One reason we ran the Guy Otters so long was the ease at getting spares.
The Otter was not a well-used model, in fact the type we had with what was basically a cut down version of the invincible cab seems particularly rare, because I have not been able to find a photo of any examples. They had the Gardner 4 cylinder engine which was particularly fugal, getting about 26 mpg, and the chassis were built like a battleship. As an operators vehicle they were ideal reliable and very cheap to run.
The two problems they had was very poor cabs that soon deteriorated (Perhaps that’s why there appears to have been none preserved) and the slow running speed. However this was not so noticeable when we first put them on the road before the M62 or M18 were opened. We ran them mostly to Nottingham and Leicester and Oldham areas, so in the original days they could keep in the flow of the traffic, but once the motorways opened they were dreadful. I remember passing one of them one day as I was travelling up the M18 towards joining the M1 in my car within the 70 MPH speed limit! (Of course) and seeing one of our guys in the slow lane crawling at about 25mph up the bank.
As far as getting vehicle parts we had been spoilt by Adams and Gibbon with our Bedfords, on the very rare occasion they hadn’t things on the shelf for the SBs (Which wasn’t as popular as TKs) we just nipped down to Leeds where Wallace Arnold had everything. With BMC/Leyland etc. we had suddenly been woken up to a different world and had been introduced to the term VOR (Vehicle off the Road). Even with Ford or Dodge we never had a vehicle off the road, and my argument was that even if the vehicle was able to struggle on if it wanted something it should be off the road. Every part was unavailable with Leyland/BMC set up. (With the exception of AEC, which were so much more reliable and rarely needed parts)
With Guy, although the local dealers were useless we found out that we could buy everything off the shelf at Wolverhampton. We opened an account with them and when we wanted anything got one of our drivers in the area to call and collect and on two occasions when this was not immediately possible I drove down. I have told before my experiences of the spores at Buists and Minories at Newcastle where the quews were like I would expect if I was trying to get Olympics tickets, but at Guy just walk in get served and out. How it should be. I always remember saying to Buists and Minories reps when they came to see me that I didn’t know if it was because the vehicles they sold were so bad that they needed so many spares or there staff were useless.
For those that are interested there is a wonderful site that tells the story of GUY MOTORS and has photos of all parts of the factory including their stores which they bragged was well stocked and I can fully agree with that statement.
Carl Williams:
A few months ago Keymac posted this photo on another thread saying I would know the driver as he worked for us, saying he was Jack Mortimer. I assume it is John Mortimer.
I have blown the part of the photo up. Does anyone recognise him and does anyone know how he is keeping.
Perhaps Gordon or Colin might know, as I don’t think Eddie was there when John was. Or perhaps someone else reading this can tell me
Carl, I took that photo of Jack/John Mortimer a few months ago now, I was talking to him just a couple of weeks ago in Ritchies yard, he is still plodding up and down the road on a regular basis and doesn’t look any different to how he looked when I first knew him thirtyodd years ago when he worked for you. (Ok he’s a bit older) I will tell him you are asking about him next time I see him. Regards Kev.
Carl Williams:
A few months ago Keymac posted this photo on another thread saying I would know the driver as he worked for us, saying he was Jack Mortimer. I assume it is John Mortimer.
I have blown the part of the photo up. Does anyone recognise him and does anyone know how he is keeping.
Perhaps Gordon or Colin might know, as I don’t think Eddie was there when John was. Or perhaps someone else reading this can tell me
Carl, I took that photo of Jack/John Mortimer a few months ago now, I was talking to him just a couple of weeks ago in Ritchies yard, he is still plodding up and down the road on a regular basis and doesn’t look any different to how he looked when I first knew him thirtyodd years ago when he worked for you. (Ok he’s a bit older) I will tell him you are asking about him next time I see him. Regards Kev.
Thanks Kev,
Would you also please tell him about this site and ask him if he wouldn’t mind contributing any memories, and who knows he might have the odd photo or two
Just thinking about the fuel shortage last week, and the problems it created.
From Green Lane we used about 6-7,000 gallon a week plus about 2,000 gallon from service stations bought by the drivers on fuel agency cards.
