bill west? was that bill the biker who came onto lenham about 10 years ago? he had a mate also, who’s name escapes me, but I think he had or took a pub in London. do you remember them Cliff. saw your car Saturday morning, still doing a bit for Lenham then?
Cliff Boulton:
stokey:
I used to work for Worldfleet in stone which was owned by Jimmy Dodd, but when we had no work we did general haulage for Dodds. I now live in Nova Scotia so I am out of the loop. What has happened to Dodds Transport?Hi Stokey,
Worldfleet was a jointly owned company founded by Jimmy Dodd and the bloke that owned the company that delivered Hitachi from Manchester. (Another name gone!!) It seems Hitachi wanted just one depot, so they got their heads together and formed Worldfleet, based at Stone in Staffs, with Dodds doing the South, the others going North. There were 2 lads living and working in Scotland, but again, the names have gone.(Jock, maybe?) Tony Payne from Hitachi office in Hayes moved up to Stone, Pete Bennet, Glynne Taylor and myself transfered from Dodds to Worldfleet, but didn’t move up there. I was actually on a night out on the changeover night. Went to bed in the lorry working for Dodds, in the morning I worked for Worldfleet.
I was taken off the South-West and put on South-East which was OK as I’d moved back to Kent by then. Dodds had a depot in Sittingbourne, so I used to park there at the weekend, but eventually Worldfleet lost the contract and closed down. Jimmy offered me a job back on Dodds, but I’d already got a job at Lenham, a lot nearer home, so I took that.
I obviously don’t know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but Jimmy decided the time had come to sell up, had an offer he couldn’t refuse from a Swedish(?) bloke that was gonna wipe Stobbart and every other British Haulage company off the earth. It was about a couple of months, I think before he went under.
J.Dodd MAY come on this forum he said, so keep your eyes peeled.
Gott to go, just been on the phone for an hour to Mark Taylor who I’ve contacted thru here. Cheers Cliff Boulton
Hi Cliff, I know you well, I was one of the first drivers to be taken on at Worldfleet, Chris Beech interviewed me siting on a packing case in an empty office, me and Mick Norman drove the two artics,
I remember the first time I went into the Southhall yard and asked a Dodds driver who I should see to unload my trailer, he pointed to a bloke driving a fork lift, the Dodds driver told me that the forklift driver was an idle git, and if he gave me any trouble tell him to “get off his fat arse and do his job”, so I did, what he didn’t tell me was that the forklift driver was actually Jimmy Dodd who had jumped onto the forklift to move something that was in his way.
That was the first time I met the man who paid my wages, the second time was when Jimmy came up to Stone for a Christmas do and pulled out a huge wad of money and said “the beers on me, when that’s gone you all buy your own”. Good times eh Cliff.
Terry Rigby
Hi Mick, Daddy Long Legs and Stokey,
I’ve just spent an hour replying to you all, but I appear to have problems of some sort. It would not “Submit” and I don’t know what happened to it.
I’ll try again later, but I don’t even know if this will be OK do I?
Back asap. Cliff
Hi chaps,Another memory recall!!!Did Dodds not have some connection in the Telford area,I,m sure they set up some sort of a depot there?I seem to remember a young chap driving a Scania in Dodds colours.
Hi Mark ohh i do remember the cafe at Maple Cross and yes it sometimes resembled a Hitachi depot with all the motors parked up in the big layby.Looking back we all spent a few bob in that place.Used the place many times after leaving Dodds,us ol,truckers never forget a good watering hole!!!
Was there a chap on Hitachi,we used to call him Supertrucker!,cant recall his name either and there was another Mick.He was a Sheffield driver if memory serves.
Hi Mick, Stokey, D/D/L/legs, I’ll try again with a reply, but shorter this time.
D/D/L/legs. Bill West was a bloke in the office at Hitachi, Hayes who retired to the Bournemouth Area. I doubt very much if you would know him. I can’t recall the blokes you say about. Though I’m retired, I still do Saturdays and Bank Holidays on Lenham (Waitrose mostly) to help the pension along. Only until Sept 2014 though, 'cos they can put their CPC where the sun don’t shine. Not going back to school at my age.
Stokey, Your first experience with Jim Dodd was like mine, but with Roy, Jim’s father, and a Bloody nice bloke. I’d got the job on Dodds in 1970 literally “over the phone”, and had to go to “The Bush” yard on a Saturday morning to collect Albion CLD 932H, what was to be my lorry. (Sorry, I’ve never been a Trucker!!)
I walked in the yard and saw a chap on his knees with his arm down a drain-hole, told him I was a new boy, and asked him where the office was. He told me, I went there and said “…the old feller on his knees in the yard told me to come here”. They checked my licence, asked a few questions etc etc, and said “Yeah, OK, you’re in”. Then they said “By the way, the old feller in the yard is Roy Dodd, the Boss”.
