Lads…! I have just heard that yoyo Ex s.jones aldridge and Taylors transport…Passed away earlier today…R.I.P. YOYO…!
Hi Curnock,trying to get my bearings here.
In the photo where the kids are crossing the road - if you carried on straight up that hill did that take you into Walsall ? I’ve used the road from Muckley Corner (A461 I think) many times but I don’t recall that roundabout.The last time I used that road was in 1986 on nights to Chepstow,through Walsall to Great Barr and onto the M5.
Chris Webb:
Hi Curnock,trying to get my bearings here.
In the photo where the kids are crossing the road - if you carried on straight up that hill did that take you into Walsall ? I’ve used the road from Muckley Corner (A461 I think) many times but I don’t recall that roundabout.The last time I used that road was in 1986 on nights to Chepstow,through Walsall to Great Barr and onto the M5.
Those are funny little lights on the roundabout,would someone have to light and trim them each night or would they be electric ? Dennis.
Hello all, Dennis, I hate to tell you, but they were “light and trim” when that photo was taken, (I`m older than I care, or dare to remember)!! But eventually they became larger electric ones. Prior to the M6, this was a main route, and boy did it carry some traffic. Walsall, well it became a sort of main through route, as opposed to today, when no one would want to pass through it! “Come on you Saddlers”, (well perhaps not), back to the Bollinger I fear, Cheerio for now. (What happened to Bill Bodens, and Salts Big Js, anyone know??
Saviem:
Hello all, Dennis, I hate to tell you, but they were “light and trim” when that photo was taken, (I`m older than I care, or dare to remember)!! But eventually they became larger electric ones. Prior to the M6, this was a main route, and boy did it carry some traffic. Walsall, well it became a sort of main through route, as opposed to today, when no one would want to pass through it! “Come on you Saddlers”, (well perhaps not), back to the Bollinger I fear, Cheerio for now. (What happened to Bill Bodens, and Salts Big Js, anyone know??
Well you learn summat every day,even at our age !!! Is the Bill Boden you mention the Boden Trailer maker from Royton ? I recall Jack Brady speaking well of him but I never met him as Crane Fruehauf had taken over by the time I started dealing with them. Cheers Dennis.
Evening all, Hello Dennis, no, different family. Bill Boden, Northcote Street Walsall, Tipper operator, LAD Albions, 24t Big Js, and one of the first 30t, 220 ■■■■■■■ Big Js. Carl Sharman, was his No 1, married his daughter Eileen, built up a tidy fleet, straight man, good and honest, (but in those pre logistic days so many where)! Tried so hard to get Bill into Atkinsons, but he had a good relationship with Mayfair Garage at Tamworth, the Guy Dealer, so never succeeded! But in hindsight the Guy was the better 8x4, was it not. That 220 ■■■■■■■ was the fastest 8wheeler up the Heads of The Valleys! My family ran quite a few Boden Trailers, single, and tandems, flats, and Homalloy bodied boxes,very strong simple, and good brakes. I took many to and from France, and Italy, in the mid to late 60s, never a problem, even down Cenis, or Geneve, but of course they were Rubery Owen axles! Cheerio for now.
Chris Webb:
Hi Curnock,trying to get my bearings here.
In the photo where the kids are crossing the road - if you carried on straight up that hill did that take you into Walsall ? I’ve used the road from Muckley Corner (A461 I think) many times but I don’t recall that roundabout.The last time I used that road was in 1986 on nights to Chepstow,through Walsall to Great Barr and onto the M5.
yes thats looking towards walsall.the white building on the left is the old george and dragon which was demolished and a new one built set away from the road
TIPIT:
Big G… here is the one from Marc’s Scrapbook.
my dad drove for horace kendrick in the late 60s i done quite a few miles with him the good times ////jimmy boot
wagsie:
Lads…! I have just heard that yoyo Ex s.jones aldridge and Taylors transport…Passed away earlier today…R.I.P. YOYO…!
Boden Transport lol. boiled sweet Jimmy in the office. Bunny Clews. Tommy Gough who could peel an orange in his pocket lol, Len Parks lived in the house at the back of the yard , Norman Crutchley, his wife June used to clean the new offices,That Guy J8 with the ■■■■■■■ had the 205 lump in and it would only do 5 to the gall with a tail wind,The drivers did their own maintenance oil and grease. Bill had a green jag till he got the new red rover v8 happy days, some times .
ciggy110:
Anyone remember Boden Transport? I moved from Spencer Abbot when they finished.They sold my lorry to Boden Transport and I went with it, I worked for Bill Boden for a number of years, the lorries I drove for him from new were,
Albion Reiver LAD (5115 DH ), Guy Big J 8 24t Gross (GDH 36H), and my final pride and joy a 30t Gross Big J 8 with a ■■■■■■■ 220 I could push this beast up to 70 mph on the M5, M50, and M4, Never got pulled for speeding but did loose half my load of beans from a pit in South Wales when my sheet blew off.
