Hi again,heres a NDM Merc…they had quite a few of these. 
Cheers Bubbs. 
Hi there Marc
John57 wrote
Nice pictures Pebbles, especially the North Devon Meat’s AEC’s, they were a early Mercedes user, does anyone have any photos of them?
I should have followed the point of the “early Mercedes user” and emphasised that in my earlier answer. I am not that familiar with the model numbers but would not reckon your pcture to be of an “early” model as those used by Taunton Meat Haulage when they were in existence.
I do remember when one of theirs ran across the road one morning and crashed through the garage/yard that Weston Super Mare Motors had on the opposite side of the A38 at Bathpool. They also used to park alongside the railway line atBridge Road, Weston where I believ the Mercedes car showrooms are now.
Thanks for the NDM Merc Bubbleman.
I still think they ran the earlier model has well Wessexman, about 73-74 vintage, around the same time they were also running Mandator and Marathon artics.
Just to kick this 1 back up to the top again…
Here’s one of Bill Burgoyne’s Commers nicely restored.
The company was a familiar face on farms around the South Hams taking away 10 ton loads of corn while George Dandridge used to focus more on sand, blocks & cement
Thanks again for the brilliant browse, Bubbleman and all. Brought back lots of memories from when I was a kid riding with the old man in a Tone Vale Transport Leyland, etc. Before the Octopus he drove a Rutland - bet not many can remember them.
just a couple of thoughts - I remember Watts of Braunton using two-stroke Commers on cattle work in the early 1960s. Hearing one pulling hard up through Wiveliscombe with a holed front exhaust box was a noise never to be forgotten. Shaplands operated out of Landkey, near Barnstaple, if I remember rightly. Not to be confused with Shapland and Petter, the furniture firm from Barnstaple who had quite a big fleet.
I’d like to know what happened to Alan Coles (AGC, Cullompton), too. I first met him when he was driving an old-style AEC Mammoth Major eight legger and pup for a Mrs Venner, of Shillingford, in the early '60s. He then went on to work with my old man on TVT and then Taunton Meat Haulage. I used to think he was the biz because he would to pick me up for a lift home if he saw me standing on the bus stop after school in Taunton. He went out on his own after the TMH continental operation fell apart in the mid-1970s. The old man did a couple of months in the office for him before emigrating to Australia in the mid '80s. Last time I saw Alan he was driving a Rolls-Royce! His younger brother Clifford - also once a TVT/TMH driver, is still around - I saw him last year, anyway.
I once almost managed to buy a bungalow from Martin Hayman’s brother Mike, who had a coalyard near Weillington. Usual story - my buyer backed out and somebody turned up with more money than me.
Ahh, memories, memories…
Spotted today on Russian plates…
Taken a wrong turning off the Exeter bypass maybe?
Hi. My father Wally Lee worked for Lameys as a mechanic / driver from the late 50’s until the early 70’s with a brief spell at Tolley and Smale in the late 60’s. Although long retired he’s very much alive and kicking. A lot of my school holidays were therefore spent with him ‘going on breakdowns’ (always seemed to be halfshafts) and travelling around in the Commers, AECs, Bedfords and BMCs that Lameys ran. I know a reasonable amount of the firms history, how it operated etc and if anyone’s interested just let me know. Dad also remenbers an amazing amount about stripping down and rebuilding the TS3 engine as well as Mandators, Mercurys etc. He also did quite a bit of work on Gardner 180s - perhaps his favourite engine.
Other transport firms on Torridgeside I remember were Mitchells, Hopkins, North Devon Farmers, Mervyn Harris (Appledore coal merchant) as well as wholesalers who ran their own vehicles: Bayly Bartlett, Wickhams and Littlejohns.
Along New Road dealing with commercials were Rhodian Tyres and Road Freight Repairs who always seemed busy although the latter closed down many years ago.
I don’t know if they’re an old company but I’ve just got back from Ivybridge where I picked up a Topline 124 Scania we bought from Langdons Transport, seemed like a nice bunch of blokes. Gone over to Renaults recently.
Ross.
Anyone remember the name of the meat transport firm from North Devon (it wasn’t North Devon Meat) that used to run AEC Mammoth Major eight-legger fridge vans back in the 1960s? They used to come down through Wiveliscombe on the old A361 like the clappers, and that wasn’t easy before the ring road.
bigr250:
I don’t know if they’re an old company but I’ve just got back from Ivybridge where I picked up a Topline 124 Scania we bought from Langdons Transport, seemed like a nice bunch of blokes. Gone over to Renaults recently.Ross.
