F.Butler & Sons Ltd. Micklefield Road, High Wycombe

[hermit]

Anybody remember this small haulier, which went out of business maybe, late 1960’s, early 70’s ? Was run by Mr Frank Butler, and his son

David, from a small yard just under the railway viaduct in Micklefield Road, High Wycombe. Since they had not been nationalised, I guess that they ran under contract to their 2 main customers, GH Hedley and Fords Blotting Paper, whose plants were adjacent to each other on the A4094 at Loudwater, just where nowadays, the M40 crosses on a viaduct. At one time, I suspect that they ran all Leylands, but when I first knew them, there was a Leyland Hippo, NBH772, which if not shown at, was illustrated in the 1972 Commercial Motor Show catalogue , 2 Leyland Comet 90 artics, SBH453 and UPP305, 2 petrol powered Leyland Beavers, TJ3197 and CBH124, a Leyland Cub, AHH126, a Bedford S type artic and a 4 wheel rigid, VBH179 and OKX486, and a 4 wheel Bedford O Type PBH443. Hedleys manufactured liner board, and may have been a subsidiary of St Annes Board Mills, Bristol, since most days, Butlers took at least 1 load to Bristol and returned with baled waste. Ford’s traffic was filter mats, packed in heavy wooden crates, and delivered to sundry breweries in the London area, where the regular driver, Cyril Bird, received a beer ticket on each visit, to sample their product! AHH126 was the vehicle used on this latter job, I think an ex WD machine, but in view of the Carlisle registration, may have been third hand. Later on, came YKX176, an Albion Chieftain artic, and 37BBH, a forward control Leyland Comet artic. A couple of pictures now, with a few memories later.

[hermit]

Never had a response to this post, unusual methinks ! Anyway, have a few more photos on the subject company, a selection herewith.
The first shows 3 loads of waste paper, coming back from St Annes Board Mills, Bristol, to Hedley’s at Loudwater. Leading is 37BBH, with a 17 year old Hermit making out he was in charge, (but was only then an L driver on a motorbike!), driver Fred Rackstraw took the photo. Next is SBH453, driver Peter Biggs, and bringing up the rear is OKX486, driver Pete Reynolds. The location they called ‘‘The Beeches’’, a pull-in on the A4 around Batheaston or Box I think.
Second, picture shows 37BBH with a load of Hedley’s paper, en route to Manchester, which was a full days’ run from Loudwater, parking up at Hyde Road lorry Park, deliver, then reload mothballs packed loose in tea chests at Chesterfield on the second day, and run home to High Wycombe the third !
Next picture is Fred Rackstraw at the wheel, and last YKX176, then only a few months old, driven by George Priest, parked on the A4, outside The Ridgeway Cafe at West Kennet, near Devises with a load of waste from St Annes Board Mills.

[hermit]

Looks like the pictures got out of order a bit, but am sure you can sort it out. Sorry …!

[hermit]

Looks like the pictures got out of order a bit, but am sure you can sort it out. Sorry …!

[windrush]

Yes Hermit, how come that I hadn’t noticed this thread? Apologies. Anyway they are cracking pics, reminds me of when I travelled with dad in the fifties and sixties and how I wish that I had owned a camera at that time, but very few lads did and that is such a shame as it has all long gone now. I cannot recal the company even though dad (and me of course!) were Thames Valley based (Reading) but mostly ran on the A4 corridor between London and Avonmouth docks so didn’t venture far from that. I am sure that more of the older driver’s on here can relive memories when they see your pictures, are there more to come?

Pete.

[hermit]

Thanks Windrush, have got one or two more of Butlers, but maybe not worth posting, but will have a look. Some more you may be interested in, on British Road Services (Page 82 onwards), Peterborough Hauliers (Page 8 onwards), and a few more sites can identify for you if you are interested.