W.H.WILLIAMS (spennymoor)

[carl_williams]

ERF:

Carl Williams:
We had worked for Freemans the mail order people from Peterborough since 1961…

Carl, can you help with my enquiry regarding Freemans livery from the 60’s?.
I have just posted a new topic on the subject!.

Hi ERF
I’m sorry I cannot help you we collected from their Bourne warehouse with our vehicles that were returning to the North East.I think at that time most things from Peterborough were sent by rail. Orriginally their head office was in Lavender hill London and we collected from there orriginally till they opened Peterborough and Bourne. Their nickname amongst other mail order companies, like Kays were the Lavender Hill Mob.

I would appreciate if you ever come accross photos of any of our ERFs if you could tell me as I have none…Years ago BBC television came to us at Spennymoor to film and they caught 3 not yet on the road parked up in our depot but I,ve even managed to loose the cassett where we had recorded that program

Best wishes Carl

[carl_williams]

Photo of me and frank Morgan standing at the rear of 1938 30cwt Bedford.

Dad told me we got our first furniture van in 1938. A Morris Commercial it had a very large luton and was quite large for the times. Like the Bedford in the photo it had a tailboard with sheet above. The tailboard was quite large and when lowered and held in place by chains it was possible to pack quite a lot of furniture on the tailboard and then this would be sheeted. In fact dad said about a third extra size could be achieved by tailboard loading.

Before this first van we used to use drop sided wagons for household removals and then rope and sheet. This apparently was the method often used in those days. The wardrobes would be loaded upright and everything was packed to a similar height. The beds were then packed flat on top to square off the top of the load.

In fact this was a similar way furniture was packed in our warehouse and then sheeted, until the advent of containerised storage. Furniture removals correctly packed and sheeted in a warehouse looked very tidy and separated from each other, and its surprising how little space they used.

The Morris van was commandeered by the army at the start of the war and dad was told by a soldier coming back from leave that he had seen it still in our colours in a line waiting to be painted in camouflage colours and shipped to France. He said seeing it made him feel like he was at home.

My grandfather was very fortunate in soon locating a second hand Bedford to replace it, and knowing how he worked I am sure he would have come out of the deal to his benefit.

[gms]

I worked at Jones (Soft Drinks) Ltd during the late 1970’s early 80’s at that time the business was a part of the Lohnro Group but still run locally by the Gray Family, mainly George Gray and Keith Kerwood who were Joint Chief Executives.

Jones Soft Drinks and Grays Soft Drinks were operated side by side the Grays door to door trade being operated by franchise salesmen , people such as Austin Spooner from West Auckland and Henry Tyass from Spennymoor amongst others.

The vehicles used at this time for both JSD and GSD were all Bedford TK’s.

In the early 1980’s the company were successful in winning the contract to bottle 7up.
In the mid 1980’s a successful management/employee buy out which brought the company back into local ownership again, lead by George Gray and Keith Kerwood with people such and Joe O’Connor and John Losh.

After further successful trading the Jones Soft Drinks business was sold to Hey Brothers together with Neeshams the Beer traders of Ushaw Moor, the company then traded from Ushaw Moor as Neesham - Jones Ltd.

The Grays retail side of the business continued to be operated as a separate concern by Joe O’ Connor and John Losh trading as Grays Soft Drinks (1984) Ltd from a medium sized unit at Chilton Industrial Estate, some routes were done by drivers employed by the company in addition to the franchise salesmen

The Spennymoor bottling plant was sold to Schweppes Soft Drinks who used the site to bottle their popular ‘Appletise’ drink, the plant eventually being closed and the site being sold and demolished for housing.

Grays Soft Drinks (1984) Limited sadly closed and was dissolved in 2003, however some of the franchise men continued to trade as independent soft drinks distribution agents, though without the Grays lable.

[gms]

Carl Williams:

v7victor:

andrewv8:

Carl Williams:

georgeking:
This is an interesting thread, keep it up.

Someone mentioned Jones Soft Drinks on here, weren’t they also associated with another soft drinks company called Grays? H & ME Fearon’s depot at Mealsgate was their ■■■■■■■■ depot. about 3-4 lorries were based there in the 70’s.

Yes it was Grays who did direct deliveries round the homes. I think as more women went out to work this wasn’t as successful and they bought out Jones who had been at Bishop Auckland. Jones did wholesale sales through shops. I believe Grays had the biggest bottle washing machine in Europe. They used us to dodeliveries on 40ft flat trailers to Amos Hintons (a largish supermarket chain), and it is quite possible we also did loads over to ■■■■■■■■ To our misfortune we used to rope and sheet the trailers until we lost a load over in teeside, after that time we had to use nets.

Grays were negotiating with a soft drinks somewhere near Huddesfield, who worked from very old premises. They would have require a 40ft load a day but were ancious that we would no be able to get foft trailer into their premises. I suspect it was William Hagues family (The Foreign Secretary). I went down to meet them and look at the premises. I order to assre them I sent one of our artics round to reverse in.However it never came off as they musn’t have been able to agree terms.
Thank you for replying Carl

I can remember Alpine pop being delivered to some houses in the street where I grew up many years ago in Bishop Auckland. Had khaki coloured TK’s and 8 wheeler Fodens. Last I knew of Kenny Dagga was He’d left John Dee’s and gone to Reeves.

Its vic again Carl i remember our local fish shop selling Alpine pop in Aycliffe nevill parade not far from your dellivery to the first house on the town. Vic.PS a name from the past Austin spooner worked for the pop companys in spenny then went on for him self .a gentleman who i still see now and again

Hi again Victor
Following my previous reply regarding Grays Lemonade before they moved into the new factory on Dobbies Bank they were based on Low Grange Road which ran along into the bottom of Marmaduke Street where we were orriginally based and my father and grandfather knew the ffamily quite well, but our history goes back further.

My father’s mother’s father, my great Grandfather was James Clements, known as jimmy the jew, who although certainly had no jewish blood, but more because his attitude to money.He was an Autioneer and County Sherriffe and amongst his business interests he used to recycle glass and make ink. My grandmother in her youth said she used to enjoy breaking up the glass. Pickup brothers were well known for making Ginger ail in Spennymoor. (Their stone bottles are very collectable on Ebay). They ran a steam waggon I do not know what make because it it must have been about the turn of the century before my dad’s time…Somehow James Clements aquired the business of Pickup Brothers along with the old steamer. He very quickly sold the business to Grays who then started their business.