When my friend Carl Sharman left Bodens I went with him and did his Scotland runs in a D series ford Luton van. He also had a repair shop which I eventually inherited and we went our separate ways, When Bill Boden passed away Carl moved from Forest Lane back to Northcote Street and built up quite a sizeable fleet.Thanks for letting me remenis I’m 72 now and wonder how many ex Boden drivers are still alive?
Well this is a nice find on the internet. I think i worked at most these firms mentioned, always had itchy feet .Started at with Tildsleys walsall then just went where the grass seemed greener.Did S jones on nights C,H jones now Keyfuels worse boss i have to say, Hickinbottoms where i found a dead babby in the cut not nice… ‘lovely fleet’ Rolling Mill street till Reg Cooper took over and killed it, used to be Sid Tappers yard. Tried it at kennings in the town where keith Mallin had his Mastif serviced Taylors transport on the vigor have to say met some smashing blokes there Dam good workers / Drivers and drinkers lol.and H Kendricks. he used to watch you take out the worm wheel and scurry off with it to his office for his bonus. well the only problem with this site is how on earth do i shut up. After 50 yrs in transport and I find a place like this. What a watering hole. I hope to spend some cuppa time here, I think i know a couple of you already. keep safe all Stunning pics
monkeywrench:
Well this is a nice find on the internet. I think i worked at most these firms mentioned, always had itchy feet .Started at with Tildsleys walsall then just went where the grass seemed greener.Did S jones on nights C,H jones now Keyfuels worse boss i have to say, Hickinbottoms where i found a dead babby in the cut not nice… ‘lovely fleet’ Rolling Mill street till Reg Cooper took over and killed it, used to be Sid Tappers yard. Tried it at kennings in the town where keith Mallin had his Mastif serviced Taylors transport on the vigor have to say met some smashing blokes there Dam good workers / Drivers and drinkers lol.and H Kendricks. he used to watch you take out the worm wheel and scurry off with it to his office for his bonus. well the only problem with this site is how on earth do i shut up. After 50 yrs in transport and I find a place like this. What a watering hole. I hope to spend some cuppa time here, I think i know a couple of you already. keep safe all Stunning pics
Hi monkeywrench & welcome to the site! 
No need to shut up, the lads from up around there have been a bit quiet of late. You must have many memories & tales to tell & we never get tired of hearing them! 
There was certainly no shortage of firms around back in the day, so I am a bit surprised this thread is so slow. 
So bring it on mate & if you have any pictures it will be even better. 
BigG-Unit:
monkeywrench:
Well this is a nice find on the internet. I think i worked at most these firms mentioned, always had itchy feet .Started at with Tildsleys walsall then just went where the grass seemed greener.Did S jones on nights C,H jones now Keyfuels worse boss i have to say, Hickinbottoms where i found a dead babby in the cut not nice… ‘lovely fleet’ Rolling Mill street till Reg Cooper took over and killed it, used to be Sid Tappers yard. Tried it at kennings in the town where keith Mallin had his Mastif serviced Taylors transport on the vigor have to say met some smashing blokes there Dam good workers / Drivers and drinkers lol.and H Kendricks. he used to watch you take out the worm wheel and scurry off with it to his office for his bonus. well the only problem with this site is how on earth do i shut up. After 50 yrs in transport and I find a place like this. What a watering hole. I hope to spend some cuppa time here, I think i know a couple of you already. keep safe all Stunning picsHi monkeywrench & welcome to the site!
I used to backload off Hickinbottoms when I worked for C H Preston in Sheffield 1968/9. Nearly always got sent into the District Iron and Steel for angle iron,their place was down Brasshouse Lane near the Hawthorns on the A41 Holyhead Road. I never saw a Hickinbottoms wagon though.
Hi CIggy. Bill had a nice fleet of trucks. Big 6’s with the AEC 470/505’s, and not forget the old guy invincible Tex Ball had with the ladder stabliser under the body , And the manky kp dodge 6 wheeler ‘that cab was up and down more times than a brides nightie’. Mick Ross had your Big J ■■■■■■■ 205 after. Bunny had the Guy 30 ton 180, and Len had the atky 30t 180 later a Guy , and J Lycett had the 24 t atky 180 (nice motor that) .He sold the 6 wheelers and had a couple nice 24 ton 150 's slow 38 mph had to swap the 3rd diff to speed em up a bit.Hope to catch you on soon 
G
ciggy110:
0curnock:
i worked for carl sharman early 90’s,he had an old photo of a boden 8 wheeler tipper on the office wall.i’m sure billy boden was his father in law.Hi Curnock, Carl dug this out of his attic for me. Its a photo of part of Bill Bodens fleet, some of his Albion Reiver LADs and thats me by my Big J 8
Hi Monkeywrench, you are right the ■■■■■■■ was a 205 but went back to Mayfair garage Fazely to be uprated to a 220. To get the most out of it you had to push the revs to the limit in each gear, once in overdrive the beast would cruise at 70.I remember waiting all day at the furnacite plant for a load for the Co-op in Highbury London by the gunners ground, I’d waited so long I thought stuff it I’m sleeping in my bed tonight so I went home and down to Highbury via the M1 the next morning, When I got to Smiths Scrapyard for my load back I was only second in the queue and one of our chaps who shall be nameless was sitting in his cab covered in frost having been there all night.