They have been around quite a long time. Bernie Langdon started it as far as I know. Hell of a nice bloke. I heard LOTS of stories about his son, particularly at a certain Asda security hut… Now they are fairly big time. They went to Renault after they got a brand new V reg Premium which the gits at Renault should have told me about first… The deal they got was incredible.
Anyone know if Roscoe is still in the office there?
I have found a couple of photos from my days at ECC that I thought might interest some of you.
This was the ECC Heavy Transport fleet based at Westleigh Quarry at Christmas 1988
Foden S10 Haulmaster. 180 Gardner - not the quickest up hills…
My Merc. Still one of the nicest truck I have driven.
Gnome,
Where is West Leigh quarry?
Westleigh Quarry is next to the village of Burlescombe on the Devon/Somerset border, near J27 of the M5.
G’day,
Great pics from Westleigh Gnome mate. I remember a most of those old bangers. I did my time as a fitter in Tiverton,for Gary Pook and we looked after the Westleigh fleet. By the time I started the Maggies had gone,as had the F7’s. We looked after five FL7’s,six Merc’s,including your Merc,a couple of ERF’s,a Foden and an S26 Scammell. I have some pics of the Volvo’s and Merc’s somewhere,I’ll dig them out and stick them up. In the mean time here’s some more from Westleigh.
Gardner 180 Power,with cable opperated Foden gear box,I used to call this one ‘Jurasic Foden’. She was worlds away from the Volvo’s. Sep 1993
Another motor with a 180 Gardner,both this and the Foden were reliable trucks.
The only artic the Quarry ran,■■■■■■■ motor I think.
Taken at Westliegh Sep 93,but not part of the Westleigh fleet.
Have you got any photos of the Maggies?
Cheers Jamie
When I was at Westleigh, ECC Heavy transport, 1986-89, our serviceing was done in Taunton, Silk Mills road, next to the level crossing. Cant remember what their name was.
Im not good with names. Although driving at ECC there was Bluey, Steve Curz, Bootsy ,Lumberjack, Paul, Derek Hartnoll (foreman), Reg Saunders, Steve Creed Cmon give us a hand, any more?
G’day mate,
I remember Reg Saunders,he drove the artic and also Derek who ran the show. Also Ally Moon,rip,who drove a Merc,Grayham Pike,or ‘■■■■■’. Robin someone?
Ring any bells?
Hello Gnome,
Frieght Repairs was the name of the place beside the level crossing on Silk Mills Lane, Derrick Rainey (spelling?) was the main bloke there.
My father had a six & a four wheeler on full time at ECC Rockbeare, both painted in their colours. They would also haul in & out of Westliegh as & when required. We also sent some of the other lorries over that way when the North Devon Link Road was being built.
Dad knew a few of the Westliegh operators throught the Road Haulage Association, I remember Bill Johns & his son Edwin… going back a few years now!
Andrew Stone
NZ JAMIE:
G’day mate,
I remember Reg Saunders,he drove the artic and also Derek who ran the show. Also Ally Moon,rip,who drove a Merc,Grayham Pike,or ‘■■■■■’. Robin someone?
Ring any bells?
Hi Jamie I still haul out of Westleigh now and then, I can throw a few more EX ECC/Heavy Transport drivers into the ring Tony Hold, Robbie Marks, Graham Bodkin,Paul Whitmarsh, Andy Lane and there is Ian
can,t remember his second name who is on the weighbridge at Chard Junction.Chris Parker Venn lorry.
Hi Jamie I still haul out of Westleigh now and then, I can throw a few more EX ECC/Heavy Transport drivers into the ring Tony Hold, Robbie Marks, Graham Bodkin,Paul Whitmarsh, Andy Lane and there is Ian
can,t remember his second name who is on the weighbridge at Chard Junction.Chris Parker Venn lorry.
Wasn`t that Ian Banham (always on a mission for the Institute of Advanced Motorists).
Then there was Gary Litten, drove a F7 with gready boards. He got me a beuty one day. Sat waiting to tip on the NDL by the picnic areas. I asked him for a light, he said sure, its in the cab. SO WERE TWO f*** OFF GREAT HAIRY ALSATIONS. Oh how we laughed…well, everyone else did.
Excellent pic’s…Bring back some great memories, especially the Parson’s photo…used to spend all my school holidays and every Saturday out with my Dad when he drove for them…
Shame there isn’t more Parson’s pics…don’t see them very often since I moved away from Devon.