We had a total storage availability of 18,000 gallon at Green Lane and at the slightest sniff of shortages we filled our tanks to near full capacity. However the tank range on our vehicles made it necessary for our drivers to top up whilst they were away, hence the agency card usage, and I can never remember it ever causing any problems as there always were supplies.
What has gone wrong? Perhaps it’s because years ago the filling stations were mostly privately owned and there were very few, if any owned by the supermarkets. Obviously they are not carrying plenty of stock, with their obsession with profit by fast stock turnover. Years ago the service station owners had enough savvy to make sure they kept stocks high, when it was necessary.
Hi Carl,
I am a new member on trucknet and have been browsing through the topics that interest me.
I looked at you thread because i used to see your vehicles whenever i was up the road.What a thread,wonderful so informative reading your history.I have read with interest your stories relating to the painting and signwriting,I can relate so much to this.When I left school I was training to be a signwriter.I still dabble with it.However I digress.
When i was driving for Wilkinsons Transport on contract to Citroen car parts division,i used to run all over UK delivering the parts.I regulary stayed nights out in Olham.I met some of your lads and particually Caroline Vane.what a lovely person.At the time she had one of your Bedford Marsdens.always admired those vehicles.I had as my steed a Ford D series 4 wheeler.Painted in Citroen bright yellow.
From those early days when I first started driving HGV,s I progressed to wagon and drags.always on distribution.Have done lots of furniture,consumer white goods ect, as an employed driver and as an agency driver.
I shall be keeping up to date on your brilliant thread.Keep it up.So many memories.
Regards
Mick
mickthebrush:
Hi Carl, I am a new member on trucknet and have been browsing through the topics that interest me. I looked at you thread because i used to see your vehicles whenever i was up the road.What a thread,wonderful so informative reading your history.I have read with interest your stories relating to the painting and signwriting,I can relate so much to this.When I left school I was training to be a signwriter.I still dabble with it.However I digress. When i was driving for Wilkinsons Transport on contract to Citroen car parts division,i used to run all over UK delivering the parts.I regulary stayed nights out in Olham.I met some of your lads and particually Caroline Vane.what a lovely person.At the time she had one of your Bedford Marsdens.always admired those vehicles.I had as my steed a Ford D series 4 wheeler.Painted in Citroen bright yellow. From those early days when I first started driving HGV,s I progressed to wagon and drags.always on distribution.Have done lots of furniture,consumer white goods ect, as an employed driver and as an agency driver. I shall be keeping up to date on your brilliant thread.Keep it up.So many memories. Regards Mick
Hi Mick
Thank you so much for reading our thread. Complements like yours mean so much to me and serve as encouragement to help me keep remembering and telling tales.
Keep up your signwriting, as it’s a lost art, and always someone will need your help.
So nice to hear of your comments on Caroline Vane, she was and no doubt still is a nice person when you realise the so privileged background she came from it just goes to show that good people come from all walks of life. Who knows one day she might read this thread and be pleased to read what you have written.
I hope you carry on reading our thread and enjoy doing so. Trucknet is a very good idea and we all get hours of enjoyment reading what people have written, so please keep commenting as your thoughts and memories bring back other persons, and that is what makes the site.
Once again thank you for your kind comments
I have been going through some of your memories and they come back to me as if it was only yesterday, you speak of the load of bananas to Manchester, if we only did the one load I was the guilty party who took the load down and at Manchester market had to go around all of the different stalls with two market employees dropping off.
Do you remember the first time when I was in the office along with Eddy Thornton, George Graham was hanging around? Obviously not wanting to go away that day and he had left his van on the pumps filling up, I finally had to say George are you going to leave or not as the Boss is coming down stairs and he will not want you standing around when you should have already gone.
George left post haste and drove away with the diesel filler pipe still in the tank and he pulled the pump off the stand, there was diesel everywhere, with George trying to stop the flood by pushing his gloves into the end of the open pipe and me running across the yard to the tank to turn off the stop ■■■■.
Later in the afternoon after George had gone to bathe and change his clothes (he did not get away that day) Gordon Elson / Georges step father pulled onto the pump and came into the rest room with the comment (the pump is not working) and Harry replied “ aah that is because your step son tried to steal the pump” and as was usual with Harry that was the end of the story as he never in my memory of him over a twenty year period carried any animosity over any incidents.