The only Spooner I remember is Dennis Spooner who ran his haulage business from Aycliffe- Now there’s a character

I have managed to get two photographs of Grays vehicles attached
Once again best regards Carl

Edit postReport this postReply with quoteRe: W.H.WILLIAMS (spennymoor)
by GMS » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:57 pm

I worked at Jones (Soft Drinks) Ltd during the late 1970’s early 80’s at that time the business was a part of the Lohnro Group but still run locally by the Gray Family, mainly George Gray and Keith Kerwood who were Joint Chief Executives.

Jones Soft Drinks and Grays Soft Drinks were operated side by side the Grays door to door trade being operated by franchise salesmen , people such as Austin Spooner from West Auckland and Henry Tyass from Spennymoor amongst others.

The vehicles used at this time for both JSD and GSD were all Bedford TK’s.

In the early 1980’s the company were successful in winning the contract to bottle 7up.
In the mid 1980’s a successful management/employee buy out which brought the company back into local ownership again, lead by George Gray and Keith Kerwood with people such and Joe O’Connor and John Losh.

After further successful trading the Jones Soft Drinks business was sold to Hey Brothers together with Neeshams the Beer traders of Ushaw Moor, the company then traded from Ushaw Moor as Neesham - Jones Ltd.

The Grays retail side of the business continued to be operated as a separate concern by Joe O’ Connor and John Losh trading as Grays Soft Drinks (1984) Ltd from a medium sized unit at Chilton Industrial Estate, some routes were done by drivers employed by the company in addition to the franchise salesmen

The Spennymoor bottling plant was sold to Schweppes Soft Drinks who used the site to bottle their popular ‘Appletise’ drink, the plant eventually being closed and the site being sold and demolished for housing.

Grays Soft Drinks (1984) Limited sadly closed and was dissolved in 2003, however some of the franchise men continued to trade as independent soft drinks distribution agents, though without the Grays lable.

[v7victor]

Hi,i was talking to Austin Spooner a couple of months ago,he delivered to my house for a lot of years until he retired about 18 months ago,a real gentleman .

[carl_williams]

GMS:

Carl Williams:

v7victor:

andrewv8:

Carl Williams:

georgeking:
This is an interesting thread, keep it up.

Someone mentioned Jones Soft Drinks on here, weren’t they also associated with another soft drinks company called Grays? H & ME Fearon’s depot at Mealsgate was their ■■■■■■■■ depot. about 3-4 lorries were based there in the 70’s.

Yes it was Grays who did direct deliveries round the homes. I think as more women went out to work this wasn’t as successful and they bought out Jones who had been at Bishop Auckland. Jones did wholesale sales through shops. I believe Grays had the biggest bottle washing machine in Europe. They used us to dodeliveries on 40ft flat trailers to Amos Hintons (a largish supermarket chain), and it is quite possible we also did loads over to ■■■■■■■■ To our misfortune we used to rope and sheet the trailers until we lost a load over in teeside, after that time we had to use nets.

Grays were negotiating with a soft drinks somewhere near Huddesfield, who worked from very old premises. They would have require a 40ft load a day but were ancious that we would no be able to get foft trailer into their premises. I suspect it was William Hagues family (The Foreign Secretary). I went down to meet them and look at the premises. I order to assre them I sent one of our artics round to reverse in.However it never came off as they musn’t have been able to agree terms.
Thank you for replying Carl

I can remember Alpine pop being delivered to some houses in the street where I grew up many years ago in Bishop Auckland. Had khaki coloured TK’s and 8 wheeler Fodens. Last I knew of Kenny Dagga was He’d left John Dee’s and gone to Reeves.

Its vic again Carl i remember our local fish shop selling Alpine pop in Aycliffe nevill parade not far from your dellivery to the first house on the town. Vic.PS a name from the past Austin spooner worked for the pop companys in spenny then went on for him self .a gentleman who i still see now and again

Hi again Victor
Following my previous reply regarding Grays Lemonade before they moved into the new factory on Dobbies Bank they were based on Low Grange Road which ran along into the bottom of Marmaduke Street where we were orriginally based and my father and grandfather knew the ffamily quite well, but our history goes back further.

My father’s mother’s father, my great Grandfather was James Clements, known as jimmy the jew, who although certainly had no jewish blood, but more because his attitude to money.He was an Autioneer and County Sherriffe and amongst his business interests he used to recycle glass and make ink. My grandmother in her youth said she used to enjoy breaking up the glass. Pickup brothers were well known for making Ginger ail in Spennymoor. (Their stone bottles are very collectable on Ebay). They ran a steam waggon I do not know what make because it it must have been about the turn of the century before my dad’s time…Somehow James Clements aquired the business of Pickup Brothers along with the old steamer. He very quickly sold the business to Grays who then started their business.

The only Spooner I remember is Dennis Spooner who ran his haulage business from Aycliffe- Now there’s a character

I have managed to get two photographs of Grays vehicles attached
Once again best regards Carl

Edit postReport this postReply with quoteRe: W.H.WILLIAMS (spennymoor)
by GMS » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:57 pm

I worked at Jones (Soft Drinks) Ltd during the late 1970’s early 80’s at that time the business was a part of the Lohnro Group but still run locally by the Gray Family, mainly George Gray and Keith Kerwood who were Joint Chief Executives.

Jones Soft Drinks and Grays Soft Drinks were operated side by side the Grays door to door trade being operated by franchise salesmen , people such as Austin Spooner from West Auckland and Henry Tyass from Spennymoor amongst others.

The vehicles used at this time for both JSD and GSD were all Bedford TK’s.

In the early 1980’s the company were successful in winning the contract to bottle 7up.
In the mid 1980’s a successful management/employee buy out which brought the company back into local ownership again, lead by George Gray and Keith Kerwood with people such and Joe O’Connor and John Losh.

After further successful trading the Jones Soft Drinks business was sold to Hey Brothers together with Neeshams the Beer traders of Ushaw Moor, the company then traded from Ushaw Moor as Neesham - Jones Ltd.

