Hello Phil,
Not so young now - 40 next year!
Totally agree with you. It was a great company & there were some fantastic characters working there.
I can honestly say that I was very priviledged as a child, to be able to travel all over the country during school holidays.
Hope that you & yours are keeping well.
Regards & Best Wishes.
Paul
My Father also worked for Crokerton Haulage, out of the Alloa Depot, from around 1978 until their demise which would be around 1983. He started with an Atkinson Borderer, I’m sure it was KLT 922P, then when one of the drivers left he got a DAF 2800 VVX 532S. From what I remember him saying at the time, they were one of the best companies around. They had a fleet of DAF 2800’s, 2300’s Seddon Atki 400’s, the F88 which is mentioned in an earlier post and one lone ERF B series. I do have a picture of my Dad’s DAF ‘decorated’ as a float for the Alloa Gala procession around 1981, which I’ll post if asked. (Not sure if he’d want me to post it, he passed away just over 4 years ago!). I had the pleasue of accompanying him on a couple of trips and went to the yard in Barking, Old Ripple Road, on the A13. Didn’t they share the yard with a car transporting firm, something like Sillit and Collins (or something like that)?
Hello strawman i am an old crocks driver and visited Alloa many times i cannnot remember to many names of the drivers there but lets see if i knew your dad There was Jacky Hall ,Big John Mcbride.Tam Phelp.Ian Neilson.Davy Stirling to name a few they were a good bunch of blokes and i had some really funny nights out with them at Carlisle truckstop i was also one of the driver that had the unpleasent task of clearing the Alloa depot out a really sad day .When i look back on those days i think if the company had not been sold it would have been a lifetime job it was one of those jobs that when you got back to the depot you did not want to go home because it was such a laugh .I still keep in touch with one or two of the old London lads and one keeps saying he is going to wright a book on crocks i know it would be a best seller because i was there.
All the best Strawman (phil the book)
hi phil and young paul its bob white so good to read your memorys of crocks i always tried to make it a place i would want to work and from your comments I must have got the right blokes round me otherwise it could not have been like it was you were right phil there was lots of characters amongst them and lots of fun and laughter.saw bobby manning today and he told me he had seen you and that you’ve had some health problems but that you are ok. thats good to hear he tells me you are 63 getting old phil , im turned 80 now and got some health problems but still here ,my paul also told me he had seen you with your grandson taking him to school ,good for you,grandchildren brighten up our lives don’t they we have 11 and 16 great grandchildren with another on the way hope your family are all keeping well see that u are still in touch with j.b and barry nice to read how young paul felt about the old days as i remember he was a good lad and a credit to his mum and dad ,give my regards to any old crokerton boys you see my paul works for wincanton now and is 62 regards to you all .bob white
Hello govenor how are you keeping 80 a never thought about getting old when i worked for crocks .I saw Bobby the other day in Tesco s and he told me about your birthday party its nice to know that you are still about as there are a few of the lads that are not god rest them.I still keep in touch with Johnny B he has not been to good as he had a knee replacement and it did not go to well .It was nice to see Bobby as it is when you see any of the old lads or some of the young ones as well i am working with Steve Lucas as i try to get back on my feet but what with getting older and my health problems i just dont think i am up to it the games not the same as when we worked for you everything is ten times faster apart from the trucks that are slower.When i see any of the old lads the first thing we say is what a great firm it was and how much we miss it even now i would give my high teeth to go back 30 years and do it all again.You should be proud of crocks as it was not a good firm but a great firm and everyone who worked there knew it was good luck Bob and i hope to hear from you on your 90th birthday all the best phil.
joe tank man:
i think they were an essex company if its the one i am thinking of i went to school with paul white the owners son who drove for his dad
hi joe tank man its pauls dad here my paul is wondering who you could be he still is in touch with quite afew of his old school friends he works for wincanton now because i retired some years ago best of luck bob white
Hello Bob - Glad to read that you are still around.
Phil - spoke to dad & he said that he had heard that you had been unwell recently. Seems to be catching, as dad has also had a few problems recently. What is it with you young wannabees 
Sad to say that I drove past Maybells on the way into work the other week, and it has now all gone 
Bob - both yourself & the staff that you employed were a credit to the transport industry. I would be shocked if anyone had a bad word to say about the company. It was more like a family, which made it such a special place.
