tyneside:
Hi Carl
If I could just go back to Bishop Auckland mart. It was always bad access being stuck at the bottom of the hill by the river. No space to manouver once you got down there and then trying to get back onto the main road with a full load of livestock was always interesting.
Can you remember the name of the race horse trainer who had the stables and land opposite ? Not sure if he had something to do with ownership of the mart.
You mentioned talking to the auctioneer, would that have been Peter Addison ■■?
I notice the whole hill side is a housing estate now.
Cheers Tyneside
Hi Tyneside
My memory of events in the last thirty years is not that good. Daft as it seems before 1980 it is much better. I am almost certain it was Joe Vaux, tha was the auctioneer. I think Addisons did Barnard Castle Mart and then did Bishop Auckland as well later but I might be mistaken.
Yes I remember being told not only was it difficult going down but also struggling in bottom to come back up, but the Bedfords did better than some other wagons so I was told.
Like you say its all housing now and I cannot help but wonder how they did with the foods
goggietara:
Carl & Colin,
Bob Heathwaite was not i beleive Nick the Greek a small chap originally from Manchester who had worked for a furniture removal firm from Oldham i think was our man.
Peter Winship was a tough cookie one saturday morning he came into work with both eyes very black & almost shut & nose very swollen after a bit of a barnie in Shildon the night before it was not going to stop him getting his overtime money a real character wa Peter.
Good to see you going strong Carl - Gordon.
Hi Gordon
I missed this post, somehow.
Talking about Peter Windship, quite a few drivers had trouble on Friday and Saturday nights. When arrested by police most often drunk apparently you used to be allowed one phone call. Guess who most rang? MY dad, not that he could do anything for them, but i think, as you would immagine he would try to re assure them, and tell them to come and see him when they sobered up and were let out.
I think that was dad’s best attribute, that he guenuinly tried to help drivers when they had problems and would always do his best for them, and this was rewarded by the ‘trust’ they had in him and knew they could turn to him for help.
1372UP 1962 Bedford SB Marsden pantechnicon Bedord 330 cu in diesel engine. 1850 cu ft pantechnicon body. fibreglass cab and front end roof. plymax panelled body on ard wood frame roller shutter and underslung tailboard at rear. 1372 UP must have been on second or possibly third repaint at that time as the brown rectangle with W.H.Williams in white with black shading was introduced in mid 1965. It is possible at the time of the photo that this van was 12 years old, so it was looking good for its age, especially as by that time it will have covered well over 600,000 miles.
Bedford were not 'Premium trucks, and a lot cheaper than the likes of Leyland, and yet few such vehicles could compete on reliability.
For those of you who worked in the sixties, and I am thinking of Eddie, Colin and you,Peter, when you think of none driving employees, who worked as porters, the mind automaticly goes to Alan Robinson and Peter Moore, as although there were quite a few teenages from time to time, both of them were older and stayed for many years, and in Alans case eventually drove a small van. Alan with his act as Al Jolson, and Peter as Tom Jones.
I worked with both of them often on removals and deliveries for Hardys and Woodhouse, and I know Alan died whist relatively young, but I never heard of what became of Peter Moore. Does anyone know?
Carl Williams:
For those of you who worked in the sixties, and I am thinking of Eddie, Colin and you,Peter, when you think of none driving employees, who worked as porters, the mind automaticly goes to Alan Robinson and Peter Moore, as although there were quite a few teenages from time to time, both of them were older and stayed for many years, and in Alans case eventually drove a small van. Alan with his act as Al Jolson, and Peter as Tom Jones.
I worked with both of them often on removals and deliveries for Hardys and Woodhouse, and I know Alan died whist relatively young, but I never heard of what became of Peter Moore. Does anyone know?
Hi Carl, When you mentioned Alan Robinson it brought back memories of him doing one of his acts of Al Jolson at the Spennymoor Gala probably in the early 1980’s. As you know both you and I took our Bedfords in the parade through the town to the park. Typical of the British weather there had been a torrential downpour the previous day and when a few of the vehicles were leaving one of the larger floats became bogged down to it’s axles in the soft ground. John Gornall took his Bedford back home as he only lives a few hundred yards away from the park and brought down a loaded Foden 8 wheeler to pull the arctic out. We hitched it up but still couldn’t get enough traction even on solid ground. As the arctic was grounded something bigger was needed. I spotted one of the fairground vehicles which was big enough for the job so asked John Culine, the gala organiser, if we could borrow it. That wasn’t a problem but said I would have to use it myself as he was busy with his fairground ride. John Gornall went with me to get the truck, a Scammell Pioneer of WW2 vintage. It was located behind the makeshift stage as a backdrop. This Scammell hadn’t been moved for a few days so the engine was cold and, being a Gardner, we all know what they do. I started it up and you couldn’t see anything for smoke. Guess who was on the stage singing and dancing as Al Jolson? He and half the audience disappeared in the clouds of smoke produced by the Scammell. Alan, being a true performer, continued singing without a care in the world whilst everyone else was coughing and wiping the tears from their eyes as we drove off pretending not to notice the havoc we had caused. The Scammell pulled the arctic out with ease using the winch but we didn’t dare take it back to the stage area as Alan didn’t know it was me giving him special effects for his act.