The Grays retail side of the business continued to be operated as a separate concern by Joe O’ Connor and John Losh trading as Grays Soft Drinks (1984) Ltd from a medium sized unit at Chilton Industrial Estate, some routes were done by drivers employed by the company in addition to the franchise salesmen

The Spennymoor bottling plant was sold to Schweppes Soft Drinks who used the site to bottle their popular ‘Appletise’ drink, the plant eventually being closed and the site being sold and demolished for housing.

Grays Soft Drinks (1984) Limited sadly closed and was dissolved in 2003, however some of the franchise men continued to trade as independent soft drinks distribution agents, though without the Grays lable.

Hi GMS

We did work for Grays whilst they were owned by Lonro, and I dealt with Keith Kerwood, who had married one of Mr & Mrs Gray’s daughters.

Lonro is an interesting company and I will be writing about my dealings with them later but at the time it was controlled by Tiny Rowlands and was a completely ruthless company.

My grandfather had known Antie Gray (I hope I have spelt his name right since their childhoodand dad knew all the sons and daughters.
I forget which one he met travelling to London on the train one day and I had got the impression from my dad that it was he who had restarted at Chilton. The youngest son of Mtr & Mrs Gray was tragicly killed in a car crash late fifties early sixties. He had been returning from visting the Motor Show in London and was driving a sports car. On the Retford byepass in those days traffic pulled accross the carriageways and he saw wagon waiting and flashed his lights and the wagon driver obviously thought he was signalling it was Ok to cross but he had ment he was coming through and drove straight into the saide as the wagon drove over the road. and died instantly.

My grandparents had promised to buy me a new Daimler Dart sports car on my 21 birthday and following this although I was still in my early teens my dad told them they could forget that and instead eventually settled for the newly introduced Rover 2000 instead for my 17th.
Kind regards
Carl

[carl_williams]

One of the things we always insisted with our motor insurers was that they didn’t apply the stupid condition that before he or she could drive one of our vehicles it was necessary that they had three years experience.

In our view once they had passed the appropriate test for the vehicle, be it a driving test for a light commercial or an HGV test, if we thought they were alright you drive our vehicle they could. How could any person get experience if they were not allowed to drive.

Many of our best drivers were recruited as porters when leaving school and were initially too young to drive and I other cases had different trades before taking their HGV.I have already told the story of Caroline Vane she would never have had the opportunity to drive an HGV had our insures demanded experience, and after all in some cases experience translated as BAD HABITS.I read on the Taffy Davis thread that he liked ‘Fresh’ drivers for his Middle East runs so that they developed ‘his way’s an sometimes that isn’t a bad thing.

One young lad that started with us and was driving at 18 was Eric Nelson who came from Ferryhill. He used to drive a Bedford petrol J model 30cwt with a standard van body. It looked somewhat similar to ambulances used on TV series set in the sixties ‘The Royal’. I remember we had bought it from a garage called Greens at Thirsk and had bought it because it had a largish body.

On one occasion Eric must have thought all his birthdays came together when he went to do a job for NESS furniture Croxdale. All he had to take was one chair to a photographic studio at Newcastle wait for it to be photographed and move the position of it so they could get the best angles and bring it back. When he arrived he put it where he was requested in the studio and in came a young lady in a dressing gown who disrobed and totally naked sat on the chair. After several shots ere taken she stood up and waited so that Eric could reposition the chair and sat down again for more shots to be taken. Eric then put the chair back in his van and returned to Croxdale.

On another occasion they had a small van load for Paris. Eric who had never been out of the country volunteered and went over to Liverpool passport office to get a passport. The delivery address was on the Champs Elysees. We knew he had the determination to manage.

When Eric went onto an HGV he tended to stick to household removals, we got contracts with Sedgefield DC, Durham City DC Wear Valley DC, Barnard Castle DC and Peterlee Dc to do the removals for them when the council houses needed revitalising. That involved several thousand removals over a few years. We did a deal of paying Eric a price per household to be split between him and two porters and he did 5 per day usually over a six day week, That was horse work but made Eric a very good weekly wage.

Another young driver my dad started was called Stephenson from Bishop Auckland. I cannot recall his first name but he was well built and looked old for his age. It was before the HGV licence and dad took him out for a drive and started him. His was given an SB to drive and after about a fortnight I believe it was George Hardy who said to dad. that he was only 18. Hours of worry went by till he returned and was given a Transit to drive,

I heard the tale that several times our drivers had gone to homes to deliver groceries where the housewife was caught without any clothes on. Accidentally of course. I never experienced it myself but several said they had. I suppose it was a perk of the job.

[carl_williams]

I wonder how many people remember twin tub washing machines sold as Rolls, by an entrepreneur called John Bloom. Sunday newspapers had full page adverts offering all sorts of offers if you bought one. Bloom eventually also bought out the Prestcold Refrigeration Company and gave away the old stock if you bought one of his twin tubs.

Bloom had arranged for Coulson the designer of the Hoovermatic twin tub to produce the machines for him from his factory in Newton Aycliffe, Tallent Engineering. Ltd. We had carried out work for Tallents long before they were bought by Coulson so when they started making Twin Tubs we were the obvious choice for transport. And we moved a lot.

When Bloom started the Hoovermatic sold for about £110.00 Bloom sold his machines for £35 the basic and £59 the dearest, so even before the giveaway offers they sold like hot cakes, bearing in mind the twin tub was the must have domestic appliance in its day.

Bloom rented small warehouses, often semi derelict throughout the country just large enough to accommodate one of our van load of washing machines. He then employed an Arthur Daley type at each location as ‘Sales Manager’
They advertised for self employed sales reps who’s only requirement was that they needed a vehicle big enough to carry a twin tub. When they came for a job they were given a twin tub to sell and told to come back for another once it was sold.They were paid a fixed fee for each machine they sold.

Bloom was onto a winner with very little overheads, paying Tallent a price for each washing machine which included our delivery charge to his warehouses, which he would rent for very little. At the time we did shop deliveries for various Hardy & Co branches and they were agents for Hoover. One of Hoover reps said that Bloom’s machines were rubbish and when my dad asked what was wrong with them he was told the motor s were crap. Dad told him that in the cheaper of the machines (£35.00) they were fitted with a Hoover motor and the dearer was fitted with the Hotpoint. He said that was untrue but later when he discovered the truth apologised.

It was killing the sales of the Hoovermatic even when they introduced The Hoovermatic 99 for sale for £99.00. By ganging up with Hotpoint they soon put an end to Rolls and they went into liquidation.