Another time, there were about 5 of us queuing in the cafe at Quaker one day when Roy drove in Quaker Yard. We knew he’d come to the cafe when he couldn’t find anybody, so we asked Pam & Den to put our breakfasts on the slate for a while. When Roy came in, he asked who wanted a tea and was told there was a breakfast bill to pay. After a bit of jokey banter, he paid the lot. Like I said, a Great Bloke. He loved his Jag, LOT 9R
Mick, Yes, Dodd’s had a place in Telford and Warrington too, I think it was, but “I know nothing!!” about them. I think they may have been small firms J.D. bought up.
As well as Maple Cross Cafe, do you remember the cafe in Lady Margaret Road, Southall? Bill West used to send us out of the way when the computer went down, and we used to go there a lot. He didn’t like “upstairs” seeing us and the lorries hanging round doing nothing. One time when this happened, he told me to go to Dodds at The Bush to see J.D. Jim asked me to do him a favour, take the Milupa motor out to Uxbridge to load and deliver one drop near Manchester. It was a delivery I used to do on there, the chap was pleased to see me, and when I was tipped he said “They never take the pallets back now, will you take some for me?”. Those 100 pallets were on the lorry for about an hour maximum. Somewhere near Haydock they went, a nice little earner, thank-you!! 
(Not True, J.D. if you read this, I just made it up for show!!)
Enough for today. Good Luck to All ex Dodds, Cliff
Hi D/D/L/legs,
Found your Lenham thread and clicked on a link under the Brooke Bond pic. I entered Dodds in their search, and found a pic on that site of CHM 56H the sister motor to the Albion I had. This one has Dodds all over it, but CLD 932H, my motor, was plain blue, and I had 6 years of anonymity, until I got MLP 712P new.
I’ve only got “newish” pix of Lenham motors.
Cliff
Sorry, it won’t let me add the pic. Not having much luck, am I?
Cliff Boulton:
Hi D/D/L/legs,
Found your Lenham thread and clicked on a link under the Brooke Bond pic. I entered Dodds in their search, and found a pic on that site of CHM 56H the sister motor to the Albion I had. This one has Dodds all over it, but CLD 932H, my motor, was plain blue, and I had 6 years of anonymity, until I got MLP 712P new.
I’ve only got “newish” pix of Lenham motors.
Cliff
Sorry, it won’t let me add the pic. Not having much luck, am I?
Hi PCB,great pic of the Albion.
Hi Cliffy,yep remember the cafe in Southall and used it for the same reasons you state.I had a similar experience with Roy Dodd.I was taken on by Ian and went on Quakers,some time later i went to the arches to refuel and do the paperwork ect.Whilst I was dieseling up,this chap who was sweeping the yard,approached me and said i should check out one of the tyres on the motor.So diesel finished i went to talk to Ian and do the paperwork and mentioned to him what the yardman had said to me.Same reply that you got,when all the tachos ect were done,his parting shot was,Oh by the way that yardman out there is Roy Dodd,your guv,nr…That was my introduction to Roy and as you say a loverly bloke…
I also know that Roy who lived out toward Uxbridge,if he was passing the Hayes area on a Sunday would pop into Hitachi and check the trucks for oil ect,If he thought there was reason for concern,a gentle reminder was offered to the offending driver…Keeps you on your toes…
Ta! for getting the pic of CHM 56H on, Duck. Don’t know why I can’t do it. She was well used when that was taken, eh? Didn’t CLD 932H have skirts? I seem to remember it did, and I’m sure she never looked as rough as this one.
Cheers, Cliff (Pop to you)
Yeah, looks like she’s seen a bit of service already 
Mind you, the H-reg’s came out in 1969 and that photo was apparently taken in 77, so after 8 years use its not done too bad. Could be better but could be a lot worse. It’s a pretty good quality photo though I think and great to see it.
I kinda remember CLD but not well enough to remember details such as side bars or even that it was in plain colours 
I’m sure yours looked better though. You always did look after your motors a bit 
And Dodd’s did have the odd motor resprayed here and there didn’t they? I can remember when XLF 754S had a bit of a ‘touch up’ just before a Lorry Driver of the Year competition and the relief when it came back still with black wheel arches I think you thought they might just flash them over in blue like the rest of them.
Can’t get a better picture than this I’m afraid, but here’s a smudge of one of the old Hitachi Clydesdales that Dodd’s ran (it’s the motor almost completely obscured by the petrol pump!)
Hi PCB,nice one mate,I do recall the Hitachi motors in the orange!! but is was before my time.Its funny how you see companies,liveries and motors!!! and years later your on the job>>>>>…I,ve had a pretty active life on the transport scene,in the UK,Ireland and latterly spain.I,ve worked for a few outfits both on agency and employed…On the whole loved it…Would I do it all over again!!!probally…Woked for the good un,s,the not so good and some notable outfits and Dodds definately come within the latter…I done agency work on and of for the same company for 12 years,and it was good…Contract Personell in Norwich,a small independant agency,a proffesional,well run outfit.I loved the variety,different motors,companies,products,location,deliveries ect,ect…I was there only drawbar experienced driver so i got all that work,there was not a vast amount but what there was i got.That was how i eventually got employed by Anglian Windows,This was a 95 percent wag/drag outfit…Sorry going of thread here…Come on any more Doddymen out there!!!
