Hi Folks, Here’s a photo of a Ford Transcontinental that I had for quite a while, Without blowing my own trumpet, how many of the drivers of today could rope and sheet a load like that? It was second nature to us back then.Every one of Dents drivers had to do it as we had no Curtainsiders then.It was bloody hard work if it was windy, sometimes you could spread your first sheet and by the time you climbed down to fasten it down the wind had blown it off again. Happy Days!
Old Bill
old bill:
Hi Folks, Here’s a photo of a Ford Transcontinental that I had for quite a while, Without blowing my own trumpet, how many of the drivers of today could rope and sheet a load like that? It was second nature to us back then.Every one of Dents drivers had to do it as we had no Curtainsiders then.It was bloody hard work if it was windy, sometimes you could spread your first sheet and by the time you climbed down to fasten it down the wind had blown it off again. Happy Days!
Old Bill
isnt that the trailer i loaded for you bill 
regards alan
No it ■■■■ well isn’t! Cheeky sod.
Bill
after my first spell of a couple of years i went to pastures new but returned in 79 to a different
looking dents. the old atkinson tractor units had all been replaced by newer models with bigger engines
and there was more volvo,s , mercs and m a n units, some of the old hands were still there but
there were quite a lot of new faces, also the livery was changing from the traditional red to a light blue.
some of the names i remember from the day i started back in 79:
roger maughan still had the reigns as manager under mr dent, kenny johnson had left and george gittens
was foreman fitter, drivers included roly dodds, bill goudie, harry ferguson, tony claughan, bob hutch
ray lowes ritchie champley, alan curry, are survivors from my first spell, then there was , nigel thompson,
paul patterson, aaron smith, gerry kenny, kieth atkinson, ronnie moore, ronnie simpson, john mcnally,
john chapman, davey ellis, john dixon, colin caygill and a lad we used to call the bush baby, but cant remember his name, appologies to anyone i have left out, there was of course drivers started after that i have not yet listed
regards alan
I can definitely see some creases in those sheets. 
The Bush Baby was John Milburn,
Bill
old bill:
The Bush Baby was John Milburn,
Bill
what a memory bill, yes of course it was john milburn
I alan remember you as well cb handle reminded me,you ran with me & Peter Mangan a few times quite sensible for a Dents driver 
I didnt mean Tommy Ive seen Tommy a few times over the yrs but not for quite a while now, no who was the little lad Black hair nice lad good crack quiet spoken had a feeling he went onto tanks as well
Just a reminder Alan me in my early yrs for Collinson this would be about 1976/7
That would be Gerry Kenny
Bill
Thanks Bill its great when somebody gives you a nudge it all comes back,yes Gerry could I hell remember his name, Ray as well Alan got me memory back for him as well, did Ray not do a spell for Ray Wright working out of wavins seem to remember seeing him somewhere.There was another Davy not Ellis I had a pint with him down at Birkenhead over 10 yr ago & then about 4 or 5yr ago he was doing a trunk for Wilson Art seen him a couple of times in Rainton Services
greek:
Thanks Bill its great when somebody gives you a nudge it all comes back,yes Gerry could I hell remember his name, Ray as well Alan got me memory back for him as well, did Ray not do a spell for Ray Wright working out of wavins seem to remember seeing him somewhere.There was another Davy not Ellis I had a pint with him down at Birkenhead over 10 yr ago & then about 4 or 5yr ago he was doing a trunk for Wilson Art seen him a couple of times in Rainton Services
hi greek
that other davy will be davy shillatoe (spelling) 
alan
iamupforit:
after my first spell of a couple of years i went to pastures new but returned in 79 to a different
looking dents. the old atkinson tractor units had all been replaced by newer models with bigger engines
and there was more volvo,s , mercs and m a n units, some of the old hands were still there but
there were quite a lot of new faces, also the livery was changing from the traditional red to a light blue.
