825christineh:
Hi Harry, I know the ball’s bounces are unpredictable with a sticky wicket and speaking metaphorically impossible when batting for the other side. Chris
hiya,
thanks harry, long retired.
Carl Williams:
edworth:
Hi Carl…Clarkson he’s a knob…Also remember BPT 100B with the crash gearbox what a great van, I remember when it was mine and drivers coming back from journeys might have had to come and help me load, they always wanted to have a go at driving her, some where useless with the gearbox
I had it to a fine art could change without the clutch, all in the engine revs, of course I never told your Dad I could do it, remember waiting for Gearge Hardy puuting gearbox back into J2 as I wanted to leave early next morning, it would be about 9.45 pm when he shouted it was done, then your Dad asked him what that piece of metal was on the floor, it was a spacer and the box had to come out again your Dad smoked about 20 tabs that night and I gave George some stick, but you could not fall out with George that was his way…Kenmirs, when I started as a wagon lad we where still doing Kenmirs, I remember me and Rodger (Owens) taken a load of headboards to Vono Beds at Tipton,Staffs and bringing a removal back from Wolverhampton, we stayed in digs on Waterloo Road, opposite the WOLVES ground, what a job for a young kid like me. I travelled the length and breadth of the British isles as a wagon lad with some of the best drivers in this country and learn’t everthing from your Dad and them, my first journey away was with that “Thing” from Coulsons the four potter TK I had about sixteen drops for Wiltshire and Birmingham 21 and ■■■■■■■■ myself , thinking of if I scratch it Harry will go mad, was not bothered about the drops and Birmingham etc only I must not mark Van
EddieHi Eddie,
George Hardy was to motor mechanics what Tommy Cooper was to magic, but like you say, he was such a nice guy, and always laughed it off. Do you know if he is still alive.
DPT100B was a complete mistake. It had an integral body and Marsden’s had put on a full width cab, and the seating position was totally wrong. It was a crash box and you were trying to change gear at the wrong angle. The pedals were off position as well as everything else and so it was a pig to drive. I went down to Altringham with loads of pyjamas often with it and I hated every trip, particularly having to leave Spennymoor at 5 in the morning. Talking about Kenmire’s and Tipton reminded me of when I went with Harry Hawkins, before I had started driving. Harry was in 367MPT and someone was following in DPT100B and we had both vans to tip, and then go round the corner and load a removal and were back the same night. That would have taught Pickford’s (on TV last night) how to load removals.
We learnt our lesson and the other BMC FG’s we bought MPT393J? A K reg one (Both not on vehicle list please help Peter with vehicle numbers) and CPT404L pictured below were all identical with standard three penny piece cabs still had crash boxes and the same engines, but apart from being cramped were easier to drive, but still noisy and uncomfortable.
The 4 cylinder Bedford 6188HN was as useless, if not more useless than my dad’s Thames 4d. I never had ‘the pleasure’ of driving either, but after all the trouble we experienced with the Bedford 4 cylinder, made us so surprised that Barry Hindmarch decided to buy his 4 cylinder that was involved in the fatal crash. Neither Ford nor Bedford mastered building 4 cylinder diesel Engines.
I have so many stories of Harry Smith (Aaron’s brother) and will get round to them one day. That was disgusting what he did and I hate to think what dad would have done and said to him if he had found out, but again, like George Hardy he was such a likable bloke, and sadly died so young
Carl
Hi Carl and Eddie: DPT100B was totally different in the power scale to the J2. It could pull a house down. Yes, everything was offset making it difficult to drive until you got used to it. If I remember correctly it had a 70 mph speedo with the fuel gauge at the bottom in-between the zero and 70. The speedo needle was very often right round reading half full on the fuel gauge (wasn’t it, Eddie?) The cab was large and was ideal for us when we went to Smart and Browns for our lunch as you could get 8 people in. (I shouldn’t be telling you this Carl!!!) 
Carl, you are correct with the reg MPT393J for the FG and the other one was EVK818K. ( 
I stand corrected as the other could have either been RPT???K or RUP???K as a few came in at a similar time). I never went in either of those so can’t comment on them but if they were half as good as old DPT with its abuse they will have been good workhorses.