If I recall correctly when Peter Moore passed his driving test your dad allocated him the Ford Transit DPT 368G.
Peter
Carl…Sure Peter Moore is dead, they were both great lads, some of the things we all got up to at leicester and oldham with them singing it was amazing,wish I could write a book about it all, it would be Harry Potter eat your heart out
Eddie
Carl Williams:
For those of you who worked in the sixties, and I am thinking of Eddie, Colin and you,Peter, when you think of none driving employees, who worked as porters, the mind automaticly goes to Alan Robinson and Peter Moore, as although there were quite a few teenages from time to time, both of them were older and stayed for many years, and in Alans case eventually drove a small van. Alan with his act as Al Jolson, and Peter as Tom Jones.
I worked with both of them often on removals and deliveries for Hardys and Woodhouse, and I know Alan died whist relatively young, but I never heard of what became of Peter Moore. Does anyone know?
Hi Carl, When you mentioned Alan Robinson it brought back memories of him doing one of his acts of Al Jolson at the Spennymoor Gala probably in the early 1980’s. As you know both you and I took our Bedfords in the parade through the town to the park. Typical of the British weather there had been a torrential downpour the previous day and when a few of the vehicles were leaving one of the larger floats became bogged down to it’s axles in the soft ground. John Gornall took his Bedford back home as he only lives a few hundred yards away from the park and brought down a loaded Foden 8 wheeler to pull the arctic out. We hitched it up but still couldn’t get enough traction even on solid ground. As the arctic was grounded something bigger was needed. I spotted one of the fairground vehicles which was big enough for the job so asked John Culine, the gala organiser, if we could borrow it. That wasn’t a problem but said I would have to use it myself as he was busy with his fairground ride. John Gornall went with me to get the truck, a Scammell Pioneer of WW2 vintage. It was located behind the makeshift stage as a backdrop. This Scammell hadn’t been moved for a few days so the engine was cold and, being a Gardner, we all know what they do. I started it up and you couldn’t see anything for smoke. Guess who was on the stage singing and dancing as Al Jolson? He and half the audience disappeared in the clouds of smoke produced by the Scammell. Alan, being a true performer, continued singing without a care in the world whilst everyone else was coughing and wiping the tears from their eyes as we drove off pretending not to notice the havoc we had caused. The Scammell pulled the arctic out with ease using the winch but we didn’t dare take it back to the stage area as Alan didn’t know it was me giving him special effects for his act.
If I recall correctly when Peter Moore passed his driving test your dad allocated him the Ford Transit DPT 368G.
Peter
Hi Peer,
I believe Alan used to ‘Black Up’ for his act , so I surpose you would have been helping him.
I cannot remember Peter driving, but it would add up as we always encouraged people to take ther test, and he did work for us for many years. No doubt we will have arranged for him to take a course wth dennis Gooder at Darlington Driver Training.
Hi Carl. It was George Todd’s funeral today. I kept in touch with George after I left WHW with him living in Spennymoor and often saw him down the town or in the Legion having a drink. What a funny man he was, always had me in stitches. Sad day. Chris
825christineh:
Hi Carl. It was George Todd’s funeral today. I kept in touch with George after I left WHW with him living in Spennymoor and often saw him down the town or in the Legion having a drink. What a funny man he was, always had me in stitches. Sad day. Chris
Hi Christine,
I must have been mistaken, but I thought George had died years ago about the same time as Bob Bradley. If I remember correcly, george lived around St Andrews road area and he had a great sense of humour.
I will always remember that one day, Bob who was a member of Spennymoor amateur Operatic Society (Moving the scenery, I think, backstage) was asking dad if the following week he could be kept local with early finnishes as it was their production week, and another driver, overhearing said ‘I never knew you sang, George’ When another one piped up, ‘I dont know about that but the other day when I was near to him I had to hold my nose because he certainly was ‘humming’ a bit’
Yes Christine George was a great bloke, and had I have known he was still with us, I woud have tried to arrange to call and say hello again,like I will once again, with you and Gordon try to do with Geoff but it’s too late now.
Hi Carl, yes George did used to live in St. Andrew’s Rd but moved up to Rosa street later. He was 81 and a great family man. Years ago I used to see him pushing the grandkids in their pushchairs. We always had a natter and a good laugh when I met him down the town. Chris
goggietara:
Hi Rob
I wonder did you work for W H & are you in fact Bob Heathwaite i wonder?