We were very worried as we were owed a lot of money, but fortunately our customer was Tallent Engineering Ltd. They took off the Rolls name from the machines they had in production and stock and put three stars where the holes had been where the Rolls badge had been fixed and sold them off through electricity boards as Three Star twin tubs. Again we delivered and fortunately although we had to wait almost a year Tallent were able to pay us in full.

Hoover had realised either get rid of Bloom or he would have put them out of business, This was even more important as I remember as a young boy seeing in a corner of the factory at Aycliffe lots of different makes of Automatic washers stripped and Coulson was designing one that would have all the best features put together. The problem was the weight as Blooms selling technique needed a person to be able to lift one in an out of his estate car or small van on his own. The story was that Coulson had managed to get round that problem when Bloom’s company went bankrupt.

Whatever anyone thought of John Bloom, and there was a lot of criticism on the TV at the time. He revolutionised housework by letting not so well off families be able to get a twin tub washing machine.

[carl_williams]

Continuing the story of Tallent Engineering Ltd, another job we did for them was taking a load each day five days a week, of spin cans (Part of the washing machine) to Middlesbrough Casements who galvanized them and returning with a load of galvanized.

Often the Ford 4d TPT was used for this because it was large enough, but some days when there was nothing else available my grandfather helped by me, still at school and just in about twelve, used a 1957 Bedford 15cwt with a luton van body on it by Locomotors of Uxbridge.

It took three journeys and my grandfather would be then in his early seventies. The journey from Tallents Newton Aycliffe to North Ormsby where Middlesbrough Casements were based took a lot longer than it takes today with the road being very twisty and to do the three loads required which involved loading at Aycliffe, travelling to North Ormby unloading at Middlesbrough, reloading, returning to Aycliffe and unloading 3 times left little spare time for an seventy year old helped with a twelve year old. I remember I had to run to and from the van carrying as many spin cans as I could manage. One day one of them slipped and sliced my wrist. I still have the scar to this day.

[beano111]

Carl Williams:
In either 1975 or 1976 we were involved in one of the first unfair Dismissal cases which we subsequently lost, and had to pay a large sum in compensation. We took it very hard mainly because we had good industrial relations and a good relationship with the Transport and General Workers union. I have never spoken to an ex employee who hasn’t said the best job they ever had was with us and all have described my father as a gentleman.

Around about the same time we were in discussion with Thorn Electrical Industries, the parent company, about taking over all their transport at the Thon Heating Factory at Gateshead. This is a story I will tell at a subsequent date. However I was out for lunch with a senior Thorn Executive when our discussion came round to Trade Unions and industrial disputes and I should have taken more notice of what he said.

In the sixties, the days of all the strikes and industrial unrest Thorn had bought out Fisher Bendix, makers of the famous Bendix washing machine that had made its name back in the nineteen thirties. The Fisher Bendix factory was at Liverpool and Thorn got together a team of senior managers, whom the person I was speaking to was one, and they spent a month at Liverpool, deciding what was wrong with the company as they were intending to continuing manufacturing automatic washers at the site.

They discovered that all the trouble was with one man who was an agitator. There was no way they could get rid of him and they decided if they carried on employing this one man the problems would spread into the whole of Thorn manufacturing facilities in the UK.

They took the startling position of closing down the plant and making everyone redundant including this one man. Manufacturing was then sourced abroad and all Bendix washing machines and dishwashers were imported from Europe

The old West Auckland Clothing Company had been bought out by a company based in Milton Keynes, called Stenberg and they had a truncking service where a driver left both factories at the same time and changed over trailers at the first motorway service area on M! (From North) My memory doesn’t allow me to remember the name now but it may have been Trowl…

They approached us to ask us if we would be interested in the Bishop Auckland to Milton Keynes and return section. They were buying a new AEC Mercury and wanted us to do likewise, but one of the conditions was we employ the driver who had for several years been in their employ.

We arranged a price and had talks with the driver where we agreed he was paid 8 hours plus 1 hour at time and half making nine hours per day, a fixed wage. They both left their destinations at 7.00Am so it was not unreasonable for us the expect the tractor back with us at about 2.00PM each day, which would be very handy as it gave us an extra tractor unit we could use, with a different driver each afternoon

The AEC arrived and we painted it Black and had it lettered as Steinberg specified. We also had to have a burglar alarm system fitted as it was carrying very high value loads. .Steinberg were covering the Goods In Transit insurance and the conditions were that one the vehicle left Bishop Auckland the vehicle didn’t stop till it arrived at the first service station after travelling on the M18 into the M!. Changeover was to take place there and any driver’s breaks were to be taken in this service area then non stop back to West Auckland. I’m sure that many drivers who are retired would welcome such a cushy job.

Things went well for about a year, and then he started returning later and later and was claiming overtime as he couldn’t do it within his nine working hours. I don’t recall exactly what happened but we dismissed him. I cannot remember the name of the chap from the Transport & General Workers Union who came but we spoke and met many times over the years. He was sympathetic to us but asked us to give the driver a second chance with us preparing strict conditions regarding stopping etc which would save any future misunderstanding. I drew up the conditions, without a solicitor, but I sent a copy to the transport & general workers union for their agreement and subsequently the sacked employee came back and we all signed them.

For the first two days things were Ok but as the week progressed things started to get back to where they were before.

I don’t know how communication between drivers worked in those days as I think it was before CB radio, but as soon as I went onto the A! At Thinford, with my car all our drivers seemed to be informed that I was out and about, so it was decided I would hire a self drive car from Adams & Gibbon at Durham to make myself anonymous. I left on the morning with the hire car and waited in a lay-by about at Catterick until I saw the AEC with the tailor which was emblazed with Alexon, which was one of their clothing brands. I followed discreetly until he pulled into Wentbridge Service area, where he stayed for about 20 minutes. He then drove onto the M18 and onto the M1. When we reached the service area the Milton Keynes AEC was there having gone further north and returned into the south facing HGV parking area. Our driver pulled in I parked in the car park and watched. They quickly changed trailers and parked next to each other and went into the service area café for a 45 minutes break.

