popular, heho…LONG TIME AGO.also it was me who drove ROBIN IN Mardrid to see her, i was there all through the meeting …ithink i put the fear in him before we got there, driving solo unit,lots of near missises…
Empty trays back to Hemel. Load out and load back had to be paid for. In the end with no customs, one could tip Madrid with buns Monday morning. Trays back to Hemel and be back on Madrid Friday morning with buns.
Then the buns came out of Paris. McDonalds was a good job. Did a lot fir PJK including burgers from Madrid to Lisbon and Athens. Sauces from France to Portugal, Spain, Andorra and Greece.
Mmmmm. I know the feeling… I left Rokold to go to PJK. It was a popular decision with Mr East but it didn’t stop Cranny asking me back 3 yrs later
Incidentally. Robin is a top man. Great guy to work for. Even though he suspended me for a week…lol
deckboypeggy:
Iforgot to say the real reason ROBIN double manned as it was to try to smooth over the SPANISH LADY who run the Spanish end of the Macdonolds burger bun imports,from HEMEL HEMPSTEAD. and back loads etc ,as it had been taken off a firm from ASHFORD area and the uk drivers had got there feet well under the table.lots of little dodgeys going on,and she hated it allthough she had to do as she was told,the empty pallets that went back were not T formed as a paying load,but they were a load, …we were not popular, heho…LONG TIME AGO.also it was me who drove ROBIN IN Mardrid to see her, i was there all through the meeting …ithink i put the fear in him before we got there, driving solo unit,lots of near missises…
Empty trays back to Hemel. Load out and load back had to be paid for. In the end with no customs, one could tip Madrid with buns Monday morning. Trays back to Hemel and be back on Madrid Friday morning with buns.
Then the buns came out of Paris. McDonalds was a good job. Did a lot fir PJK including burgers from Madrid to Lisbon and Athens. Sauces from France to Portugal, Spain, Andorra and Greece.
Mmmmm. I know the feeling… I left Rokold to go to PJK. It was a popular decision with Mr East but it didn’t stop Cranny asking me back 3 yrs later
Incidentally. Robin is a top man. Great guy to work for. Even though he suspended me for a week…lol
Hi yes ian i did have a problem on the a10 its somthing i still remember but try to forget,i was in the wrong place at the wrong time, the name Princess risbough ( spelling ) reminds me of Kevin Holman last i heard he was an OD carrying concrete blocks or something similar i shipped plymouth santander one sunday years ago with Kevin ,Patti & Les tidy it was very rough & poor old Les never got out of the bunk the whole voyage i think they had american forces beef Kevin for the azorres & Les for Rota i think i was going to Gijon with ships stores i was on Harding Bros at the time, Happy Days you know you are getting old when you keep on like this, Take Care all you old Truckers ,Melv.
Strangle enough went on a day trip to Jersey on Condor from Weymouth last week , on the quay in St Helier were quite a few ex Harding,s fridges, you could see where the lettering had been taken off who,s they were.
Papa Numpty:
Hi yes ian i did have a problem on the a10 its somthing i still remember but try to forget,i was in the wrong place at the wrong time, the name Princess risbough ( spelling ) reminds me of Kevin Holman last i heard he was an OD carrying concrete blocks or something similar i shipped plymouth santander one sunday years ago with Kevin ,Patti & Les tidy it was very rough & poor old Les never got out of the bunk the whole voyage i think they had american forces beef Kevin for the azorres & Les for Rota i think i was going to Gijon with ships stores i was on Harding Bros at the time, Happy Days you know you are getting old when you keep on like this, Take Care all you old Truckers ,Melv.
Mmmmm. Can understand you putting that to the back of your mind tbh Melv.
Kevin and Les Tidy ( ex John Cooper ). Do you realise how many years ago you are remembering Melv ? Les was in the office at Rokold when I started. He’d hung his boots up. His wife was there too in the office. They left early '90’s and Les went bus driving around Milton Keynes. He gave me the best bit of advice ever starting out as I was then. “never bull**** and pretend you’ve done something you haven’t”… He’d apparently he’d fell foul of doing that many yrs previously. Had a couple of reunions but never tracked Les down unfortunately. We did get Robin, Kevin, Tim Clarke and ■■■■ together a couple of yrs ago.
Kevin got me on Rokold when I was 21 with wet ink still on my licence. I had been working for him driving a Sed Atk flatbed rigid. He’s been a family friend for many yrs. You are right with Princes Risborough.
