I’m fairly new on here but commenced my driving career in 1955 delivering from Bristol up the old A4 to London and the Essex area most weeks and I am still familiar with most of the old companies and locations mentioned. We used to deliver every week to May & Baker. They had a store in an old tin shed in Ferry Lane Rainham at the time. Ferry Lane was out on the marshes in those days.I used to stay in Heygate Avenue in Southend twice a week most weeks but I left that job in 1962, went to PSVs and later worked the rest of my life selling to the transport industry so I can claim a lifetime connection with transport although long retired now. Can anyone please tell me something of the origins of Drapers Transport. In the late '50s early '60s they had (I always thought) one wagon only - a 4 wheel Kew Dodge (Parrot Nose), painted maroon and always very tidy. The driver was a sandy haired fellow who always looked smart and tidy and always wore a clean light brown boiler suit, never seemed to look dirty. I can’t remember ever speaking to him but he always had his breakfast in The Ridgeway Cafe (Percy Gilhams) and kept himself to himself - I can still see his face quite vividly in my mind. I would be intrigued to know if he was the founder.
Tetleysmooth:
frenchy:
Do you Essex drivers remember Hery Smithers of Orset , I joined HS in Southampton in 1973 and was in Orset alot for fuel after loading Timber and Containers , I had a few mates but blowed if I can remember any names , be good if there`s any Smither drivers out there , still alive like me , just. .
FrenchyI remember Henry Smithers at the Orsett Container base.
I’d just got my licence then (mid seventies), I really wanted to work for them, but had no experience.
Nice fleet of ERF ‘A’ series.
i had a mate on there, name of john but surname has gone,
good firm, good pay but …“ERF A series”.
there has to be a down side to everything i suppose 
I Remember going past Henry Smither place on the old A13 at Orsett when i used to go with my dad on the way to Tunnell Cement
hey there im from harwich just flicking through here and yes neil bomford bought out harwich express last year i think dsv have now taken over their yard also yes there was harwich transport limited which was dfds transport then dfds logistics then back to dfds transport and now currently dsv my dads worked for them here for my whole life some of you may know him Peter jennings is his name and heres a interesting pic for you lot sent to me ages ago for christmas when i was about 3-6
if you want any pictures just ask il se what i can do
Great picture Keith,you should be taking orders for Chritmas Cards,thanks derek
what i didnt draw it its a picture of a harwich transport limited truck that my dad used to drive registration L207 KBE ages ago when i was very young this was the front of a christmas card i got sent by the management
keith-jennings:
hey there im from harwich just flicking through here and yes neil bomford bought out harwich express last year i think dsv have now taken over their yard also yes there was harwich transport limited which was dfds transport then dfds logistics then back to dfds transport and now currently dsv my dads worked for them here for my whole life some of you may know him Peter jennings is his name and heres a interesting pic for you lot sent to me ages ago for christmas when i was about 3-6
if you want any pictures just ask il se what i can do
Neil Bomford bought out Harwich Express in 2003 and sold it late 2006 to Synergie Worldwide Logistics in Martlesham who Bankrupt it late last year. Harwich Express doesn’t exist anymore. I believe DSV rent the warehouse from Surya Foods who own the industrial Estate.
A Few copanies from the past no longer with us
Does any one remember Chris Hudson
Carna:
Hi Carna, I subbed for Chris Hudson in the early 80s before he went pop for the last time. Shame really because 99.9% of the subbies on there were great blokes,always help you out if you were in trouble.Can’t remember too much about it now, except the fact that Hudson moved Birmingham 60 miles closer to Felixstowe,on his grid mileage system.
r.t steward is gone now aswell rememeber them at manningtree and on the a120 (stewards truckstop) thats still open does some nice food ive heard