Stay lucky.Mick
P.S.Was there not a Ken Dodd??Long before my time…I belive he was tragically killed in a road accident…
Hi Mick, Mark & Cliff,
Nice to know you are all well. As you know I was never a driver, but I stil enjoyed my time at Dodds. Think can add some names to your list, so here goes. Bill King, artic driver on nights. Cyril Delainey, Bill Kennedy, Chris Smith, ■■■■ Masters, Roy Brooks, Mick Weldon, Mick evans, Bob Ayres. And a couple of the Welsh boys, Alan Denton and Steve Allison.
So many drivers came and went during my stint at Hayes its a job to remember them all.
I do have some stories to share but I’ll leave it for another time,
Take care gents its good to hear from you.
Hello Mick,trying to find a few Dodds pics,heres some Syms motors with the Dodds flags on the door,hope these are of interest,Cheers Bubbs,
Hello all. And hello Tony.
Great to here from you Tony, I’ve often wondered what you were doing now. Mick mentioned you moving to be nrearer your Mum. The last I THINK I remember you doing was fenceing with your mate.
I remember your list of names, with your help I admit. I remember bill on nights being very helpfully and all round good bloke. I did a bit of holiday cover for crispy when I was on general and he was great. Probably will not remember me though. Alan & Steve did the Cotswold run sharing it each month I think and shunting at the factory the other month. They were good boys and often had the night at hayes with them and meeting you & mick in the pub. One thing I remember was Alan’s party piece. He announced one night being able to do the rubic cube. Very clever but just before doing it he said I can do it with my feet behind my head, which he then did. Very funny, but why did he ever try that in the first place.
Cyril I thought was a great bloke and always had a good laugh with him. I remember his little maybe not to legal habbit too. I used to take some of the motors to the bush for service sometimes & have night out there. I always slept well in his motor and wondered why and thought he had a nice air freshener. ( I was a bit green about those things then). Not so fresh was his arse. He only ■■■■ once a week and ■■■■■■ alot. (sorry Cyril). I dropped him home one night on way to the bush and he dropped his guts getting out, he could not stop laughing and I could not stop chokeing all the way to the yard.
Was Bill Kennedy from Witney, later leaving to work for Chris hayter I think it is from that way. I never saw him after he left, even though the motors were all over the place.
I’ve got to go now but I’ll think about things a bit more and come back. I’ll also sort some pictures out if I can find them.
Good luck to you all, and goodbye Tony. Great to here from you.
Mark.
Hi Mark,
Bill was from Witney, and did go to work for Chris Hayter. I ended up tipping him one day when I was working at Spalding, small world. Cyril was a top lad must admit. You should remember Mick Weldon, he drove the little black sherpa van, complete nutter. In one of your earlier posts you mentioned " supertrucker" I think that was Chris Smith, thought he looked more like Tintin. I’ve been off work today so had all day to remember things, they were good days. Will tell a stories few when I have more time, like Trevor’s reaction to Mick adjusting the side of DB103 with the help of a moblie crane…
tonyclark:
In one of your earlier posts you mentioned " supertrucker" I think that was Chris Smith, thought he looked more like Tintin…
Didn’t he get hijacked one day? 
Good to know you’re still about, Tony. No time now, but “I’ll be back”. Cliff
Hi pcb,
yes he did get hijacked. Strange thing was not long after he brought a new car, and had a 3 week holiday abroad, then left… You decide.
In one of your posts you say the odd lorry on the Hayes fleet without the “fancy spliter gearbox” was C666, I’m sure it was D817 PVX, if I remember right. Cliff had it for a while. They gave D820 to Chris Smith cos he would pull the drag, Cliff wouldn’t.
Hello again Tony.
I do remember mick weldon. Was he an ex deep see diver? Or was that just another leg pull. I think you are wright, super trucker was Chris smith and he did look like tin tin. Mark Taylor and chalky white gave him the name. He used to always be washing the motor. He had D820 when dad left to do markets. He did not stay long because I had 820 after him. It was spotless and a great motor.
I would like to here stories of Trevor, Dad and me have been talking about things a bit after being on here and he comes up often. He was a very funny bloke, but mainly because nobody took any notice of him and his little rants. He always had something or someone to moan about. My favourite memory was when I ran over the DB lead doing a box change. He rang Dodds to pass on the news. When they asked if it was badly damaged. His reply was (in hysterics) damaged its F—ing obliterated Jim.
Bye for now.
Mark.