Fantastic post and photographs god only knows how you all done it ,gypsy Dave ,did he happen to come from Somerset area by any chance.
Deckboypeggy thanks for your interest , Gypsy Dave was and still is a legend in is own life time ,I remember him in Jeddah singing , his own words to the song that was a hit for Roger Whittaker ," Leaving ". It went “there’s a plane fuelled and waiting at Jeddah airport and tomorrow for old England it will fly” and I’ll be on board that plane tomorrow Etc etc , we all sang that song when our leaves where due , it gave us a great feeling !! good times !! With the lads , Gypsy Dave was here ! Painted on ever sign post from Jeddah to Dammam , no wonder his brakes failed ,Har Har , he is a local lad living in Aldridge area , Ron
Hi Ron and all other contributors to this thread,
Your picture of the Trans Am reminds me of Antony Garnham Wilkinson. Known to all as Tony Wilkinson. Tony was from Leicester.Sadly my memory is too vague and I have no photos, but Tony owned and ran an operation called ‘SAM’ Riyadh. Saudi Arabian Movements.
On the face of it, Riyadh wasn’t the place to start a haulage business - almost everything moved into there from the ports of Dammam and Riyadh. Tony had white Volvos. At this distance I couldn’t tell you whether they were F88s or F89s.
His brother Tim and a lad called Dave ran the traffic from a villa in Riyadh. Dave took over as general manager at Caravan sometime after I left, but I can’t remember his second name.
His main contract was with a concrete pipe manufacturing company. I wish I had a photo. We sometimes took these as a return load if we had a flat trailer from Riyadh. I hated them! If my memory serves me correctly, they were 9’ diameter and perhaps 5’ long. Chocked on your trailer and chained down ( no straps at that point) they were a top heavy menace! Plus, you had to stop every few miles to check the chains. We loaded them so they overhung, not lengthwise. You always felt that they were going to roll you over.
One of my memories is of one of his drivers telling a tale to a few of us at ‘Hofuf Corner’ where we’d stopped for a cup of tea. He hadn’t been out in Saudi long and was bragging about getting revenge on an Arab driver who had cut him up. ‘Anyway, I showed him, I got alongside him and gave him 40’ of trailer! - it was on that sandy bit out of Riyadh.’ He smiled at the memory. We all looked aghast. Since every Arab Tonka looked the same, and his white Volvo stuck out like a sore thumb, we saw what he hadn’t.
His truck was regularly seen in the sand for a few weeks thereafter and then we heard he’d gone home disillusioned.
Tony was very successful. He was as mean as a flea, every pound was a prisoner. Despite making a lot of money he always travelled monkey class on flights home. He had a gold Trans Am. That was how he got about the Kingdom. I have a mental image of being parked up between Riyadh and Jeddah and seeing Tony’s Trans Am go by at about 90 miles an hour - on his way to a meeting in Jeddah.
I haven’t seen him for 30 odd years and don’t know what happened to ‘SAM’ Riyadh. Hope he’s still doing OK.
John.
deckboypeggy:
Fantastic post and photographs god only knows how you all done it ,gypsy Dave ,did he happen to come from Somerset area by any chance.
Gypsy Dave real name Dave Anslow comes from Brum and proud of it
Great guy, took on challenges that most would turn the other cheek to and gave great amusement
Just glad I have have met him later in life and he’s put on weight like the rest of us and he also has grey/whit hair
God bless him - would loved to see him praying to Mecca
Cheers
Ken Broster
Kenb:
deckboypeggy:
Fantastic post and photographs god only knows how you all done it ,gypsy Dave ,did he happen to come from Somerset area by any chance.Gypsy Dave real name Dave Anslow comes from Brum and proud of it
Great guy, took on challenges that most would turn the other cheek to and gave great amusementJust glad I have have met him later in life and he’s put on weight like the rest of us and he also has grey/whit hair
God bless him - would loved to see him praying to Mecca
CheersKen Broster
Met him at Gaydon a few months back. He’s certainly got a good sense of humour still! Robert
DBP …(I was one of these too!!!) you say how did we do it out there well some lads fitted in some found it a bit much most lads ajusted pretty quick It depended on the mob you worked for I can only speak for SARAMAT we were I thought well catered for and looked after good gear etc …there were a few lead swingers who would prefer to lie in the sun but they were sust out pretty quick …You had to adapt I personally never had any problems with the locals in fact the opposite one of the worst things though was communication … phones were,nt plentiful on the road no 2 way radios or CB ,s which would have been really handy but I seem to recall that the authorities did,nt allow them but anyway we did,nt have them and that was that
aattached is a pic I posted a long time ago showing the result of U turning to fast
Inshallah