I’m 74 next April and guess what one of my sons bought me for my 73rd■■? a Corgi Big J eight wheel tipper which I have painted in Boden’s livery.
I could go on about the Miners strike and Saltley gas coke works, but that will have to keep for another time, C yall
Gray oops Ciggy110
c
Elloo Gray /U . How are the lads, they did some miles with you and your woof woof .Can’t remember the ■■■■■■■ going back but I can remember it arriving at the pump to bunker and the big diesel knock it gave with the fuel drip on restart that the early big cams did.I didn’t realise you was that old Mr but you was a big lad in your day.I believe you had a mini then i may be wrong .Happy days keep safe ‘we go back a bit’…
ciggy110:
Hi Monkeywrench, you are right the ■■■■■■■ was a 205 but went back to Mayfair garage Fazely to be uprated to a 220. To get the most out of it you had to push the revs to the limit in each gear, once in overdrive the beast would cruise at 70.I remember waiting all day at the furnacite plant for a load for the Co-op in Highbury London by the gunners ground, I’d waited so long I thought stuff it I’m sleeping in my bed tonight so I went home and down to Highbury via the M1 the next morning, When I got to Smiths Scrapyard for my load back I was only second in the queue and one of our chaps who shall be nameless was sitting in his cab covered in frost having been there all night.
I’m 74 next April and guess what one of my sons bought me for my 73rd■■? a Corgi Big J eight wheel tipper which I have painted in Boden’s livery.
I could go on about the Miners strike and Saltley gas coke works, but that will have to keep for another time, C yall
Gray oops Ciggy110c
BigG-Unit:
monkeywrench:
Well this is a nice find on the internet. I think i worked at most these firms mentioned, always had itchy feet .Started at with Tildsleys walsall then just went where the grass seemed greener.Did S jones on nights C,H jones now Keyfuels worse boss i have to say, Hickinbottoms where i found a dead babby in the cut not nice… ‘lovely fleet’ Rolling Mill street till Reg Cooper took over and killed it, used to be Sid Tappers yard. Tried it at kennings in the town where keith Mallin had his Mastif serviced Taylors transport on the vigor have to say met some smashing blokes there Dam good workers / Drivers and drinkers lol.and H Kendricks. he used to watch you take out the worm wheel and scurry off with it to his office for his bonus. well the only problem with this site is how on earth do i shut up. After 50 yrs in transport and I find a place like this. What a watering hole. I hope to spend some cuppa time here, I think i know a couple of you already. keep safe all Stunning picsHi monkeywrench & welcome to the site!
Thanks for the welcome Big G Its most kind of you , didn’t realise so many drivers was still about trucking i will burn some hours on here just reading . Its amazing how small a world we do live in . Happy days and keep safe thanks again. regards Monkey.
BigG-Unit:
monkeywrench:
Well this is a nice find on the internet. I think i worked at most these firms mentioned, always had itchy feet .Started at with Tildsleys walsall then just went where the grass seemed greener.Did S jones on nights C,H jones now Keyfuels worse boss i have to say, Hickinbottoms where i found a dead babby in the cut not nice… ‘lovely fleet’ Rolling Mill street till Reg Cooper took over and killed it, used to be Sid Tappers yard. Tried it at kennings in the town where keith Mallin had his Mastif serviced Taylors transport on the vigor have to say met some smashing blokes there Dam good workers / Drivers and drinkers lol.and H Kendricks. he used to watch you take out the worm wheel and scurry off with it to his office for his bonus. well the only problem with this site is how on earth do i shut up. After 50 yrs in transport and I find a place like this. What a watering hole. I hope to spend some cuppa time here, I think i know a couple of you already. keep safe all Stunning picsHi monkeywrench & welcome to the site!
a few pics of my days at spar (blakemores) willenhall.spent ten yrs but been gone over ten .just found a load of old photos
cheers darren
1st arctic 2nd last
Been a while since this thread had an airing, but thought I would show ya this!
Moved a bench out of my old garage the other day & found this board nailed on the back! I had it done in the '70s when I started, subbing transit work from them. I used to slot it on to the gantry frame behind the cab, so they wouldn’t keep stopping me on the gate at Birlec & B.R.D
Cleaned it up a bit & now has pride of place, above the door of my workshop
Sad or what! 
whiplash:
Remember Albright & Wilson.Oldury?Picture ain`t great,but the memories of two of their drivers,Dave Clayton and Fred ■■? are.Two sound lads who used to come in through Dun Laoghaire with Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola concentrate for Drogheda and Cork.Clear customs,next stop The Elphin Hotel.Happy days
By whiplash_012 at 2009-07-13.
Dave Clayton retired in 2011 i got trained by him at Alutrade in Oldbury prior to him retiring !!