I have contacted Brian Sheldon and Martin Holliday to let them know of Tuesday 10th April, Brian plays darts every Monday and Tuesday and Doc is the Steward of a Workingmen’s Club so they may not make it, Roger will be there and John Ward is going to make every effort and some of the” lads” from Ferryhill have been informed and may arrive.
Have had an email and have spoken on the phone to Jim Ferguson in Aberdeen but he cannot make it as he is going on holiday to Thailand but he is going to come done at a later date,
I have been going through some of your memories and they come back to me as if it was only yesterday, you speak of the load of bananas to Manchester, if we only did the one load I was the guilty party who took the load down and at Manchester market had to go around all of the different stalls with two market employees dropping off.
Do you remember the first time when I was in the office along with Eddy Thornton, George Graham was hanging around? Obviously not wanting to go away that day and he had left his van on the pumps filling up, I finally had to say George are you going to leave or not as the Boss is coming down stairs and he will not want you standing around when you should have already gone.
George left post haste and drove away with the diesel filler pipe still in the tank and he pulled the pump off the stand, there was diesel everywhere, with George trying to stop the flood by pushing his gloves into the end of the open pipe and me running across the yard to the tank to turn off the stop ■■■■.
Later in the afternoon after George had gone to bathe and change his clothes (he did not get away that day) Gordon Elson / Georges step father pulled onto the pump and came into the rest room with the comment (the pump is not working) and Harry replied “ aah that is because your step son tried to steal the pump” and as was usual with Harry that was the end of the story as he never in my memory of him over a twenty year period carried any animosity over any incidents.
I have contacted Brian Sheldon and Martin Holliday to let them know of Tuesday 10th April, Brian plays darts every Monday and Tuesday and Doc is the Steward of a Workingmen’s Club so they may not make it, Roger will be there and John Ward is going to make every effort and some of the” lads” from Ferryhill have been informed and may arrive.
Have had an email and have spoken on the phone to Jim Ferguson in Aberdeen but he cannot make it as he is going on holiday to Thailand but he is going to come done at a later date,
See you Tuesday
Colin
Hi Colin,
It is strange isn’t it how things come back as though it was yesterday, but in my case I cannot remember yesterday.
Yes the banana load was you. Fyffes had just opened their ‘banana factory’ in Shildon and it was the first load out, and no doubt we would have got a lot more work, except we had no suitable vehicles. I think it was also BSO172C’s fist load and if we had weighed it loaded I bet it would weigh almost 14 ton. Not bad for a vehicle that would be eventually plated at 9.5 ton gvw.
I must not have away somewhere when George pulled away taking the diesel pump with him, and never heard about it, but do you remember when we got that new pump where every driver had their own key so we had a record of how much diesel each of them were using. It didn’t last long before it was broken. I think that was deliberate as certain individuals didn’t want us t know what they were using.
On one occasion we got a tip off that theft of diesel from the pump was going on during the night, and the police put us a camera from the window in my office, from my desk. I had to watch through the film and although it ran about 4 times the speed and then if needed I could slow it down to get a closer look, but it still took hours and nothing was found but I think too many knew what was going on there and they would carry on after the camera was removed.
Looking forward to meeting again on Tues night
Carl
Carl
John Mortimer was thin with black hair & very thin like myself a nice lad who got on with everyone.
Nice to see he looks so well & still driving.
Gordon.
Carl Williams:
A few months ago Keymac posted this photo on another thread saying I would know the driver as he worked for us, saying he was Jack Mortimer. I assume it is John Mortimer.
I have blown the part of the photo up. Does anyone recognise him and does anyone know how he is keeping.
Perhaps Gordon or Colin might know, as I don’t think Eddie was there when John was. Or perhaps someone else reading this can tell me
goggietara:
Carl
John Mortimer was thin with black hair & very thin like myself a nice lad who got on with everyone.
Nice to see he looks so well & still driving.
Gordon.
Carl Williams:
A few months ago Keymac posted this photo on another thread saying I would know the driver as he worked for us, saying he was Jack Mortimer. I assume it is John Mortimer.
I have blown the part of the photo up. Does anyone recognise him and does anyone know how he is keeping.