Backsplice it’s good for us, your input is appreciated . Although your equipment looks superior to ours ? And Garage wise ? The place where we all worked was the same , hot and sticky , Jeddah was not the place for the faint hearted , Trans Arabia started a bit like the founders S Jones of Aldridge , slowly with men and machines that wanted to work for a few bob extra , the company grew strong. The venture in the Middle East started from the desert floor so to speak with A series ERFs which where to be thrown away after a year , where found to be un breakable with there ■■■■■■■ engines and no windscreens . But the men who stuck with it must be talked off with pride . Working in this hell hole in red hot conditions . The men of T/A Found there feet in the soft sands of this desert land and then the 4 wheel B Series ERF took the strain!! and the men ventured out with unbelievable loads , going Into UN chartered terrain finding the mountain that must be climbed just out side the back door was something that I personally greatly admire. Trucking out there was the ultimate for lads that always said yes I will take it ■■ Ron. Ps the reg /no DH is Walsall ,engine ? BT type 4 cyl at 1000 rpm 3 speed crash gear box !!! ? What a fantastic truck , " A/J will corect me if I am wrong " Ron
Ronnie …you hit the nail on the head and tell it like it was !!I recall being parked up having a cuppa when a UK registered Daf pulled up beside me it was pale blue or grey I just can,t recall … anyway the driver jumped out the cab shouting a few expletives run for his life only to drop his daks and reverse in between the bogies of his trailer shouting abuse about King Fisals revenge …a few weird noises and then it was “hello lads” any chance of a cup of tea thats just how things were never saw the bloke again after that and you were right about uncharted deliveries we at SARAMAT would be given a sheet with directions on it but once you left the tarmac you could end up anywhere
…This is a great thread and by the way Ron I also am a ■■■■■■■ fan !!!
inshalah
some lads at SARAMAT ( we had several Greeks driving with us being partly Greek owned)
This is the first thread I go when online, very interesting comments yes I do understand that you did get the odd [■■■■■■] who would talk the talk but that’s about it , however as I was never there perhaps I should not comment ,I used to join ships crews ,all strangers, you all soon sort yourselves out, i would imagine you would know which ones would be blown out after a few weeks.
Did men get sent home for, laziness or damage done to the kit ,damage was perhaps unavoidable ? I doubt I would have stuck it as by the 1970s I was unionised and wanted more ,for nothing given ,less was the better, how wrong we were.
Also from a early age 16 i/ we were taught ARABS were just dirty [w—]to be avoided or abused [verbally].That was across the board of britishness in the M.N. once we got that mind set it never really went away for years, “it has now” .So no I doubt I would not have fitted in .I would have enjoyed the challenge I know that.
That is what I like about this thread all the men that went out there never had that pre, hate/ dirty b------s sort of mind set
sorry I have gone of subject .DBP.
deckboypeggy:
This is the first thread I go when online, very interesting comments yes I do understand that you did get the odd [■■■■■■] who would talk the talk but that’s about it , however as I was never there perhaps I should not comment ,I used to join ships crews ,all strangers, you all soon sort yourselves out, i would imagine you would know which ones would be blown out after a few weeks.Did men get sent home for, laziness or damage done to the kit ,damage was perhaps unavoidable ? I doubt I would have stuck it as by the 1970s I was unionised and wanted more ,for nothing given ,less was the better, how wrong we were.
Also from a early age 16 i/ we were taught ARABS were just dirty [w—]to be avoided or abused [verbally].That was across the board of britishness in the M.N. once we got that mind set it never really went away for years, “it has now” .So no I doubt I would not have fitted in .I would have enjoyed the challenge I know that.
That is what I like about this thread all the men that went out there never had that pre, hate/ dirty b------s sort of mind set
sorry I have gone of subject .DBP.[/quoteAs Ron has made no comment perhaps I should!!!
Arabs generally considered themselves as white!! And in fact they were quite pale - the darker skinned ones had decended frm African origins - there predessors half been servants to Saudi’s when in the 1950’s the Saudi King declared that all servant of Saudi’s should take their employers family name and become Saudi citizens
Trans Arabia people!!
I do not think any were home sick as they were kept busy and they would beheading home after 10 weeks or so. Christmas time was difficult and we had 2 situations in my 6 years - one guy lay on his bed all day and sulked, 2 others tried to engineer sickness so they could go home, but became so ill - they were not allowed to fly anyway!!
No one was ever sent home for damage and to g fair we didn’t have a lot, however 6 were sent home for utilising company trucks for there own reward ££££. 2 others were sent home for theft and selling stolen goods from containers - they were filmed doing it by our customers staff and were lucky not to have ended up in prison.I have said this before - it was interesting to see the change in the passport photos after 12 months there - this I put down to eating good well prepared food 3 times a day no alcohol and plenty of D vitamins. Johnny Mathews change was incredible
The first set of drivers and JD came direct from S Jones but thereafter we advertised and interviewed hence why they came from different parts of the U.K. Although Gerry Cook and Ron Hawkins came as fitters direct from S Jones. S Jones were concerned at loosing to many employees and undermine there UK operation.