Some old names & characters that I recall: Charlie Munroe, Alan Cross, Alan Prior, Phil, JB, Johnnie Davidson, Harry Buckingham, Les Carver, Tiny Davis, Steve Wemborne, Paul White, Bobby Manning, Doug/Alan/Ronnie Lloyd, Eddie & Richard Whittle. There are more rattling around somewhere!
I will try to coax dad onto here too add some comments.
Regards, good health & best wishes to you both.
Paul
hi paul nice to hear from you i remember that you was always with your dad during school holidays and always as good as gold too ,there was so many good blokes at crocks it is hard to remember all thier names you are right about your dad coming with me and my brother to alloa they turned out a good team as well sorry to hear that barry has some health problems but that can happen as you get on in age good to know that jb and phil and your dad keep in touch my brother alf passed away about 7 years ago now tony vine i see from time to time ,he had a heart bypass just over ayear ago ,saw alan prior in march when i was 80 i heard some years ago that you had joined a the force if you did i think that you would make a good one , you always was so keen to be with your dad i thought you would end up in transport good luck to you paul give my regards to your mum and dad and to any of my old fellas that you come a cross regards bob white
Hello Bob,
Glad to hear that you are now an octogerian.
The first time that I met you, was when I came to Crokerton’s as an agency driver. Unfortunately, you had no vacancies for full time drivers, so Sammy Brookway took me on upon referral from yourself. That lasted approx. 3 weeks as he decided to sell the vehicle that I was driving. You then took me on full time, and the rest is history.
I have to admit that working for Crokerton was the best company that I have ever worked for. It was a laugh a minute, especially when you and Ron Crawley started squaring up to each other! There were some real characters who worked there, and that was a credit to you and your late brother Alf.
I still see Phil Holmes from time to time, and I last saw your Paul a few years back over in Dartford. Apart from that, I have not been in contact with anyone from the company until now.
Hope that you and your family are keeping well.
Regards & Best Wishes.
Barry Church
Hello Bazza you old rat catcher hope you are ok as Paul said you ve not been to good i do a bit for a mate of mine in Tesco,s at Thurrock and i see Bobby M now and again and still keep in touch with Johnny B.I wondered why i had not seen you driving up the avenue i thought you had moved got out of this s…ole.Have you seen any one from Crocs i have had a few people come up to me but i cant remember them old age i suppose.Bobby gave me a disc of Crocs in 77 78 i will run you off a copy and get it to you look after yourself give my regards to Kath and keep in touch .
Hi All. Great to see that you are still kicking Bob. it was a great company and it was you that made it so, I see that I made a big impression during my time as I have not been mentioned once, I remember that after I had left the company to go and work for Unigate, I needed a lorry to go to Cornwall to move an old aunt back, you loaned me that truck and would not let me pay a penny other than fill it up with diesel, there is not many people that would have done that for an employee, let alone one that had left the company, I worked there with my brother Mark and my dad subbed for you for a while with a trany, both have now passed away, thats my brother and dad, not the trany, although I suspect that has gone too!!! I drove one of the Atki’s, that was after serving my time on an old ex Silcock and Collins D800, the reg of the Atki was KLT921P, it was one of three, 922 and 923. a few names that have not been mentioned was Les Price, Terry Koster, George Flemming, Phil Crawley, Then there was Jim in the wharehouse, the clever ■■■■ that knew everything, can’t remember his last name. I know that I am being picky, buttttttt… it was not Crockerton, there was no second c, it was Crokerton. does this not wind you up Bob, no I suppose not, told you I was being picky. when I was there we had some nights away, but the majority of the work was shipping, there was plenty of Liverpool work during the dock strike, staying in the Dave Lewis Hotel, more like a dos house, but no sleeper cabs then, then return loads from Manchester collecting old bus tyres from Manchester bus depots and taking them to Slough I think it was, those loads came from Hippwood and Grundy, think Tony Vine had something to do with that. I always remember the time when we did work for Goodyear in New Addington, we had a box trailer that we called the Egg Box, I had a D800 and used to go under a 13ft bridge in Bromley on the way, then I was given the Atki, and was on the way to Goodyear and went under the same bridge, or to put it another way, I did not go under the bridge in Bromley, leave you to work that out… never thought about the 5th wheel was a couple of inches higher. anyway, it has been great taking a trip down memory lane. and also seeing some familiar names. Take care all. PS hung up the boots, now working for Essex Probation.
