Archie Paice:
Strange how things happen but was at a loss as to what to do today as it was raining here. So I wondered how AMG was progressing and came across this forum just by chance. I also worked in North Farm with Bert Worth, in fact he was one of the best bosses I have worked for, yes he ducked and dived but he was kind to me his wife who came from a concentration camp Auschwitz was also kind. The Volvo I drove was a real smoker and nothing we did improved its smoking habit. I was also friends with Don Alexandria, who had the 40ft container on the left towards Maverton’s. I also worked for Alec Fairly some called him Griffiths, but that was the name of the company. I often wondered what happened to Neville who worked for Alec, he was the only Jamaican driver I knew and last time I saw him was in Dover driving a Mack
I was working with Don Alexander ( R.I.P.) at that time, he was also a bloody good bloke to know. He was when I first met him the Fitter for Mavertons, a very good Fitter he was too. When he took over that piece of land, we had great fun in installing that Blue 40’ Container on the land. Then even greater fun the next two nights in darkness, running a live cable, that we happened to have found, down the hedge to the Container. Great there was now electricy on tap, Telephone, Fax Machine, Generater ,Lights on all day and night now. I also knew Bert Worth and Alex Fairly, Neville was as I remember doing mechanicing in the Garage next to Alex’s. Always had that bloody cheroot in his mouth as I recall. Nigel Downie, last time I saw him was in the Queens, when he gave some bloke a right hiding. Ricky the manager just went into the other bar until it was all over. Good old times they were.
I remember Don constantly flying out to the middle east - we had a rogue left hand drive which kept breaking down - drove my dad mad.
Nigel my dad’s brother in law had been done for manslaughter before Mavertons - he had a real temper - he was always fine with me - but gave my mother’s husband Terry Doidge a hiding or two .His brother Marcus was a bit of a prude. Sukey - their sister was married to my dad.
When I was a kid my father showed me how to secure a load. Very useful these days when we buy sonething and haul it home on the roof of the jag. My husband cannot tie rope and stands there looking helpless as I tie something down.
Don had a bit of a temper too, I remember one night after his girl friend had parted he was really upset and had gone through quite a lot of rum I think, I was in the yard at night for some reason and went over to visit him, he wanted to go and fix his girl friend up, but after a good chat he decided against it. I think the left ■■■■■■ was the Ford if I remember. I remember Don had to pick up a truck from Reggio C one time and drove it back with molegripps for the steering. His son was a bit of a lad too, liked Motorbikes.
Yes you are right Neville was a mechanic for a while until one day when four heavy looking fellows came to visit Alec to retrieve back the F88 which was in the garage that Neville was working on, he later decide to look for some safer work.
It was a left handed Berliet - the only one in the country. My dad had a horrendous temper. When Terry got drunk and was unable to drive to Dover - the old man set out in his jag. He pulled Terry from the cab, beat the living daylights out of him and left him laying in the road while he drove the load to Dover.
Louise
Your right about Mad Paddy Don’s temper, sometimes quite out of the blue, I remember one day we were going round a roundabout, he in his usual rush and tear mood hit another car, creasing it all down one side, he being him just carried on ■■■■ shouldn’t have got in the way he said. The bloke was now following us blowing his horn continuously. Don stopped the car, the bloke pulled up behind and before he knew what was happening Don had the door open, grabbed him by the throat and planted him right between the eyes, do you want to die he asked the bloke could barely shake his head, then ■■■■ off said Don, got back into our car and off we went like a lunatic again. He couldn’t talk for about five minutes after that he was still angry. I wonder which girl friend that was, was it the one that sold ■■■ toys Jo ? She was one of the many. Poor old Mel, his wife had to stay at home while all this was going on, there was nothing else she could do. She was lovely, I used to stay there for a while, and she looked after me like a mother, even though I was about 15 years older than her. I am still loosely in contact with them now Mel and the two lads, Mark, that’s the one that liked motorbikes, and Glen, he has a good job and has just come back from Chicago I seem to remember Don and Mel used to see Lew and Sukie a few times for a meal.
Archie.
I am not sure which girl friend, but he was really very angry about it. I notice somebody said Rip for Don when did he pass away, also does anyone know when Bert passed away, because he could not still be alive. Mind you Alec Fairly could still.
For Mavertons pics you might try Derek Garrard, I seem to remember he worked there and has a lot of old photos from those days, always a good piece of advice used to be if you were parked up and one of MM or CR’s pulled in it was time to move somewhere else while you still had some diesel to do so.
I remember being given the self same advise Chazzer,
David
I used to get those same strange looks on Simons. 
Here is a picture of the rogue.
Louise
Founder members of the pipe and pump fuel agency. Two of the hardest mid east trucking firms but two of the best paid. Even if they were run by East end villains.
£1000. a trip, £300. at the reload in Austria. That went in the back pocket as did any change from the running money. Only prob with Mavertons towards the end we were never sure if we were going home till we got to Zeeby or if we were turning round, that many want to be truckers (O.Ds) dumped trailers all over East and West Europe we Comp boys had to spin round and find them, and sort the mess out. Lou Sains, Johnny Spiller, Bert Worth. The 3 hardest, meanest and best bosses going along with (Stutter) Star-buck our transport manager nicked from Micky White of White trucks. R.I.P Stutter. Me and little Jock were the last two to get back to North Farm. And did we have a reception.
H.M Customs, Scania, Rent-co, Ministry, and Police all waiting for us. Office and workshop empty all done a bunk. Rent-co had a surprise the load was under customs bond to Aberdeen Scotland. Our money was waiting for us round at the Royal Oak pub. Mind a few weeks later 4 of us were back with Lou and Johnny.
Great days. 
I remenber North Farm well from when I was working for Expo Freight,not quite so seat of the pants working,dead straight.That’s where Hooperman started his career.
Ahhhh!
Same rule book as Roger Pliszca and co. !
bestbooties:
I remenber North Farm well from when I was working for Expo Freight,not quite so seat of the pants working,dead straight.That’s where Hooperman started his career.
From what I remember Expo had the only Scania 111s with built in showers. (through the roof when it rained) Happy days 
nigelsmurfhansen:
bestbooties:
I remenber North Farm well from when I was working for Expo Freight,not quite so seat of the pants working,dead straight.That’s where Hooperman started his career.
From what I remember Expo had the only Scania 111s with built in showers. (through the roof when it rained) Happy days
Mavertons didn’t need showers in their trucks, didn’t one of them end up on the bottom of The Med when The Zenobia sank in 1980 or was that one of Cyril Burkes 
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