Gordon
Hi Gordon
I was thinking the same thing. Come on Rob spill the beans.
Carl
It’s Rob Heathwaite,dare bet on it, never worked with you but known you from being a younging, Am I on the right one from Tudhoe Moor knew your Mam and Dad.
Eddie[/quoteyes
yes just to let you all know it’s the one and only so now you know ha ha ha
goggietara:
Hi Rob
I wonder did you work for W H & are you in fact Bob Heathwaite i wonder?
Gordon
Hi Gordon
I was thinking the same thing. Come on Rob spill the beans.
Carl
It’s Rob Heathwaite,dare bet on it, never worked with you but known you from being a younging, Am I on the right one from Tudhoe Moor knew your Mam and Dad.
Eddie
[/quoteyes
yes just to let you all know it’s the one and only so now you know ha ha ha
Hi Rob,
Well Gordon and Eddie were right. Welcome officially to this thread. It’s a shame you didn’t come to the reunion, but I understand that Colin and co are organising another for later this year, when I hope we all can meet you again.
Please tell us a bit about when you worked there and what you were driving etc. Can’t wait to hear more
edworth:
Carl…Sure Peter Moore is dead, they were both great lads, some of the things we all got up to at leicester and oldham with them singing it was amazing,wish I could write a book about it all, it would be Harry Potter eat your heart out
Eddie
Go on Eddie, I bet you could write ‘Confessions of a randy lorry driver’. Look how much that woman made with ’ A paler shade of grey’
Come on Eddie tell us a few snippets. You can always change the names to protect the guilty.
I heard years ago the tale of Peter Moores disapointing experience when he mistakenly tried to befiend a transversite, whilst everyone who knew wat he or it was laughed as they waited for him to find out, and I’m sure you could tell the story better
A certain driver …had to go shopping for new shoes in Leicester the morning after he was nearly caught by a husband who came home early from work, the driver got out of the house trying to put some of his gear on while receiving verbal abuse and some blows, but he dropped his shoes and the irate husband grabbed them, it was a hell of a laugh for a long while, this was not myself but a good mate who is not with us now RIP.
Eddie
edworth:
Carl…ask Colin about the cafe in Kingston on thames that did not have a toilet of it’s own,come on Colin.
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
It’s surprising where you lot got.
I remember in the sixties when Dusty Springfield was at the height of her fame being told by couple of drivers that she was a lesbian. Years before it was in the papers. Apparently before Kingston on Thames gained its popularity for parking the East end was popular and apparently she frequented a pub used by our drivers with her girlfriend, Apparently other regulars were the Krays.
Carl
edworth:
Carl…ask Colin about the cafe in Kingston on thames that did not have a toilet of it’s own,come on Colin.
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
It’s surprising where you lot got.
I remember in the sixties when Dusty Springfield was at the height of her fame being told by couple of drivers that she was a lesbian. Years before it was in the papers. Apparently before Kingston on Thames gained its popularity for parking the East end was popular and apparently she frequented a pub used by our drivers with her girlfriend, Apparently other regulars were the Krays.
Carl
One of the best times I had in London was when there was about ten of us with yarn for Russia and the dockers went on strike, we were there for about three nights, the dockers and there families were nice people they reminded me very much like the northern collierie’s people, not sure if is was Colin or Ron (him being a southern boy) who came to a arrangement with the dockers, if we unloaded all our vans the bonus money had to be paid to the dockers, never seen vans unloaded so quick,never even heard of the krays then and we were right in the middle, don’t think the dockers would be intimadated by that scum.
Eddie
Christine
So sad to hear about our very good freind George Todd a fantastic man i worked with him @ Watsons Carriers on South Sheilds & Sunderland run, on a lighter note @ dinner time a few Watsons drivers including George visited a swimming pool for an hour for relaxation on Newcastle Road Sunderland George was a laugh in the pool always joking.
Nice to see Bob Heathwaite alive & well.
Gordon
goggietara:
Christine
So sad to hear about our very good freind George Todd a fantastic man i worked with him @ Watsons Carriers on South Sheilds & Sunderland run, on a lighter note @ dinner time a few Watsons drivers including George visited a swimming pool for an hour for relaxation on Newcastle Road Sunderland George was a laugh in the pool always joking.
Nice to see Bob Heathwaite alive & well.
Gordon
Hi Gordon,
As Christine said earlier George had a very dry sence of humour, as did Bob Bradley,
I always remeber them taking in the rest room, discussing their relative army careers when they had been called up.
I think it was Bob saying that he had been stationed in Africa and the uniform had been short trousers because it was hot weather.
’ Of course they had to make my trousers specially for me with longer leg length’ he bragged