Perhaps Gordon or Colin might know, as I don’t think Eddie was there when John was. Or perhaps someone else reading this can tell me
Hi Gordon,
You know this weight thing. I blame these using foreign weights instead of stones and pounds. I stood on a set of scales the other day and they were at least three stone too much. I think with calibrating with foreign kilos or whatever they use, the scales are going wrong.
Obviously John Mortimer is victim to this, like me and the photos must be wrong as well. However, how do you manage as you don’t seem to have put any weight on?
I bet when we see each other tomorrow night after so many years have passed we all will get shocks
Carl
I contacted Alfie Ridley & he is retired so hopefully he will make it,i have also managed to contact Alan Browns wife but does not think he will come as he has been very poorly with a number of things over the years & does not drink.He is retired now.
See you all tonight & hope you Carl let the F & F know.
A couple of months or so ago I mentioned Wood and Watson the Lemonade makers of Durham.
Phil Butler mentioned that his dad, Peter, who sign wrote most of our vans during the sixties and seventies did the signwriting on many of Wood and Watson’s Bedford TKs.
I have just found a photo in a Durham site of old photos showing one of Wood and Watsons loading in their Gilesgate factory. From the photo it would appear it was taken during the late forties and from my memory the signwriting increased in size over the complete rear of the vehicle.
But the photo illustrates the artistic talents Peter Butler had to use the maximum to achieve the finish he managed.
I think everyone would agree we had a good night last night.
It was good to see John Ward and Alfie Ridley again and hope they find time to put a few memories on this site from time to time.
I am afraid at first I didn’t recognise anyone, and in fact Colin Watson was already in the pub when me and Paul arrived, and we had been there for about ten minutes till we realised who we were.
Brian Sheldon paid a quick visit and again I hope he reads and writes on this thread. Peter and Gordon were of course there, but one or two couldn’t come because of it being on a Tuesday night.
We all missed Eddie Worthington and hope you are having your hospital treatment and are well. Harry Gill made a guest appearance and it was good to put a face next to my readings he writes on this site.
Peter thinks he has got photos of one of the ERF tractor units and also the Foden, and is hoping to locate one the Bedford taken at Marsden’s stand at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court, and perhaps one of the Thorn Heating Bedford taken in London. So I await his posting of these.
Colin has promised to arrange another get together in the future, but this time on a Saturday night, so more can attend, but in all a very good night where the talking of old times went on at such a rapid pace and so many tales were told.
Hopefully photos will follow, from those Paul took and Gordon
Please forgive me if I have missed anyone who was there but as everyone knows I have no short term memory.
Carl
It did go well even though some did not make it, hope Eddie is OK as he seemed to be looking forward to it.
It was nice to see your Paul, John Ward, Alfie Ridley,Peter Summers,Colin Watson,But what a man Harry Long Retired is he had the “T” shirt to prove it & travelled from near Chester Le Street a good man & Brian Sheldon who popped in for a pint.
I have posted some photos on your wall Carl hope they are OK.
Gordon.
Carl Williams:
I think everyone would agree we had a good night last night.
It was good to see John Ward and Alfie Ridley again and hope they find time to put a few memories on this site from time to time.
I am afraid at first I didn’t recognise anyone, and in fact Colin Watson was already in the pub when me and Paul arrived, and we had been there for about ten minutes till we realised who we were.
Brian Sheldon paid a quick visit and again I hope he reads and writes on this thread. Peter and Gordon were of course there, but one or two couldn’t come because of it being on a Tuesday night.
We all missed Eddie Worthington and hope you are having your hospital treatment and are well. Harry Gill made a guest appearance and it was good to put a face next to my readings he writes on this site.
Peter thinks he has got photos of one of the ERF tractor units and also the Foden, and is hoping to locate one the Bedford taken at Marsden’s stand at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court, and perhaps one of the Thorn Heating Bedford taken in London. So I await his posting of these.
Colin has promised to arrange another get together in the future, but this time on a Saturday night, so more can attend, but in all a very good night where the talking of old times went on at such a rapid pace and so many tales were told.
Hopefully photos will follow, from those Paul took and Gordon
Please forgive me if I have missed anyone who was there but as everyone knows I have no short term memory.