Returning to his tractor our driver followed his Milton Keynes colleague until he turned back northwards at the next interchange. Again I followed thinking I had a wasted day as he would be back at West Auckland before 2.00PM. However I was soon to find out differently. Correct me if I’m wrong but it is the Woodlands I think that is or was set back off the A1 near Doncaster. He pulled in there and I parked next to a row of houses which gave me a good view of the café car park. He was in there for over two and a half hours. I noticed someone keep looking out from their window as I must have looked suspicious, but there was no where I could move to without going into the café car park. I kept expecting the police to come back at any time. When eventually he pulled out and carried on with his journey. I followed and when he veered off to go to West Auckland I carried on back to Spennymoor waiting for his return.

He came back at 6-00PM saying he had been delayed and I took out my log of his journey and gave him immediate dismissal. Not only had he attempted to get 1 hour extra at time and half but he had put the goods o the trailer at risk as he had broken the terms of the insurance.

We were contacted by the Transport and general Workers Union, who although unofficially agreed with me but said they had to represent him as he was claiming unfair dismissal.

Never for a moment until we got to court did I think we could loose but our solicitor was completely useless and the panel of three were obviously biased against our side. The case lasted three weeks and I was in the witness box for one and a half days. The chairman of the tribunal said I had been uncaring at the Woodlands café by not going in to see if he had taken ill, even though as all lorry drivers would know it was a very busy establishment, and also our ex employee had, in his evidence never given any reason for calling there or staying so long, or never claimed of feeling unwell or could show of any medical records that showed he had any latent illness. It was also alleged by the tribunal chaiman that I should have had a solicitor draw up the conditions even though everyone had agreed with them.

As I have already said we lost, and I can only say that if the three people who stood in judgement had my wishes they will have had dreadfully painful deaths especially the disgraceful chairman, a chap called Cohen, in my mind the Devil incarnate.

Incidentally the AEC carried on this work for 5 years, producing a fuel consumption of 12 mph pulling fairly heavy laden loads both ways in 40 ft trailers. Tyre wear was unbelievable and when we renewed the contract it was repainted in our livery.

At renegotiation it was decided to use 32gvw tractor units and Steinberg wanted Seddon Atkinson with Gardner 180 engines which they did indeed buy for our part we argued and got agreement on ERF with same engine. We could do some good comparison between the tractor units and the ERF won on every count.

I joined the TGWU in about 1968, but left in the early seventies, Unions may have had a place to play in the early days but I soon learnt that all I was paying for was to keep some useless, lazy individual in a job. As most drivers in the 60’s and 70’s, I was spending more and more time parked outside factories and docks that where closed because of a strike. Since I left the union in the early 70’s, i’ve made more money and had better working conditions by giving my employer at least 100%. unions are for people who want money, but aren’t prepared to work for it…fact.

[beano111]

Carl Williams:
This van was painted by Bob Harold with signwriting and lineage by Peter Butler in 1979, and I hope this photograph serves as a tribute to their excellent workmanship

I remember Caroline working at WH Williams, she was indeed a professional HGV1 driver, I last met her at Hamilton services in the mid 70’s. If you ever read this thread Caroline, you wont ever remember me, but I wish you and your family good health and happiness.
John McNally

[v7victor]

Carl Williams:
I wonder how many people remember twin tub washing machines sold as Rolls, by an entrepreneur called John Bloom. Sunday newspapers had full page adverts offering all sorts of offers if you bought one. Bloom eventually also bought out the Prestcold Refrigeration Company and gave away the old stock if you bought one of his twin tubs.

Bloom had arranged for Coulson the designer of the Hoovermatic twin tub to produce the machines for him from his factory in Newton Aycliffe, Tallent Engineering. Ltd. We had carried out work for Tallents long before they were bought by Coulson so when they started making Twin Tubs we were the obvious choice for transport. And we moved a lot.

When Bloom started the Hoovermatic sold for about £110.00 Bloom sold his machines for £35 the basic and £59 the dearest, so even before the giveaway offers they sold like hot cakes, bearing in mind the twin tub was the must have domestic appliance in its day.

Bloom rented small warehouses, often semi derelict throughout the country just large enough to accommodate one of our van load of washing machines. He then employed an Arthur Daley type at each location as ‘Sales Manager’
They advertised for self employed sales reps who’s only requirement was that they needed a vehicle big enough to carry a twin tub. When they came for a job they were given a twin tub to sell and told to come back for another once it was sold.They were paid a fixed fee for each machine they sold.

Bloom was onto a winner with very little overheads, paying Tallent a price for each washing machine which included our delivery charge to his warehouses, which he would rent for very little. At the time we did shop deliveries for various Hardy & Co branches and they were agents for Hoover. One of Hoover reps said that Bloom’s machines were rubbish and when my dad asked what was wrong with them he was told the motor s were crap. Dad told him that in the cheaper of the machines (£35.00) they were fitted with a Hoover motor and the dearer was fitted with the Hotpoint. He said that was untrue but later when he discovered the truth apologised.

It was killing the sales of the Hoovermatic even when they introduced The Hoovermatic 99 for sale for £99.00. By ganging up with Hotpoint they soon put an end to Rolls and they went into liquidation.

We were very worried as we were owed a lot of money, but fortunately our customer was Tallent Engineering Ltd. They took off the Rolls name from the machines they had in production and stock and put three stars where the holes had been where the Rolls badge had been fixed and sold them off through electricity boards as Three Star twin tubs. Again we delivered and fortunately although we had to wait almost a year Tallent were able to pay us in full.

Hoover had realised either get rid of Bloom or he would have put them out of business, This was even more important as I remember as a young boy seeing in a corner of the factory at Aycliffe lots of different makes of Automatic washers stripped and Coulson was designing one that would have all the best features put together. The problem was the weight as Blooms selling technique needed a person to be able to lift one in an out of his estate car or small van on his own. The story was that Coulson had managed to get round that problem when Bloom’s company went bankrupt.

Whatever anyone thought of John Bloom, and there was a lot of criticism on the TV at the time. He revolutionised housework by letting not so well off families be able to get a twin tub washing machine.

Hi, i do and i still live within close range to Tallents and have done for 50 odd years

[carl_williams]

v7victor:

Carl Williams:
I wonder how many people remember twin tub washing machines sold as Rolls, by an entrepreneur called John Bloom. Sunday newspapers had full page adverts offering all sorts of offers if you bought one. Bloom eventually also bought out the Prestcold Refrigeration Company and gave away the old stock if you bought one of his twin tubs.

