Photograph of the end of the bedrace.
Well the bed had four wheels and if you look closely you can see the W.H.Williams sign
and with six drivers needed to propell it from Barnfield Road through the town to Jubillee park must make it our smallest 4b wheeler ever.
I remember Linda, who was our ‘Sleeoing Beauty’ lying in the bed as it passed throughn the crouds on Gala day asking my dad what she should wear. ‘Well you’ve got three weeks to grow your hair’ came the reply
In about 1950 at about quarter to five on one morning dad was waiting for a slaughterhouse. To open at Stockton on Tees when something happened that put ‘The fear of God’ into him.
For those of you that know Stockton on Tees imagine if you are travelling along the high street heading towards Norton. As you reach the traffic lights which leads off the Bishopton Lane on your left head straight over onto Norton Road.Immediatly on the left there used to be a small long alley way that lead up to the large slaughterhouse.
Dad had gone there with the Bedford o model artic, which I had mentioned earlier in the thread. It was a regular occurrence for him, but perhaps on this occasion he was a little earlier in the morning than usual. He was picking up a load of meat and taking it to Bristol Although I never asked him I imagine the early loading would be so that by watching through his mirror he could push the Bedford up to about 50mph for much of the journey, well above the 20 mph legal limit. In those days there was no such thing as brake lights so any sign of a police car he could brake without any give away rear lights. No doubt, by getting this early start he could then make the journey to Bristol to unload before the destination closed for the night, and then with the help of a few Asprin he could turn round, without stopping and return home, and with the empty trailer and darkness assisting his speeding a lot quicker than his journey down.
He told me it always was difficult spot to reverse in at Stockton as it was a very narrow alley and had very few if any lights, to guide him. He was sitting in the cab of the Bedford waiting for them to open when in the starlight he saw heading for the van (he thought) a figure of a man with a long dark cloak and a big high black hat carrying a long dagga. He told everyone later, that he knew he had done wrong all his life but he didn’t think he had been bad enough for the Devil to come for him. Fortunately the figure walked straight past him, and when he went into the slaughter house he found out it was the Rabi who was arriving to make his choice for his fellow Jews and slit the throat of the bullock for their beef for the week.
I went to the opticians today and it reminded me of my old optician I used late teens to mid twenties. Mr Rurka, a Russian Jew, who was an excellent optician but the manners of Doc Martin on the television.
I always thought he was trying to be clever because every frame I chose, he used to say was unsuitable for my eyesight requirements, until one day, sitting in a London hotel having breakfast a man, sitting with his wife said to me complements to your optician. He explained he was a professor at university on eyes and Rurka had made a wonderful job of making my very thick lenses look like thin ones. Of course today all of that is done by computers, but in those days human beings had to use their skills, as it was in all trades. But that still didn’t explain the off hand manner Rurka addressed his patients.
He and his wife lived at Spennymoor House, the oldest house in Spennymoor, a very large house at the four lane ends, and he had bought a property in old Elvet Durham. (As you travel past three tons turn right opposite Royal County building immediately on right now Wood’s Estate agents), and he and his wife had decided to move above his consulting rooms.
Fortunately they had chosen to try this out first by moving just part of the furniture so they could stay there week days, staying at Spennymoor over the weekend, and I don’t know how but I got the job.
As I said there was only part of the furniture and I used DPT100B (Morris 2 tonner) but still it was full and you could pack a lot into its 800 cu ft body. As I said Rurkas’ were both Russian and were both big and no doubt heavy as was their furniture and everything had to go upstairs.
At Durham parking for unloading was a difficulty as anyone who knows that part of Durham, up there cars pull in with their front wheels on the curb and I had to park behind them along the road making it a fair carry to the property before going upstairs and along long passageways into the various rooms.
Walking outside after unloading about a quarter of the van I was met by a policeman, saying ‘You can’t park there’ and after telling him what I was doing asked him where I should park. ‘Up there’ he pointed to where a small car had vacated a space.’ You can reverse in there’ working with my dad equipped me with knowledge of what to do in those occasions and I pulled the keys to the FG out of my pocket. ‘Here I said, you back it in and if you can I’ll give you the van. The space was far too narrow and although it was only a small van it was over 20 ft long and would have stuck out and caused a much bigger problem than where I was, if it would have gone in which it would not.
