Hi Steve, two men I knew were Tom Bosher and Albert Jordan . The other two weren’t there with us. Regards Albert Jordan he asked for a job whilst we were there and a week after starting he asked me to get him released to work for another firm that he was interested in, so it seems as if that job didnt suit either. The point of my earlier post was that vesteys decided to rid themselves of all their drivers, for what seemed a cheaper option. On reflection that could have been the only reason to get rid of a loyal hard working bunch of lads who only worked within the law and always within the meat trades regulations. Jimmy Mcbarron was a good mate of my father and a smashing bloke. I remember a party round his house where the snacks were large lumps of fresh cooked fillet beef, Whilst Palmer was an ■■■■■■ of the first order. It was nice of you to send in your comments. Biil Sparrow.
Steve, one other point that Ive never heard mentioned is that the saudi royal family bought six of our rigs, and wanted six drivers to go out to saudi and work for them. Sam Mcauley refused the offer so Brains sent six men on a six month contract. After six weeks or thereabouts these go anywhere rules breakers were crying to come home and be released from the contract, which they did and had to pay their own fares home. Regards Bill.
Hello Bill and all the UCC men.Any clues as to why Meritor has disappeared from our site (with the photos too)? I never knew the man having left before his time.Not bothered,it seems odd and I’m just curious.
While we’re here,has any body got any knowledge of of Long John Browning,Silent Night,Jethro,the Scout and all the rest of the Poplar drivers? I hope they are still with us as they don’t make them like that any more.Regards to you all,900x20.
900x20, Mertor spat his dummy out after people were asking who he was and why he was putting photo’s of our old lorries and trailers being hauled by other firms. Thats why he deleted all his previous entries. apparently he was a mate of brains yogi bear the nerchant mainly responsible for dodgy running with our loads and maybe part of the reason for our redundancy, because we only operated within the spirit of the law. Poor old Yogi eventually got caught and lost his licence. I was mortified and couldn’t stand for laughing. Midge, I hope you are still improving. Bill
Bill,thanks for the info:luckily we didn’t know him 
and if he wants to be like that,who needs him?I doubt that he would have got past Jim Bellman or Frank Evans etc. with his bent running 
.It’s a sad thing,being consumed by greed 
I think the thread will survive without his input.
Regards to you all and hope you’re all well.900X20 
900x20, I dont know how many people were aware of Y Bs antics, but this is what happened. Mc Auley asked me to check on what this man had done one day. He applied for a load at 0800 which was a loaded trailer for Harwich which was going unaccompanied. He then went to Felixstow and collected a loaded trailer for delivery to Limburg Meats Sud at Colchester and arrived there at 1500. They started unloading him at 2300hrs and I asked the manager if the driver was in attendance at the time of unloading. I was told that YB had been in the trailer unloading all the time, or else he would not have been tipped. He was booked out empty at 0300 the following day and at 0800 was back in Warley applying for another job which he got. Just after reporting the facts to Mac, I heard D Hannant say to a driver of ours at about 1530, Go on up the road, you cant do enough for a good guvnor. Well I replied that his drivers were running bent with our work, and their employers at Brains must also be bent because they were paying their blokes to do it. He reported to the stewards and the next day they came to our yard to confront me, but I had then gone on a trip. They then arranged for me to appear at our branch, the 1/208. I attended but they didn’t, one off sick another broken down in Birmingham and two more unable to attend for other reasons. The Chairman Eric Rechnitz declared No further action. Later the day after our redundancy, Doug came to my house and told me that there was a job for me at Brains Barking. I went and was told to start on the Monday at 0600 the vehicle and trailer number plus the gate pass was made out for me. It was a load of books for Bishops Stortford, On sunday afternoon I had a phone call to say that another man had been taken on so I was not required, It transpired later that at a yard meeting on the sunday morning, the gutless stewards had said that if I worked there I would have them working legal, so no job. Hence Blackwall Tunnel, thankfully. Bill
well sounds to me Bill you and your union priced yourselfs out of a job mate all good things come to a end mate I know had a few good things going myself once As for Brains they had the last laugh because when you packed up they contined for many years afterwards As for E
Sorry return as for Eric remember him well used to be in the market alot and Meritor well he was right relly and with out him and hispictures your pot finished Sad Bill Sad 