Bloom had arranged for Coulson the designer of the Hoovermatic twin tub to produce the machines for him from his factory in Newton Aycliffe, Tallent Engineering. Ltd. We had carried out work for Tallents long before they were bought by Coulson so when they started making Twin Tubs we were the obvious choice for transport. And we moved a lot.

When Bloom started the Hoovermatic sold for about £110.00 Bloom sold his machines for £35 the basic and £59 the dearest, so even before the giveaway offers they sold like hot cakes, bearing in mind the twin tub was the must have domestic appliance in its day.

Bloom rented small warehouses, often semi derelict throughout the country just large enough to accommodate one of our van load of washing machines. He then employed an Arthur Daley type at each location as ‘Sales Manager’
They advertised for self employed sales reps who’s only requirement was that they needed a vehicle big enough to carry a twin tub. When they came for a job they were given a twin tub to sell and told to come back for another once it was sold.They were paid a fixed fee for each machine they sold.

Bloom was onto a winner with very little overheads, paying Tallent a price for each washing machine which included our delivery charge to his warehouses, which he would rent for very little. At the time we did shop deliveries for various Hardy & Co branches and they were agents for Hoover. One of Hoover reps said that Bloom’s machines were rubbish and when my dad asked what was wrong with them he was told the motor s were crap. Dad told him that in the cheaper of the machines (£35.00) they were fitted with a Hoover motor and the dearer was fitted with the Hotpoint. He said that was untrue but later when he discovered the truth apologised.

It was killing the sales of the Hoovermatic even when they introduced The Hoovermatic 99 for sale for £99.00. By ganging up with Hotpoint they soon put an end to Rolls and they went into liquidation.

We were very worried as we were owed a lot of money, but fortunately our customer was Tallent Engineering Ltd. They took off the Rolls name from the machines they had in production and stock and put three stars where the holes had been where the Rolls badge had been fixed and sold them off through electricity boards as Three Star twin tubs. Again we delivered and fortunately although we had to wait almost a year Tallent were able to pay us in full.

Hoover had realised either get rid of Bloom or he would have put them out of business, This was even more important as I remember as a young boy seeing in a corner of the factory at Aycliffe lots of different makes of Automatic washers stripped and Coulson was designing one that would have all the best features put together. The problem was the weight as Blooms selling technique needed a person to be able to lift one in an out of his estate car or small van on his own. The story was that Coulson had managed to get round that problem when Bloom’s company went bankrupt.

Whatever anyone thought of John Bloom, and there was a lot of criticism on the TV at the time. He revolutionised housework by letting not so well off families be able to get a twin tub washing machine.

Hi, i do and i still live within close range to Tallents and have done for 50 odd years

Hi Victor

At first I thought you were going to say that you still had a Rolls twin tub and were using it today.

Do you remember Wenton House Furniture in Aycliffe It was started by three partnerman of the of which was a chap called Moss, who was a good salesman of the old school. He also went on to open Moss and Campbell in Darlington for his son.

When I was very young we did Wentons deliveries. Aycliffe was a sad place then when noone knew anyone else and very dificult to find your way round unless you went to the local council offices and bought a map and even then it was out of date as the town was growing at such a fast speed. If you stopped to ask anyone where a particular street was they never knew.
Remarkably Wentons employed a young lad who was sent with our driver who knew every street and craney. Dad said he went once and the lad was off and doing the deliveries without him was hell.

Wentons had hree shops in Aycliffe one of which was a pram shop and they also had a warehouse style shop where they sold the furniture they had taken as part exchange. For the life of me in todays town centre I cannot work out where Wentons shops where.I wonder if you or any other readers can remember

Regards

Carl

[v7victor]

Carl Williams:

v7victor:

Carl Williams:
I wonder how many people remember twin tub washing machines sold as Rolls, by an entrepreneur called John Bloom. Sunday newspapers had full page adverts offering all sorts of offers if you bought one. Bloom eventually also bought out the Prestcold Refrigeration Company and gave away the old stock if you bought one of his twin tubs.

Bloom had arranged for Coulson the designer of the Hoovermatic twin tub to produce the machines for him from his factory in Newton Aycliffe, Tallent Engineering. Ltd. We had carried out work for Tallents long before they were bought by Coulson so when they started making Twin Tubs we were the obvious choice for transport. And we moved a lot.

When Bloom started the Hoovermatic sold for about £110.00 Bloom sold his machines for £35 the basic and £59 the dearest, so even before the giveaway offers they sold like hot cakes, bearing in mind the twin tub was the must have domestic appliance in its day.

Bloom rented small warehouses, often semi derelict throughout the country just large enough to accommodate one of our van load of washing machines. He then employed an Arthur Daley type at each location as ‘Sales Manager’
They advertised for self employed sales reps who’s only requirement was that they needed a vehicle big enough to carry a twin tub. When they came for a job they were given a twin tub to sell and told to come back for another once it was sold.They were paid a fixed fee for each machine they sold.

Bloom was onto a winner with very little overheads, paying Tallent a price for each washing machine which included our delivery charge to his warehouses, which he would rent for very little. At the time we did shop deliveries for various Hardy & Co branches and they were agents for Hoover. One of Hoover reps said that Bloom’s machines were rubbish and when my dad asked what was wrong with them he was told the motor s were crap. Dad told him that in the cheaper of the machines (£35.00) they were fitted with a Hoover motor and the dearer was fitted with the Hotpoint. He said that was untrue but later when he discovered the truth apologised.

It was killing the sales of the Hoovermatic even when they introduced The Hoovermatic 99 for sale for £99.00. By ganging up with Hotpoint they soon put an end to Rolls and they went into liquidation.

We were very worried as we were owed a lot of money, but fortunately our customer was Tallent Engineering Ltd. They took off the Rolls name from the machines they had in production and stock and put three stars where the holes had been where the Rolls badge had been fixed and sold them off through electricity boards as Three Star twin tubs. Again we delivered and fortunately although we had to wait almost a year Tallent were able to pay us in full.

Hoover had realised either get rid of Bloom or he would have put them out of business, This was even more important as I remember as a young boy seeing in a corner of the factory at Aycliffe lots of different makes of Automatic washers stripped and Coulson was designing one that would have all the best features put together. The problem was the weight as Blooms selling technique needed a person to be able to lift one in an out of his estate car or small van on his own. The story was that Coulson had managed to get round that problem when Bloom’s company went bankrupt.