Blessings Mick Hubbard
Hi Phil
How you doing mate? I heard you’ve not been too well either. No me & Kath are still as you say stuck in this sh…t hole, we live in hopes!!! As for my health, I’m getting there, still can’t drive very far at the moment, actually first day of driving car is tomorrow, still can’t do any lifting as yet. Hopefully be back up and running in about 3wks. How’s Margaret & family? all doing well I hope. Perhaps one of these days when I’m passing I might give you a knock…so get that kettle on!!!
Haven’t seen anyone from the good old days apart from Roy Carrington some months back, he works at Purfleet now. Seems a million years ago that we were all working together and having some great times, it was a laugh a minute. I’ve got to be honest that since leaving the old place, and leaving the old boys behind, I’ve worked with some right ■■■■■■■■■ they would sell you down the road for a gallon of derv…bring back the old days eh!!!
Anyway Phil, I will keep in touch, look after yourself and regards to Margaret.
Kindest Regards
Bazza (PS: I’m still trying to open that baccy tin that Ernie squashed with the forklift…ring any bells■■?)
Re: Mick Hubbard
Hi Mick
Of course I remember you, how could I forget!! I know it’s taken a long time but thanks for all the bulbs and lenses you gave me when you worked on Brains’. Hope you are doing ok and in good health.
Kindest Regards
Barry Church
Hi Barry, yes remember 39 berth, although our paths keep crossing your name still keeps popping up, hear you are working out of Tilbury still, no one seems to have escaped the area, although I keep trying. Keep in touch.
Blessings Mick.
hi mick nice to hear from you . i’m not doing anything now and gave up my hgv years ago. i was last working out of harwich for a dutch firm pulling fridges and before that i was a line haulier for BALKAN AND BLACK SEA in felixstowe. also at that time i was still doing a bit of work for ACT and CGM. but apart from crokertons i don’t miss any of it.
i remember your dad and your brother mark. did mark work for a tanker firm with red transcons who opperated out of east london.
well mick i must go but i hope that you keep in touch…
kindest regards
BARRY
hi mick barry phil young paul and any other lads out there from barking and alloa good health and luck to you all to you mick i can say i dont forget any of you i just have to have a name mentioned and i remember you all ,you were all good blokes ,thats why you were there ,i remember mark and your dad very well you were right about the david lewis it was a right dump ,only stayed there once never again.sorry to hear about johnny bs health problems hope you get over them quickly and you barry that make agood recovery and phil hope you are ok to.yes mick i did notice the c in the crok but i dont let it bother me there are worse things about than that .my paul is living with us at the moment but is off to australia for 6months late september coming back to us in march packing up his job and going he has just got a laptop so i hope he keeps in contact with us all through this message board tony vine and val live quite close to us so see them from time to time i see bobby m of course and he dont change he is like another son to me phil did you find the dvd interesting bill travers sent that to me i am glad bob sent it to you ,lots of good memorys .unfortuneatly bill tavers passed away last april tony and i went to his funreal its so sad when old friends pass on but thats life isnt it.my paul sees doug lloyd often its very nice for me to hear about you all and my wishes for you and your families are good health and luck to you all all the best to you all bob white
Hi Barry. I think the company you are thinking of with the red Transcons is Chartermore’s, No mark did not work for them, he went to work for BP at there depot in Bromley by Bow, when they closed that depot he moved to Corringham. I was thinking of some of the antics we got up to, there was a few of us on the waiting pad at the RA docks, that was where they parked us when there was too much traffic round the sheds, there was me, Terry Koster and Brian Stew plus one or two more, Brian decided to have a kip while he was waiting, we gave him a few minutes to doze off, we then disconnected his trailer, being very careful not to shake his cab and wound down the legs hard so that the unit did not bounce when he pulled off, after about half hour the tanoy called him and a few others, we banged on his cab to wake him, he jumped up started up and away he went, we thought he would only go a few yards before he realised, but we were dumbstruck to see him turn right out of the car park and disappear round the corner on his way to the KG, he was gone for about ten minutes when he returned, he did not realise he was solo until he got out of his cab at the shed.
Just a little bump for this thread.
Anyone else out there remember Crokerton Haulage?
hi to you all if my memory serves me right a chap called DOUG HILDER i think that was his name used to work for HTS then WBS then i think he went to work for CROKERTON HAULAGE in the office he had a lot of contacts in wine companies, i woked with him at WBS he was a graet fellow doug that would be early seventies
A few pics that have been dug out…