He then after realising the foolish statement he had made walked away leaving me and my assistant to complete the unloading.
Rurkas decided to move everything in to Durham until he retired after about three years, selling their Spennymoor property . As I said earlier he then sold the property in Durham to Woods Estate Agents and retired. I lost a very good optician, but the fortunate thing was that another of our drivers with a much bigger van and a lot more furniture had the pleasure of moving the rest of their things and having the long heavy carry. We then had the job of moving the Rurkas to Kent for their retirement.
Talking of Wood’s estate agents Durham reminded me of Wood and Watson who made soft drinks at their factory at Gilesgate Durham. They ran a large fleet of Bedfords and although I can only remember the TK’s they had run Bedfords as long as we had.
As I explained earlier in this thread that every day we were at Adams and Gibbons collecting parts, and they too were good customers of Adams and Gibbons. Adams and Gibbons was Vauxhall Bedford and you can imagine my surprise to see a beautiful white Rover 110 taking pride of place in their showroom. I told both my father and grandfather, and the latter got me to drive him through to see it.
The car was just 11 months old and had about two thousand miles on the clock. It had belonged to Mr Wood of Wood and Watsons and sadly he had died, and they had asked Adams and Gibbon to sell it for them. Grandfather, who always wanted a bargain, bought it there and then. (I can guarantee at a ridiculously cheap price).
The Rover was B reg (1964) and as I was then driving I drove it back from Durham. I must say although I had not liked dad buying his 80 instead of the three litres, this car looked different and was a real eye catcher, and drove like a dream.
At the time it was the fastest production car being built and I can guarantee it did 110 miles per hour. Not long after buying the car my Grandparents wanted to go to see my grandmother’s sister and her husband who got on well with my grandfather. At the same time we were diverting a van on his way home over to Melton Mowbray to collect a removal and he needed a porter to assist him, so I was given the extra task of dropping Eddy Worthington one of our small van drivers at the time, at Melton Mowbray on the way down to St Albans.
One we had left Melton Mowbray with both my grandparents dropping off to sleep I had the opportunity of seeing what the Rover would do, and it did what it said on the tin with ease and gracefully.
Within about a week of returning from the trip grandfather had a heart attack. Before anyone reading this thinks was it because he had woken up and seen the speed I was travelling, I might explain he had slept and never knew. When he recovered he thought it was because the Rover, with its large three litre straight six engine and no power steering was too heavy for him and might trigger off another heart attack and so he bought a new Rover 2000 from Fred Dinsdale’s Stockton. He always had been impressed by my car and decided to copy.
Dad decided to keep the 110 and sell his 80. and within a few weeks of doing so suffered his heart attack. Putting two and two together my family decided the car was jinxed. First Mr Wood died and then both of them suffered heart attacks, the car had to go, and so dad bought a new three litre coupe and put it in part exchange. He never again drove the car, having my mam drive him to Blackpool to collect the Rover.
I goggled Wood and Watson as I thought I might be able to find a photo of one of their vehicles to add but no mention. I think in their day they operated a fleet of some 30 Bedfords, isn’t it sad that they have been forgotten. However thanks to this Website I can make a contribution and tell a little of this commercial vehicle operator
Hi Carl,
About Wood and Watson, and their Tk’s. I remember Dad having to sketch Durham Cathedral from a picture, and then making a large tracing, from which he would paint the outline and detail onto the rear body.If i remember correctly the bodies had curtain type sides, with an flush exterior rear panel in sheet steel. The Lettering would be painted in a bright yellow colour, which would be touch dry, then he would rub sheets of pure Gold Leaf, which would stick onto the letters.
The Lettering plus shading and Cathedral detail would be finished off, before everything was spray painted in clear varnish.
The Paint scheme was i think Black Chassis and Pale Blue Cabs and Bodies.
I might be wrong, but these trucks were TK 1000’s, and were all supplied by Adams and Gibbon.Dad did work for their Consett Garage too.
Bill Peacock was the Truck dealer , and he and Dad got on very well, He gave him a lot of work in 70’s and 80’s.
Regards 
Phil.