Whatever anyone thought of John Bloom, and there was a lot of criticism on the TV at the time. He revolutionised housework by letting not so well off families be able to get a twin tub washing machine.

Hi, i do and i still live within close range to Tallents and have done for 50 odd years

Hi Victor

At first I thought you were going to say that you still had a Rolls twin tub and were using it today.

Do you remember Wenton House Furniture in Aycliffe It was started by three partnerman of the of which was a chap called Moss, who was a good salesman of the old school. He also went on to open Moss and Campbell in Darlington for his son.

When I was very young we did Wentons deliveries. Aycliffe was a sad place then when noone knew anyone else and very dificult to find your way round unless you went to the local council offices and bought a map and even then it was out of date as the town was growing at such a fast speed. If you stopped to ask anyone where a particular street was they never knew.
Remarkably Wentons employed a young lad who was sent with our driver who knew every street and craney. Dad said he went once and the lad was off and doing the deliveries without him was hell.

Wentons had hree shops in Aycliffe one of which was a pram shop and they also had a warehouse style shop where they sold the furniture they had taken as part exchange. For the life of me in todays town centre I cannot work out where Wentons shops where.I wonder if you or any other readers can remember

Regards

Carl

Carl,i remember all of Wentons shops,i’m nearly sure the main shop was where Fine Fair was and is now Wilkinsons,the s/hand shop was on greenwell road(at the back of the town centre) the pram shop i’m not to sure about but i think it was up near the fish shop under the town clock,vic.

[carl_williams]

Our business was based in Marmaduke Street Spennymoor in 1919 and we were there until 1973 when we built on a Greenfield seven acre site at Green Lane Industrial Estate Spennymoor.

I knew that the new garage was built in Marmaduke Street in 1946 immediately after the end of the war and I knew it was extended in 1963, after what I knew as the back place was demolished and the area used to extend the garage.

However I had never known what happened before 1946 and just before my dad died I one night when we were talking I asked him. Also just recently whilst looking for photos I found the one I have attached which was taken during the war. I had never seen it before and my mother didn’t know it existed. I know roughly when it was taken because lying at the feet of my grandparents was Brownie their much loved Manchester terrier.

I had heard so much about Brownie and what a wonderful dog he was from both my grandparents and my dad. I also know he died whilst my dad was in the army during the war and he was eight years old and died because of heart problems because my grandmother spoilt him so much.

I don’t know that dad ever saw this photo and if I had found it before he died he would have been so pleased to see it.

The reason I am mentioning it on this thread is that it shows the original garage behind where they are stood and where they are stood is garden that they lost to redevelop into the 1946 garage.

When I asked my dad about this garage he informed me that it was an a wooden chapel building that my Grandfather had bought in the late twenties from Hunwick ( I am nearly Certain). Jack Birch who worked for my grandfather had numbered each section so that it was carefully taken to pieces and reassembled on the rear of part of the very large garden of Number 14 Marmaduke Street, the house where my great grandparents lived and in which my grandfather was born and live all his life.

Dad said Jack Birch did an excellent job and altered it by putting on doors to make it into an excellent garage. Dad went on to say ‘As you can imagine your grandfather had it extremely tidy with a gravel drive leading up to it.

What my dad didn’t say that this was altered into ’The Back Place’ and used as a warehouse behind the new garage. I can recognise this from the photo. I remember they used to reverse vans up to a door at the rear of the garage and unload through it into the back place where furniture was stored.

Up to the end of the war it would be adequate, but not high enough to accommodate the much higher vans we got after the war.

On the photo is my Grandfather W.H.Williams Senior , my grandmother and Brownie

[carl_williams]

v7victor:

Carl Williams:

v7victor:

Carl Williams:
I

Hi Victor

At first I thought you were going to say that you still had a Rolls twin tub and were using it today.

Do you remember Wenton House Furniture in Aycliffe It was started by three partnerman of the of which was a chap called Moss, who was a good salesman of the old school. He also went on to open Moss and Campbell in Darlington for his son.

When I was very young we did Wentons deliveries. Aycliffe was a sad place then when noone knew anyone else and very dificult to find your way round unless you went to the local council offices and bought a map and even then it was out of date as the town was growing at such a fast speed. If you stopped to ask anyone where a particular street was they never knew.
Remarkably Wentons employed a young lad who was sent with our driver who knew every street and craney. Dad said he went once and the lad was off and doing the deliveries without him was hell.

Wentons had hree shops in Aycliffe one of which was a pram shop and they also had a warehouse style shop where they sold the furniture they had taken as part exchange. For the life of me in todays town centre I cannot work out where Wentons shops where.I wonder if you or any other readers can remember

Regards

Carl

Carl,i remember all of Wentons shops,i’m nearly sure the main shop was where Fine Fair was and is now Wilkinsons,the s/hand shop was on greenwell road(at the back of the town centre) the pram shop i’m not to sure about but i think it was up near the fish shop under the town clock,vic.

Hi victor
I remmber now. What confused me was you could drive though and pull up outside the shop. Now its pedestrionised.

Many thanks
carl

[carl_williams]

In 1984 we were in negotiation with the German Domestic Appliance manufacturer AEG to do their transport from their UK base at Slough to Yorkshire, North East and Scotland. It was ideal work for us as it provided return traffic from the London area and AEG were at the top end of the market and would be prepared to pay a higher rate than norm.

We reached the stage when I needed to go down and see them and I decided to call at Sheffield Depot, Wellingborough Depot on the way down and then our London Depot after seeing AEG and before I returned.

My new son Paul had just been born four weeks before and so it was decided we would leave Alexis, who was two and a half at home and my wife and new son would travel with me.

Things went well until I left the A1 to join the M25 to go to Heathrow where we were staying on the night. I was accelerating up a slip road when straight in front of me was a farm tractor taking up the entire road travelling at about 5 mph. I stopped but Paul who was laid in a carrycot on the back seat didn’t and ended up on the floor behind the front seat. Fortunately he was OK but you can imagine the abuse I received from my other passenger.

I had a ten o’clock appointment at AEG Slough and woke up that morning with a terrible cold/flu. I had a temperature and had the door pocket of the car filled with paper tissues as my nose was like a tap and I was continually sneezing I felt terrible. My wife and son sat in the car park at AEG as I went in and met the director who was responsible for transport, who I got on quite well with. We more or less agreed and then he said that his Managing director was over from Germany and he would like to meet me before we left.