Now getting onto the “thing” as Eddie calls 6188HN the 4 cylinder TK. As you said in a previous post your dad bought it because it had a low mileage and sent it down to Marsden’s to have the chassis lengthened and a new body built. It suffered an engine failure at Marsden’s and had to be fitted with a new engine, I believe at their expense. It looked very nice when it was returned to yourselves and painted but, as Eddie said, so underpowered and forever breaking down. Eventually, your dad sold it but he must have missed it so much he bought it back about 3years later when he bought Johnsons’ out. It was repainted again but the same problems were still there. I can’t remember how many times George Hardy had the engine to bits but do remember it was fitted with a new short motor which also gave problems. I think your dad finally snapped and bought a new chassis cab with a 6 cylinder 330 engine and transplanted the body onto it & this was registered FPT780G. You were still running this up until you finished in 1986 so the body gave good service even if the old chassis didn’t. I do know that 6188HN gave reasonable service to the next owner for quite a long time afterwards but it wasn’t carrying that body.
George Hardy’s skills likened to Tommy Coopers magic is magic Carl but, as you said, you couldn’t help liking him. He always tried to help anyone out but nearly always had loads of parts left after he did a job, unlike Uncle Jim who always tried to fit more.
All being well, looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces on Saturday.
Peter
Carl…Found this in a old transport book I have,Barrie’s Dad Jack is standing and the wagon is there first vehicle PT 27 ex WD Chain Driven Commer, the person sitting on the mudguard is Bill Christinson…Must say if anyone knows Dennis, Barries brother who lives in Marmaduke street looking at this photo of his Dad he is the pop model. (OUGHTON CARRIERS)
Eddie
Yes, you’re right Eddie. Dennis is the spit of his dad Chris
What a cracking photo of PT 27, First registered 1922/3 I wonder where it ended up, Regards Larry.
This one for you Carl, Old couple from Somerset travelled thousands of miles will not part with car or trailer.
Eddie
Lawrence Dunbar:
What a cracking photo of PT 27, First registered 1922/3 I wonder where it ended up, Regards Larry.
Hi…Lawrence not a clue, but if I see Barrie Hindmarsh will ask him he he as any idea.
Eddie
edworth:
Lawrence Dunbar:
What a cracking photo of PT 27, First registered 1922/3 I wonder where it ended up, Regards Larry.Hi…Lawrence not a clue, but if I see Barrie Hindmarsh will ask him he he as any idea.
Eddie
Thank you, I have a 1931 Roadway Directory, & Houghton Carriers was Marmaduke Street then, The good old days, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
edworth:
Lawrence Dunbar:
What a cracking photo of PT 27, First registered 1922/3 I wonder where it ended up, Regards Larry.Hi…Lawrence not a clue, but if I see Barrie Hindmarsh will ask him he he as any idea.
EddieThank you, I have a 1931 Roadway Directory, & Houghton Carriers was Marmaduke Street then, The good old days, Regards Larry.
Sorry it should read OUGHTON, Regards Larry.
Could not resist this one what a name “Septimus” sounds like something you could catch
Eddie
Carl…How about this removal with DPT 100B, your Dad sent me on my own to the Happy Garden Chinese in Bishop Auckland (this was sometime late sixtys) he said there was plenty of help and it would only be box’s, on arrival at the restaurant in the market place Bishop Auckland i was given a coffee and told the help would not be long in coming down stairs, I had a tab and about fifteen minutes later there was a bunch of chinese lads and lasses coming down the stairs with box’s and single mattress’s, i had eight of them in the back and proceeded to Preston Lancashire, it was like the Shangia Express going over to Preston I left the shutter up for them and they were all singing, when I got to Preston they unloaded in about two minutes, I was given a three couse meal as it was another restaurant, then I had to get another six different people in the van and return them to Bishop Auckland, these lot had big bags over there shoulders which were pale blue and white stripes with Shangia to liverpool on them, wonder what customs would have made of this, so you could say you have been involved in the slave trade
Eddie
It’s a custodial sentence for aiding illegal immigrants. Chris
Don’t worry Carl, I will fetch you a cake with a file inside or would you prefer pie n peas
Eddie
Anybody seen this wagon running from Bishop Auckland to Preston lately
Ha ha I like it!
edworth:
This one for you Carl, Old couple from Somerset travelled thousands of miles will not part with car or trailer.
Eddie
Hi Eddie
How did you manage to find that great photo of Oughton’s old van? Do you know what year it will have been taken?
When I said I can remember their old vans that they were running into the early sixties it wasn’t that one. They were old war time Bedfords.
With ref to the Rover photo and caravan. Here is a one of the last new Rover 2000 I had together with our caravan taken in Blackpool. Peter will remember this car. It was darkish blue and a Twin Carb model.
Hope to see you later today with everyone else at the reunion.
Carl