PHILBUTLER:
Hi Carl,About Wood and Watson, and their Tk’s. I remember Dad having to sketch Durham Cathedral from a picture, and then making a large tracing, from which he would paint the outline and detail onto the rear body.If i remember correctly the bodies had curtain type sides, with an flush exterior rear panel in sheet steel. The Lettering would be painted in a bright yellow colour, which would be touch dry, then he would rub sheets of pure Gold Leaf, which would stick onto the letters.
The Lettering plus shading and Cathedral detail would be finished off, before everything was spray painted in clear varnish.
The Paint scheme was i think Black Chassis and Pale Blue Cabs and Bodies.
I might be wrong, but these trucks were TK 1000’s, and were all supplied by Adams and Gibbon.Dad did work for their Consett Garage too.
Bill Peacock was the Truck dealer , and he and Dad got on very well, He gave him a lot of work in 70’s and 80’s.Regards
Phil.
Hi Phil,
Your description reminds me.
I always thought the Cathedral was a transfer. I might have known only someone of Peter’s tallent and skill could have managed it. Heaven knows what he would have done if he’d coppied the Mona Lisa. His work might now have been exhibited rather than the orriginal.Its a pitty peter hadn’t taken photos of his work, it certainly would have caused a stir on this site, but there again poor devil he worked so hard and such long hours he would just want to get home when he’d finnished.
Give your dad my regards
Best wishes
Carl
Hi Carl, love the story about your Dad having the life frightened out of him by the man in black! About ten years ago I was the last one finished on a night shift (about 3 AM) I pulled up to the fuel pump, got out, radio blasting, engine ticking over, started to fuel up. Next to the pumps about ten foot away was a 50 gall oil drum used as a bin, in this was usually all the ‘bait’ lads did’nt want to eat but dare’nt take home, after about one minute a rather flustered fox leapt straight up in the air out of the bin and ran off. How I got down from the roof of the high top IVECO I was driving I don’t recall but I was wide awake enough to do another shift!!! Regards, Mizzo.
mizzo:
Hi Carl, love the story about your Dad having the life frightened out of him by the man in black! About ten years ago I was the last one finished on a night shift (about 3 AM) I pulled up to the fuel pump, got out, radio blasting, engine ticking over, started to fuel up. Next to the pumps about ten foot away was a 50 gall oil drum used as a bin, in this was usually all the ‘bait’ lads did’nt want to eat but dare’nt take home, after about one minute a rather flustered fox leapt straight up in the air out of the bin and ran off. How I got down from the roof of the high top IVECO I was driving I don’t recall but I was wide awake enough to do another shift!!! Regards, Mizzo.
Hiya Les,you were in the right place, if the fox was as crafty as they say it would’nt go any were near the Iveco.Vic!!!
Hiya Vic, I don’t want to hi-jack Carl’s excellent thread but the IVECO period at Imperial is best forgotten, IVECO stood for- ‘IT VIBRATES EVENTUALLY COMING OFF’ Regards Mizzo.
mizzo:
Hiya Vic, I don’t want to hi-jack Carl’s excellent thread but the IVECO period at Imperial is best forgotten, IVECO stood for- ‘IT VIBRATES EVENTUALLY COMING OFF’ Regards Mizzo.
Nice one!!
mizzo:
Hi Carl, love the story about your Dad having the life frightened out of him by the man in black! About ten years ago I was the last one finished on a night shift (about 3 AM) I pulled up to the fuel pump, got out, radio blasting, engine ticking over, started to fuel up. Next to the pumps about ten foot away was a 50 gall oil drum used as a bin, in this was usually all the ‘bait’ lads did’nt want to eat but dare’nt take home, after about one minute a rather flustered fox leapt straight up in the air out of the bin and ran off. How I got down from the roof of the high top IVECO I was driving I don’t recall but I was wide awake enough to do another shift!!! Regards, Mizzo.
hi mizzo, and Vic
don’t worry you don’t ruin thread, because most things remind me of events and episodes that I had forgotten about.
Our depot at Green Lane Industrial Estate Spennymoor was surrounded by fields, but surprising enough I never heard of a fox being sighted, but from what I heard a fox could have had a field day. I must admit I never was there early enough on a morning to see for myself but those that were said the place was full of rabits. They reconned you couldn’t walk because they were everywhere. Once they senced the presence of humans they dissapeared.
best wishes
carl
For several years, Barratt Homes has used an oak tree as its logo, and there have been at least three versions of it.Quote from WIKIPIDIA. I know of at least one more Phil Butler’s account of his dad coppying Durham cathedral onto Wood and Watson’s Bedfords reminded me of the time that we had to paint one of our vans in Barratt the builders specification and logo.We were given a copy of the oak tree on paper, but obviously version, by Peter Butler.