After a phone call into the room came this athletic German with a totally hairless head. (Before I left it was explained to me he had alopecia). As he came in I said that I would like to apologise that I had a bad flu and hoped I did not pass it onto him. ‘I have not time for these childish British conditions’ and as I felt so bad I thought I hope you catch it and find out how I feel.

He then asked me what experience we had at delivering domestic appliances, and I went on to say that 60 per cent of all Tricity cookers and fridges were delivered by our vehicles and that all Hoover products into North East and Scotland were delivered by us. I then slipped up by saying ‘I realise that you are the Rolls Royce of the industry’ to be immediatly interrupted by Mercedes Benz.

He was a really nasty piece of work similar to all Germans I came across in my work. Fortunately the car I had travelled in and parked up outside was my new Mercedes 280 SE and he would see that through his window, so we got the work.

My third thing that went on that day was my journey over from slough to our warehouse near Canary Wharf. When I was seventeen and just started driving I had to travel to Bewdley in Worcestershire and I asked Colin Watson, one of our drivers how to get there. He told you can take the ring road but in his experience all roads in and out of Birmingham cross the ring road and at every junction there is a set of traffic lights so you might as well just go through the centre which I did. I never would recommend anyone to do this when travelling from Slough into East London

It seemed to take hours. If I had been doing a guided sightseeing trip fine. I passed right through the City seeing the Bank of England the lot but I certainly could have walked faster.

There were no mobile phones in those days and when I met Jim Wilson our London Manager he asked where I had been because I was so late. Things certainly happen in three

[v7victor]

Yeah carl, i used to drive on the road at Aycliffe town centre not long after passing my driving test,i will post a few photo’s later when i get them on line,vic.

[coady1uk]

Hello Carl or should it be Mr Williams as it was for me back in the day. You may not remember me as i only worked for you in the final 4 years. I was the young boy in the garage on the YTS scheme always to be found following David Brannon around. David was known for not suffering fools and if you didn’t show any promise he wouldn’t take a lot of interest in you. Anyway i must of had something as i was under his tutelege for my entire 4 years with you, and what an education, so many good memories. Like changing the clutch on a TM tractor in Dalwhinnie at the side of the road in a thunder storm. Why is it i look on that as being a good time? The thought of doing it now seems like a miserable ordeal, but when youth is on your side it never really mattered. It was David Brannon who pushed me to ask you for a job after my YTS had finished. I remember plucking up the courage to ask THE BOSS for a job and mumbling something to you about work going forward, you said you would have a word with Alan Henderson and low and behold ‘start on Monday’ made me the happiest kid in town. I only spoke to your Father once when i had to weld the exhaust on his car which i believe was a Rolls or Bentley, correct me if i am wrong. As you say a true gentleman, what i would call an old school manager with a human edge reather than the modern university churned, soul less, zero experience, career managers that proliferate now. How times change.
Some names for you from my garage perspective:-
David Brannon
Martin Wade
Alan Henderson
Colin Porter
Kenny Armstrong
Tommy (trailer fitter, surname escapes me)
Stephen Cairns
Mickey ‘solo’ (nightshift fitter)
Harry ‘the painter’ (surname escapes me)
Terry (no surname again, storeman)
Drivers that stand out:-
Ray Juler (top bloke)
Geof Welford (a story for every occasion)
Kenny Hardy (and his ever lasting Atkinson Borderer)

[carl_williams]

coady1uk:
Hello Carl or should it be Mr Williams as it was for me back in the day. You may not remember me as i only worked for you in the final 4 years. I was the young boy in the garage on the YTS scheme always to be found following David Brannon around. David was known for not suffering fools and if you didn’t show any promise he wouldn’t take a lot of interest in you. Anyway i must of had something as i was under his tutelege for my entire 4 years with you, and what an education, so many good memories. Like changing the clutch on a TM tractor in Dalwhinnie at the side of the road in a thunder storm. Why is it i look on that as being a good time? The thought of doing it now seems like a miserable ordeal, but when youth is on your side it never really mattered. It was David Brannon who pushed me to ask you for a job after my YTS had finished. I remember plucking up the courage to ask THE BOSS for a job and mumbling something to you about work going forward, you said you would have a word with Alan Henderson and low and behold ‘start on Monday’ made me the happiest kid in town. I only spoke to your Father once when i had to weld the exhaust on his car which i believe was a Rolls or Bentley, correct me if i am wrong. As you say a true gentleman, what i would call an old school manager with a human edge reather than the modern university churned, soul less, zero experience, career managers that proliferate now. How times change.
Some names for you from my garage perspective:-
David Brannon
Martin Wade
Alan Henderson
Colin Porter
Kenny Armstrong
Tommy (trailer fitter, surname escapes me)
Stephen Cairns
Mickey ‘solo’ (nightshift fitter)
Harry ‘the painter’ (surname escapes me)
Terry (no surname again, storeman)
Drivers that stand out:-
Ray Juler (top bloke)
Geof Welford (a story for every occasion)
Kenny Hardy (and his ever lasting Atkinson Borderer)

Hi Coady1UK

It’s so good to hear from you. Many people won’t believe it but it gives me so much pleasure to hear of people, like you who have benefited either from an apprentice like you had or gained from their experiences with us.

Unfortunately you do not state your name so it difficult for me to remember you, would you please give me your name and I probably will. I am suffering with dementure and it’s strange I can so well remember things from long ago but my memory seems to get worse from the eighties onwards.

Two mechanics you didn’t mention, who were both excellent at their work was Tommy Mangles and ■■■■ Porter who was Colin Porter’s uncle.

Tommy was instrumental in us employing David Brannon who was into his third year as an apprentice when he joined us. He took a five year apprentice and although its always my opinion that you should measure someone’s work by the ability to do the job rather than by bits of paper, it did work out in David’s case and my dad always said that as far as technical knowledge was concerned David had the most, and he was well qualified to be a workshop Forman and probably fleet engineer.

You are correct it was a Rolls Royce Dad drove and by you welding the exhaust will have saved a fortune as parts were very expensive.

Sadly, from the list you gave me Colin Porter, Terry the store man (Like you I cannot remember his name but his wife had a café in Wolsingham), Ray Juler and Kenny Hardy are no longer with us.

Please if you think of anything else to tell us or have any photos please add them on the site

Best wishes

Carl