Hi all,meritor called me as he helped me post my photos,his name is Bill Green,he told me he was quite upset with some of the comments,he knew that as he was not a driver he would not be accepted,his interest are with all old lorries and motor racing,he showed me some photos of Vesty and him at a race meeting he asked vesty to put the money up to have the old tractor unit restored,as from Warley it went to a scrap yard in Liverpool,and then to a museam in London where it still is,but no money to restore it.I left as I could see the continental finishing,other firms learned by uccs mistakes,all the stong union firms over did it,London docks,liverpool docks,the miners,these owners have the money to change things,without cooperation from the unions they have changed for the worst.As I am still driving,a few examples,I went to Tilbury docks all the crane drivers are Polish,I had to have a load out of a container in the shed for checking,customs called in a mimi bus load of east europeen workers to do this.Liverpool docks crane drivers all agency east europeen.Southampton the same.Tilbury british but for how long,they are buying a hgv licence in Italy for 30 euros and after 3 months change it to a british one,no test no medical,all the big fims are in the Lincolnshire area,Fowler welch,Turners,freshlink all are linked to the supermarkets,wages class one between £5.95 per hour and £8.00.My job last monday,load Spalding for Lydal and Aldi,deliver Birtley,Washington,Gateshead,Sundeland,Teeside,back to Spalding,690 klm.When you complain, told the Poles do it.I only do it part time but some have morgages to pay,we had the best time on ucc,treasure the memories.Terry
LONG LIVE THE MERITOR
Greetings to you all.My Brother was sorting out his loft recently and found these old paper cuttings about trhe ERF donwn the Hole.One shows Frank Evans with Billy Denham (not Denfrew) just after the fall in.Frank was the driver and Billy had just finished washing out the trailer,ready for it’s next job.A lucky escape!Eventually the unit and trailer were lifted from the abyss and put back on the road again.They don’t build 'em like that now.
Where has every one gone?
Hello Terry,I thought the same.It all went quiet after that “Meritor” person got the hump and took his posts off the thread.We found the tunnel photos and thought they’d evoke some discussion.
I hope it’s not the end of the thread as I’ve learnt a lot from it.There must be more of us left somewhere.Let’s hope this will get them all back again.Regards,Ted.
Yes,I hope Bill Sparrow comes back,as I want to remind him that I am still working and paying for his pension ha ha,brings back some memories those photos,dont remember missus Rayner,but if Mickey Pickard was still with us he would.I have a friend who goes to smithfield once a week,sayes its all changed,cctv cameras every where,good job it wasent there when we were there,we would still be serving halve a stretch.Bought 2 8oz fillet steaks yesterday £15.00,what a ripp off,used to feed that to the dog.Speak soon Terry
Hi Lads, Bill Sparrow has at last managed to log on to the site. I think that my trouble started with the bloke who caused us a bit of bother. Terry Keats, your email isn’t working, I hope you are cos I need your cash. I saw Midge yesterday for a little visit. I will be back again later. Bill.
Hello Bill,glad to see you’re back.Keep up with any news about the old drivers,it’s always welcome.As you can see,it’s been very quiet lately so I’m glad we’re back in business. Keep up the good work,regards,900X20,AKA Ted.
Hi 900x20, Ted i’m glad to be back on site. Regarding my visit to Midge , we chewed the fat about UCC and both you and your brother were discussed, kindly I might add. It seems that we were the first company to go from the Vestey empire followed by Dewhurst’s. Also Midge told me that George Curtis is still about, so there are still a few of us… I have always wonderred about Charlie Smith and Joe Lingwood. Stay Well. Bill S.
Hello Bill,nice to hear from you again,I thought you were spending all your time on facebook,getting the great granchildren to show you how to use it,lol.I was in Aldershot the other month,and a new lorry turned up named VESTY MEATS,owner driver the run out of Peterbrough,he said one of the VESTEYS runs it,and was talking about doing the middle east again,not through Kuwait,but to greece and ferry to Saudi.I did reccomend you,but then I thought you must have lost your shunting pin by now lol.My email is carolekeating@talktalk.net
Hello Tel,how’s it going?Strange about the Vesty Meats,I thought they’d finished with all that.I don’t think it’ll be the same as the old job - that would be a hard act to follow! Glad you’re still leaping about,must have been all that fillet we dined on in the old days. All the best Tel,regards,Ted.
Hi Tel and 900x20, Have a look at Vestey Foods Ltd, they are in Coulsden Surrey, with the grandson controlling it. Regards Bill S.