some of the names i remember from the day i started back in 79:roger maughan still had the reigns as manager under mr dent, kenny johnson had left and george gittens
was foreman fitter, drivers included roly dodds, bill goudie, harry ferguson, tony claughan, bob hutch
ray lowes ritchie champley, alan curry, are survivors from my first spell, then there was , nigel thompson,
paul patterson, aaron smith, gerry kenny, kieth atkinson, ronnie moore, ronnie simpson, john mcnally,
john chapman, davey ellis, john dixon, colin caygill and a lad we used to call the bush baby, but cant remember his name, appologies to anyone i have left out, there was of course drivers started after that i have not yet listedregards alan
a few i had forgotten: alan laylor lennie guy mick toth, barry jackson in the garage
alan
Thanks again Alan another good lad Davy, good photo looks like a Wathamstow or Leeds on the back, no straps all held on with rope, good photo of Tommy on the moffit, last time I seen Tommy was a few yrs ago down in Spenny when I had gone down to have a pint with Criss King cant remember the name of the pub but I think it was Tommys local he hasnt changed much unlike me old & grey what bit hair Ive got left. Have seen kieth more recently when he was doing a bit for Georgdie Gittens, whats he doing now? What are you doing these days?
Hi Folks, now for some old stuff. Here is a photo of a 1946 Atkinson six legger,restored almost single handedly by Roger Maughan. It came as an engine and chassis. Roger re-built the cab by making the frame from solid pieces of Ash.I can’t remember what engine it had, I know it was a Gardiner but I don’t know which one. Kenny Johnson might know. It was a stange one to drive as the throttle pedal was in the middle. Barry Jackson and I took it to a few rallies and won a few trophies with it.
Alan, how about Dave Collier,Terry Brewster, Gorgeous George and his Brother in law, and another youth that Fatty used to try to send up to Melinate after 5 o’clock but he would never go.
Old Bill
P.S Here is a photo of the man himself at Beamish
Great photos & memories of Dents & the good old days, the job was hard but almost every body mucked in & helped each other, How things have changed , in my case since 1957, keep those pictures rolling lads, Regards Larry.
old bill:
Hi Folks, now for some old stuff. Here is a photo of a 1946 Atkinson six legger,restored almost single handedly by Roger Maughan. It came as an engine and chassis. Roger re-built the cab by making the frame from solid pieces of Ash.I can’t remember what engine it had, I know it was a Gardiner but I don’t know which one. Kenny Johnson might know. It was a stange one to drive as the throttle pedal was in the middle. Barry Jackson and I took it to a few rallies and won a few trophies with it.
Alan, how about Dave Collier,Terry Brewster, Gorgeous George and his Brother in law, and another youth that Fatty used to try to send up to Melinate after 5 o’clock but he would never go.
Old Bill
P.S Here is a photo of the man himself at Beamish
hi bill
i was listing the lads that were there when i started back, those you mention came after me
including alan armstrong, yan, robbie, benny hill magic tommy bowen dave shilleto steve oliver
freddy tucker and several others i will eventually remrmber, the youth fatty tried to send out after
5 o clock but always failed was david carr, what a character
by the way, cracking photos bill, any more 
alan
greek:
Thanks again Alan another good lad Davy, good photo looks like a Wathamstow or Leeds on the back, no straps all held on with rope, good photo of Tommy on the moffit, last time I seen Tommy was a few yrs ago down in Spenny when I had gone down to have a pint with Criss King cant remember the name of the pub but I think it was Tommys local he hasnt changed much unlike me old & grey what bit hair Ive got left. Have seen kieth more recently when he was doing a bit for Georgdie Gittens, whats he doing now? What are you doing these days?
hiya greek ( kenny) tommy bowen,s local i believe is the ash tree pub, as for keith i am not sure,
he did work for george but then went elsewhere, at the christmas bash he did mention wincantons
again i am not up to date with what george is doing, not much help am i
alan
greek:
I alan remember you as well cb handle reminded me,you ran with me & Peter Mangan a few times quite sensible for a Dents driver
I didnt mean Tommy Ive seen Tommy a few times over the yrs but not for quite a while now, no who was the little lad Black hair nice lad good crack quiet spoken had a feeling he went onto tanks as well
Just a reminder Alan me in my early yrs for Collinson this would be about 1976/7
Which one of them is you with with your dad Kenny? 
Ps now we know how your nickname really came about.
you WERE the singing frock !! regards Kev.
Aye & youv`e changed a bit Kev since that pic of you in front of the atki
Who was the naughty boy there bill looks like the 689 roundabout 