Stanfield:
Hi Bonkey I’ve just come across your post on Staveley Lime/John Biesty.I worked for Biestys for 5yrs as HGV mechanic up until Staveley Ind took them over in 1973 and then they closed the workshop in manchester down within 6 mths.At the time they were running Albion Reivers and a few 4 wheeler Leyland Comets E F G & H reg. They had just started to replace these with Scammell Routemans of which if I remember they had about 8 at the time of the take over these were J K & L reg vehicles.Within weeks of taking over Staveley replaced some vehicles with AEC 8 wheelers.The drivers were kept on for about 2 years after I left and I remember my mate getting one of the Foden 8 wheelers to replace his Scammell.Have you anymore pics to go with the ones you have already posted.I often wonder what happened to Tom Stevens (grandson of John Biesty)and owner of the company,some one said he was kept on as part of the deal and then finnished up working in the weighbridge,dont know if this is true though.
Haven’t got any fresh pics of Beisty transport, but I’d dearly love to see some. I’m sure there must be more out there, but where ? Well, you tell me !
Just wish I’d been more savvy in the early 80s and had a camera on my many visits to Dove Holes quarry. I can recall a Routeman in Beisty colours being used as a dust wagon emptying filler out of the Via Nova tar plant and I’m sure it was an L reg. The year was roughly 1981 as I was riding shotgun in another Routeman owned by another local haulage firm and we were collecting a smallish amount of topping to be used for a drive on the gaffers house front.
Best thing I recall was the amount of ex Tarmac and Hoveringham vehicles queueing up waiting to load that day as the plant kept breaking down.
If only there was a way of transporting images from the mind onto photographs.
Hi Bonkey
Cheers for the reply mate.Same here about the camera but I think that was the last thing on my mind in them days .I remember they used to have photos all round the office at the depot in manchester during the time I was there but again dont know who finished up taking them unless it was the gaffer Tom Stevens.I will try to make some enquires because he had a son John (if he is still around) and they lived over Alderley Edge way. At least we have one of the Reivers thanks to Tipit.All the Scammells had slopeing bodies fitted so they did’nt need greedy boards when they went on coal/coke deliveries.
Stanfield:
I often wonder what happened to Tom Stevens (grandson of John Biesty)and owner of the company,some one said he was kept on as part of the deal and then finnished up working in the weighbridge,dont know if this is true though.
I can confirm that Tom Stevens was indeed kept on by Staveley as assistant to the TM at the time Geoff Allen. A pleasant and popular chap by all accounts. I remember the Biesty fleet turning up at Hindlow and having a run out in one of the old LAD cabs, which was a bit of an eye opener after the brand new A Series artic that was my usual ride.
TIPIT:
Is Hindlow and Beswick’s all the same quarry now ? and can anyone tell me when Ryan & Somerville’s quarry closed down ?
One and the same TIPIT. Hindlow is actually the name of the seam, but the works were originally (Percy) Beswicks Lime Works. Beswicks also owned the quarry at Dove Holes, both were taken over by Staveley Lime and in turn by RMC. When RMC ran into severe difficulties after purchasing Rugby Cement the quarries were quickly disposed off as they - especially Hindlow - were sought after assets which could be sold off quickly. Hindlow went to the Belgium firm Lhoist and became Lhoist UK whils Dove had the misfortune to fall into the hands of Cemex.
The words Beswicks Lime Works could be seen on the old kilns at Hindlow well into RMC days
Stanfield:
I often wonder what happened to Tom Stevens (grandson of John Biesty)and owner of the company,some one said he was kept on as part of the deal and then finnished up working in the weighbridge,dont know if this is true though.
I can confirm that Tom Stevens was indeed kept on by Staveley as assistant to the TM at the time Geoff Allen. A pleasant and popular chap by all accounts. I remember the Biesty fleet turning up at Hindlow and having a run out in one of the old LAD cabs, which was a bit of an eye opener after the brand new A Series artic that was my usual ride.
Cheers for the info on Tom Stevens do you know if he is still about these days,He was a great gaffer to work for I remember the day the workshop staff got finished at Manchester he knew nothing about it until we were told by Staveley personel and he broke down in tears when we were told.They told us friday morning and we finished sameday.I’ve still got the reference letter Mr Tom wrote for me in 1973.Your right about the LADs they were a bit of a bone shaker but a good workhorse.
Stanfield:
Hi Bonkey
Cheers for the reply mate.Same here about the camera but I think that was the last thing on my mind in them days .I remember they used to have photos all round the office at the depot in manchester during the time I was there but again dont know who finished up taking them unless it was the gaffer Tom Stevens.I will try to make some enquires because he had a son John (if he is still around) and they lived over Alderley Edge way. At least we have one of the Reivers thanks to Tipit.All the Scammells had slopeing bodies fitted so they did’nt need greedy boards when they went on coal/coke deliveries.
Can you remember what these photos were of mate ?
Biesty tippers unloading into Barber Greens perhaps ?
Stanfield:
Hi Bonkey
Cheers for the reply mate.Same here about the camera but I think that was the last thing on my mind in them days .I remember they used to have photos all round the office at the depot in manchester during the time I was there but again dont know who finished up taking them unless it was the gaffer Tom Stevens.I will try to make some enquires because he had a son John (if he is still around) and they lived over Alderley Edge way. At least we have one of the Reivers thanks to Tipit.All the Scammells had slopeing bodies fitted so they did’nt need greedy boards when they went on coal/coke deliveries.
Can you remember what these photos were of mate ?
Biesty tippers unloading into Barber Greens perhaps ?
Hi Bonkey.Sorry mate no Barber Greens they were just pics what were taken when a new vehicle came onto the fleet.They did’nt do any macadam it was mainly rocksalt from northwich for the local councils and stone from buxton + coal/coke for the foundrys around M/chester.Keep searching for the Routeman pics mate were banking on you to find one
That’s a really good quality picture of B2 for1978 Mickle. Not quite as good a shot of the dreaded RMC enforced Leylands, but then again, the T45’s weren’t quite as good as the ERFs.
Hi Sniffy.John Biesty didn’t do any work for Rank Hovis during my time with them in the late 60s early 70s they were all tippers carring mainly Stone-Coal/Coke and Road Salt.Dont know what they did after being taken over by Staveley but I would think they carried on moving stone from there quarries over in Buxton.
Hi Stanfield, the reason I ask was that there was, or maybe still is a driver at Ranks called John Beisty. I was told used to run his own fleet but it sound like the John at Ranks may be too young though !
Found this on the net.Picture of one of my old firms from a few years ago.I have to add that they wasn’t running these when I worked for them late 60s early 70s.
This is a photo of John Biestys yard on Rochdale Rd Collyhurst Manchester during the 60s.They knocked this building down and built a new single story office block and also a 4 open bay workshop in its place.
.I remember they used to have photos all round the office at the depot in manchester during the time I was there but again dont know who finished up taking them unless it was the gaffer Tom Stevens.I will try to make some enquires because he had a son John (if he is still around) and they lived over Alderley Edge way. 
At least we have one of the Reivers thanks to Tipit.All the Scammells had slopeing bodies fitted so they did’nt need greedy boards when they went on coal/coke deliveries.
they were just pics what were taken when a new vehicle came onto the fleet.They did’nt do any macadam it was mainly rocksalt from northwich for the local councils and stone from buxton + coal/coke for the foundrys around M/chester.Keep searching for the Routeman pics mate were banking on you to find one 
