Lawrence Dunbar:
John West:
It must have broken the Athersmith brothers hearts to see their lorries in Brady colours. I can remember my dad saying that Bill Athersmith had vowed never to sell out to the Bradys.
But I guess at the end of the day, there was no one else big enough at the time to buy them out.
John.
Well if I may say so, It could have been a lot worse, Brady IMO Were a good haulage firm, Also IMO Way better than the green Elves lot, Regards ;Larry.
Sic transit gloriae mundi as they say Larry.
When I would go down to London in 1970 Bradys were like the green elves are now - you would be waving to one every 10 minutes.
I also remember the new inspector for the ‘Monastery’ at the test centre at Barrow bus depot (remember the chewits advert - ‘chewier than Barrow Bus Depot’) and saying to him ‘how have you found Brady’s?’ And him replying ‘Well everyone warned me about them, but their fleet is clean, tidy and well maintained’.
I think they were badly advised by the money men at the end. They had a couple of hard blows. They lost British Gypsum at Kirkby Thore and Robert Mcbride at almost the same time.
Apparently, the story is that Mcbrides were having a bad time with their haulage nationwide and asked Steady Eddie to quote. During the discussion they said ‘leave Barrow out of this, we’re happy with Brady’s and Shaws (of Lindale)’ and the reply was ‘oh no, all or nothing’ .
So both Bradys and Shaws lost it. Shaws is now a BMW/Mini garage.
‘Young’ Bob is about the same age as me, late sixties and I don’t suppose he’s hurting too much I think he still has the DB7, and they’re still in the same yard where the hoop works used to be, doing storage and letting out buildings to other firms. It’s sad not to see a yard full of trucks though!
However, what goes around comes around and at the end of the day Mr Tinkler will sell when the price is right and, like all the others it will be absorbed into someone else!
This is of course only my personal opinion.
John.
I don’t think there was ever a Comet lettered as Furness Transport Ltd. There was a couple of Scammell 8 wheelers and a Handyman tractor unit and also an AEC MM. The single vehicle firm of Furness Road Services was an 8 wheeler Guy painted light blue with white roof,it belonged to a chap from Kendal (a Gentleman) called Jim Tolfrey who’s father was the Company Sec of Provincial Insurance. However, Gentleman Jim also had a full time job as Chauffer for the Chairman of Lakeland Laundries and he had a driver on the Guy which was on “A” licence and ran out of Barrow Steel. Jim bought the motor new in 1959 and I think it was reg’d FEC or FJM,can’t just remember! The driver was a great chap who I knew called Ernie Edwards who lived in Natland which is where the motor was parked up for good in late 1966 when Jim decided to cease operating at a moments notice. As it wasn’t far off Christmas apparently Mr. Tolfrey snr. had Ernie doing some decorating for him at his home over looking the river in town just to get him some wages over the period. In the event Ernie got a start at IBIS engineers and was there until he retired. Jim finally ended up driving an ERF 4 wheeler for Brailsfords on turf and rock for the years up to his retirement,he was very well spoken and always wore a cravat. He had a girlfriend from Esher or Ascot way who was apparently “loaded” and Jim spent his retirement years living down there prior to his passing.Phew Cheers Dennis.
,but it is nice to see your memory is spot on, sorry for that,Cheer’s Pete
) rolled in and proceeded to regale us with his escape from jail after he had hit a donkey or Camel in Turkey he got locked up but he apparently bribed a guard and managed to do “a runner” as a stowaway on UK bound motor ! It wasn’t you that assisted a fugitive to flee was it ?I do believe his ME venture came to an abrupt halt with this episode. IIRC he had an F88 that had either been converted to a left ■■■■■■ or vise versa ! All hilarious stuff though,Cheers Dennis.