Ken b
ronhawk:
0
See the mechanics transport - Volvo 240 estate
Interesting story about this car that I purchased from Binzagr Barber after it had been in an accident and the driver refused to drive it again - he spent some days in the traffic Jail in Jeddah - horrendous
Ken b
A précis answer ,thank you Kenb.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone , hard work is often ,unrewarding , only for others to claim the praise , at someone else expense , JD was promised a Concord flight for his hard work and dedication .He did fly home on concord , but when it came about to get his reward KB refused to honour his contract , Ron
ronhawk:
What a despicable thing to put on this thread !!! Let him who is without sin cast the first stone , hard work is often ,unrewarding , only for others to claim the praise , at someone else expense , JD was promised a Concord flight for his hard work and dedication .He did fly home on concord , but when it came about to get his reward KB refused to honour his contract , it’s such a pity that this thread has been Poisoned by the very man who could not write about true good times in Jeddah Ron
Ron
Do not understand about JD and Concorde!!! Certainly not in any contract or agreement from me, maybe S Jones but think JD was still there when I left - I will speak to him about this - he has never mentioned it when I have seen him, always very pleasant and pleased to talk.
There were lot of great times and fun but some also frustrating times and on occasions the odd tear
Cheer up
Ken b
Well KB why don’t you tell us of the interesting times that we all like to read , instead of the lies that you print ,the 95 ton road train coming down Tief is my particular favourite
Ron! Stop it! Or else I will come down there and make you take me out for lunch…and pay!!
PS. Christmas time…Peace and good will(y) to all men! ( and women!!. Har Har)
That’s what 40 + tons looks like on the A series , with the underside of the turn table rubbing the axle dome off the diff !! The trouble was if the trailer was dropped off in the sand we had difficulty in getting back under with out help ? Using the clicker jacks to get the hight to couple up, was sticky and hot Ron
Does anyone remember Brian Crusher?
He and his Dad double manned a yellow Daf. His dad had had a lime spreading business in North Yorkshire and had made a lot of money, in fact he thought he was well off, but the company accountant was falsifying the profit and loss so that he could keep his job. The company collapsed and they bought the Daf between them to do overland. Like a lot of us, they found there was more money doing internals. I met them in about 1977 in Jeddah in that great stopping off place for drivers the Medinah Hotel. Very few hired rooms there, but the reception area’s couches would usually be accommodating several drivers drinking tea and talking. (For some reason they brought the milk to add warm!) Then we would all go back to our cabs at night to sleep and try and avoid the mosquitoes from the ‘lagoon’.
Brian’s Dad was in his sixties and I think he became unwell and went home. I think Brian sold the Daf, but reappeared some months later with an estate car full of straps, which were a fairly new idea then. He used to go around the Magic Kingdom selling them, then go home and ship some more out. I presume he parked the car up at some friendly haulier’s meanwhile.
He certainly made a living out of it for a couple of years, I saw him in Dammam as well.
John
ronhawk:
That’s what 40 + tons looks like on the A series , with the underside of the turn table rubbing the axle dome off the diff !! The trouble was if the trailer was dropped off in the sand we had difficulty in getting back under with out help ? Using the clicker jacks to get the hight to couple up, was sticky and hot Ron
The old A series well loaded - like the Mack badge - at least it still had a windscreen!!
I bet the old girl earned more money in the years in Saudi than all those in the UK!!
Ken
John West:
Does anyone remember Brian Crusher?He and his Dad double manned a yellow Daf. His dad had had a lime spreading business in North Yorkshire and had made a lot of money, in fact he thought he was well off, but the company accountant was falsifying the profit and loss so that he could keep his job. The company collapsed and they bought the Daf between them to do overland. Like a lot of us, they found there was more money doing internals. I met them in about 1977 in Jeddah in that great stopping off place for drivers the Medinah Hotel. Very few hired rooms there, but the reception area’s couches would usually be accommodating several drivers drinking tea and talking. (For some reason they brought the milk to add warm!) Then we would all go back to our cabs at night to sleep and try and avoid the mosquitoes from the ‘lagoon’.
Brian’s Dad was in his sixties and I think he became unwell and went home. I think Brian sold the Daf, but reappeared some months later with an estate car full of straps, which were a fairly new idea then. He used to go around the Magic Kingdom selling them, then go home and ship some more out. I presume he parked the car up at some friendly haulier’s meanwhile.
He certainly made a living out of it for a couple of years, I saw him in Dammam as well.
John
I faintly remember a yellow Daf in the area about that time
That lagoon was terrible and it stank, but was the area that a lot of Brit over landers hung about - god now why with that smell and the flys, rats etc
Interestingly there were different areas where trucks from different countries used to park up waiting for backhauls
It reminds me of the creek in Dubai with all the Dows moored up waiting for loads - you could walk downed the roadway/quay where they were loading - destinations all over the Gulf, India and East Africa-including the Red Sea ports - all with no fork trucks or cranes
Ken b