Hi Nipper i was there when Les and his wife were in the office,and yes the never ■■■■■■■■ was a good introduction to your driving .Yes,DID how lucky you men were to get a start after a short introdution to road haulage…did tim have somthing to do with concrete work after ROKOLD as he lived at grendon village or there abouts,near upper heyford… i have forgoten who it was we called the Bank Manager?i have done enough looking back especially Rokold i still say in my own mind for all the hours we did and did not get paid,i and others were owed about a years salary over the time,ps i did get my ROKOLD PENSION money paid back after i left so i will leave Rokold now and get on with writing my driving history,socialy history lol
deckboypeggy:
Hi Nipper i was there when Les and his wife were in the office,and yes the never [zb] was a good introduction to your driving .Yes,DID how lucky you men were to get a start after a short introdution to road haulage…did tim have somthing to do with concrete work after ROKOLD as he lived at grendon village or there abouts,near upper heyford… i have forgoten who it was we called the Bank Manager?i have done enough looking back especially Rokold i still say in my own mind for all the hours we did and did not get paid,i and others were owed about a years salary over the time,ps i did get my ROKOLD PENSION money paid back after i left so i will leave Rokold now and get on with writing my driving history,socialy history lol
Talking about working for nothing we had guys on SOLSTOR who used to say the same thing. I may have been mad but the way i looked at it, i was driving decent trucks i was working with top (in my opinion)guys the work was clean & most important in the day every week i had the best money i had ever had plus i really enjoyed the job, ive earned more money since but not as enjoyable. Just my thoughts on the subject mind you the guys who said all that usually did not stay long but from what i read on hear it has changed drastickly(speelling) since i left in i think 97. Take Care Melv
YES solstore was not the best,by any means,I DID NOT STAY LONG too many super stars, also keeping your own motor .not a chance.AFTER YEARS OF FRIDGE WORK i found my calling, dry goods tilts.why on earth i stuck the fridges for so long. god knows…papa numpty i think you were from HARDINGS. OR BUNNS ,OR FORDSEYS.
deckboypeggy:
YES solstore was not the best,by any means,I DID NOT STAY LONG too many super stars, also keeping your own motor .not a chance.AFTER YEARS OF FRIDGE WORK i found my calling, dry goods tilts.why on earth i stuck the fridges for so long. god knows…papa numpty i think you were from HARDINGS. OR BUNNS ,OR FORDSEYS.
Hi as meatloaf said two out of three aint bad,yes i worked for Hardings for 11 years & Bunns for about nine months did not get on well with the job or Mr bunn so left for Solstor ten & half years there mostly good but all jobs seem to change after a while , when were you on for Solstor do i know you ? anyway Take Care Melv.
YES you would know me however i never stood out in the crowd,i do not think i ever run with you ,ships in the nigh,t does Avonmouth, the pill,get near you…IS Eric Slater around,i worked with him also Pulleyns…never let eric shake your hand,he would squeeze you to your knees,unlees you got hold of his thumb lol.if i had a chance of getting my own motor i would have stayed at Solstore however i new that it would be a never so off i went,i went to PANDORO waterford. sothern irland just for the crack,…another bad move…i was a sucker for making bad moves but i have got to 70…
deckboypeggy:
YES you would know me however i never stood out in the crowd,i do not think i ever run with you ,ships in the nigh,t does Avonmouth, the pill,get near you…IS Eric Slater around,i worked with him also Pulleyns…never let eric shake your hand,he would squeeze you to your knees,unlees you got hold of his thumb lol.if i had a chance of getting my own motor i would have stayed at Solstore however i new that it would be a never so off i went,i went to PANDORO waterford. sothern irland just for the crack,…another bad move…i was a sucker for making bad moves but i have got to 70…
Hi again ,you obiously knew Eric i last spoke to him maybe ten years ago he was working for Samworth Bros from bri stol they dId a lot of Ginsters work i di d a bit on Bunns , you are right about the handshake exactly if you did not force your hand up to his thumb he would almost break your fingers,Yes i worked from Avonmouth for Hardings &used to live in Bristol & later in weston -s mare ;at one time used to frequent the Kings Arms in pill. im trying to think who you might be, did you also live in wsm & have rover 3500 which you lent me to go home in one time when i had a death in the family? Take Care Melv.
No NOT WSM,.A MIDLANDER.
i would tell you, however you would not be able to place me,as i was mostly a loner,and i found that it was my policy on eruopean, i would run by myself even if there were just two of us on a trip, that was the way i liked it , however ,never a leader, a good sheep…if you had a problem i would be first to help… i do not want people to know who i am, as i may one day make a adverse comment . allthough i probly will never ever see any of my previous work coleagues also i never realy had mates on firms .NOT MR SADO i loved a good booze,at weekends,but i picked my company ,also i was a self caterer ,if in 20 years i ate in 5 resturants i would be lying, no mater where, i used a pressure cooker a lot… A WIDE BERTH TO MOST OF THE WATERING HOLES…you name them and iwould aviod them if possible…unless customs…
deckboypeggy:
No NOT WSM,.A MIDLANDER.
i would tell you, however you would not be able to place me,as i was mostly a loner,and i found that it was my policy on eruopean, i would run by myself even if there were just two of us on a trip, that was the way i liked it , however ,never a leader, a good sheep…if you had a problem i would be first to help… i do not want people to know who i am, as i may one day make a adverse comment . allthough i probly will never ever see any of my previous work coleagues also i never realy had mates on firms .NOT MR SADO i loved a good booze,at weekends,but i picked my company ,also i was a self caterer ,if in 20 years i ate in 5 resturants i would be lying, no mater where, i used a pressure cooker a lot… A WIDE BERTH TO MOST OF THE WATERING HOLES…you name them and iwould aviod them if possible…unless customs…
Well it obiously worked i have not a clue who you are , maybe i had left by then i was there from 87 to 97 ten & half years in total , if that was how you liked to work fair play to you i was a little like that myself you Take Care Melv.
( Melvin, Solstor’s and Mervin, Ralph’s… And dont mix em up! lol ). I trust you are well 
. Didnt you have a little incident with a tanker on the French motorway to Bordeaux once…? Memories are never boring mate…
He was in the office when I started. But I was part of the “Wycombe Mafia”…lol. I think about 6 of us on there from Wycombe.