Reading not to scale, as it had to be on the front, back and sides which meant much bigger on the sides than the front and the back.Barratts had never had a furniture van painted before and I assured them it would be reproduced perfectly by our sign writer. That was the faith I had in Peter butler.
Many years before, about 1963-4 dad came back from Adams and Gibbon Durham and said that Eddy Thornton (who later joined us), who was Service Manager, had introduced him to an excellent sign writer.Peter had been writing a van there that day, and dad had heard of him regularly sign writing for Adams and Gibbon.
From that time for many years Peter did our sign writing. Another difficult task was signwriting some vans we had in New Equipment, the Croxdale furniture factory’s livery.They, during the time we worked for them had various logos and writing styles, all designed by top designer. One version in about 1971 had obviously been sprayed onto their York trailer, which Peter had the opportunity to see before commencing on our vehicle. I know spray art is popular today, but their design must have been very avante guarde for the time. The name was obviously sprayed onto the van with the leading edge strong gradually fading away with what was obviously accurate overspray. Peter was a signwriter, and had to recreate that by painting the lead edge and fading to compensate for the overspray.
Peter was a signwriter, but so much more.He was an artist with a style that was a gift from God, and I cannot over estimate to Phil how proud he should be of his father.
Finally I wonder if Peter remembers a haulier from Ferryhill who was just starting in out about 1973, who asked Peter to paint the name on three yellow trailers along the chassis on each side. The trailers were parked, I seem to remember along the roadside between Merrington and Ferryhill, and when Peter had completed **** *** Transport Ltd in black writing, he went to the owners house just along the road in Dean Bank to say he had finnished and request payment. ‘Send me the bill’ he was told, and Perter explained that he didn’t work that way and was paid on completion. When no money was forthcoming, Peter went back and painted the name out.
Carl,i wonder who *** **** Tansport was!!! tut tut.
v7victor:
Carl,i wonder who *** **** Tansport was!!! tut tut.
Hi Vic
You’ve got the name the wrong way round. It should be **** *** Four letters then three
Best wishes
Carl
Carl Williams:
v7victor:
Carl,i wonder who *** **** Tansport was!!! tut tut.Hi Vic
You’ve got the name the wrong way round. It should be **** *** Four letters then three
Best wishes
Carl
Not Mr Davison 
Damb!!! 
v7victor:
Damb!!!
I didn’t think that rymed with tea
I give up who was it then !!! i know but i would like you to tell me! it could be Dinkies son!!!
As I explained earlier in the fifties and early sixties dad carried loads of dresses to London for Ramar Dresses Crook.
You can imagine his surprise when one day he was told the number of dresses to load was two and half times the usual load. What dad didn’t realise was to advent of mini skirts. It was possible to put three times the number of rails onto the vans and where dresses had been hung in two heights it was now possible to hang in three heights.
Pleated skirts once also caused a problem. The dresses at the rear of the van had swung from side to side and had worn holes in the pleats. Help was at hand as at the time I was at boarding school and my mother had travelled down with dad to keep him company, so dad set her on repleating the skirts so the worn parts were inside the skirt and the unworn was now on display.
Many years later we did some work again for Ramar and when you consider a load consisted of over 1000 hung dresses. It put a responsibility on the driver as he had to sign for his load before leaving and we had some complaints of missing dresses on delivery. We were sure they were genuine mistakes as many drivers had difficulty counting to ten, never mind one thousand. To solve the problem he decided to send Caroline Vane to do a load, and I remember him telling her the problem of shortages going on ‘I am sending you because you should know about dresses. Caroline’s load was perfect but I couldn’t help thinking had he made remarks like that today to a female driver it could have been considered sexist.
v7victor:
I give up who was it then !!! i know but i would like you to tell me! it could be Dinkies son!!!
Hi Vic, I think you must be getting Clairvoyant but you’ve got your wires crossed.
here you talking about dinky toys and my next post, which I’m working on at the moment is Triang toys and model railways.
A little bit more practice and you’ll be able o get your crystal ball out and make a fortune
Best wishes
Carl
