Fergie47:
A few may remember “Harry-the-Hat” ? He sadly passed away last Saturday in Southampton aged 83. On of the original Armstrong drivers, who came down from Liverpool, first to Bristol, then based in Southampton…
Hi Dave,
Sad news he was a character, he retired back in May 1990 when I brought the transport side of Robert Armstrong/P&O Tankmasters wanting to spend more time on his boat which was one of the D Day flotilla ones
R.I.P. Harry.
Hope you and Liz are ok.
Regards
Richard
ainacs:
My son spotted this on Facebook a pic of us coming out of Dock Gate 20 with a 22 ton excavator on Friday afternoon!Regards Pat
Hi made an adjustment to get a better pic
Fergie47:
A few may remember “Harry-the-Hat” ? He sadly passed away last Saturday in Southampton aged 83. One of the original Armstrong drivers, who came down from Liverpool, first to Bristol, then based in Southampton…
Sad, sad news once again.
Was this an ex Armstrong/P&O truck the registration looks local?
VHO 107R Pat was possibly an Ex Arrmstrongs vehicle, the spec looks right but I am not at my home PC to look thru some fotos of reg. no’s.
Anyways: Some bad news for some, good news for others:
On my north bound trip at the end of last week, it is regret that I have to announce the closure of some well known recreation establishments that would give solace to a weary driver, warm skin around your ears etc between Burgos and Miranda del Ebro! All look abandoned including Victors neighbours. Sign of the economic times I think. One had a notice on the door, probably read summat like, Weekends only or by appointment only! So really the good news is, all that had outstanding accounts at such places can freely go about their N1 business again and not resort to using the Autopista! But beware, some IOU’s are still pinned up in the next door bars!
PS Isn’t Valerie a mans name in France? Does GAZIOW realise this?
Fergie47:
A few may remember “Harry-the-Hat” ? He sadly passed away last Saturday in Southampton aged 83. One of the original Armstrong drivers, who came down from Liverpool, first to Bristol, then based in Southampton…
Hi Dave, I don’t think I knew the guy, but still sad news. Say hi to Liz for me mate.
Gazzer…sad news indeed, the closure of those recreational facilities…well ‘bag houses’ then.
Not that I ever frequented such places of course. 
RIP Harry the Hat, he was old when I first met him at Prince’s in 1977! Sold me my first CB…HyGain 40ch for £40 including aerial.
Anyone know if this sleeper cab ERF BVT357C used to belong to Eric Baker?
I know Eric had sold most of his ERF fleet to a man called Frank Watkins RIP, who had a yard in the old railway station in St Asaph, North Wales. I bought a couple of vehicles from Frank in the 70’s a Bedford TK with a 22’ body and my AEC Mercury rigid.
Whilst I was talking with Frank when I collected the AEC in about 77, he mentioned he had bought a load of ERF’s from Baker in Southampton, he had come down and bid Eric for them then Eric phoned him to say he (Frank) could have them as long as he collected them all by the weekend! Frank said he did it but it was like a circus moving all of those ERF’s that weekend up to St Asaph! When they looked closely at them they found most had different engines fitted from original!!!
Regards Pat
Pat,
Bakers vehicles seem to have without exception Hampshire based reg. numbers, as this one is from Stoke then I would think it didn’t belong to Eric.
Colin
Weren’t Bakers “modified” ERF’s rebadged HMC’s?
Hi ,Ainacs , Iremember that batch comming into Frankie Watkins yard my Dad BOUGHT a lot of motors off him ,including OOW 354 G one of Bakers ERFs 180 Gardener d/brown 6 speed box ,twin 65 gallon tanks ,52 mph ,but worked hard and done us well ,a bit of useless info ,cheers Barry
b.waddy:
Hi ,Ainacs , Iremember that batch comming into Frankie Watkins yard my Dad BOUGHT a lot of motors off him ,including OOW 354 G one of Bakers ERFs 180 Gardener d/brown 6 speed box ,twin 65 gallon tanks ,52 mph ,but worked hard and done us well ,a bit of useless info ,cheers Barry
Now then Bazzer the name Watkins has just rattled my brain cell,was he a little dapper bloke,sandy haired,wore a collar and tie ? Cheers Mr.Bewick.PS have you seen anything of Ralph lately? Tell him I’m asking after him if you do.
Now then Bazzer the name Watkins has just rattled my brain cell,was he a little dapper bloke,sandy haired,wore a collar and tie ? Cheers Mr.Bewick.PS have you seen anything of Ralph lately? Tell him I’m asking after him if you do.
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Hi Dennis, Frank was a great friend of mine, sadly he is no longer with us. Your description is good…but Frank had a great sense of fun, and he loved his Horses. He always was in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot, wearing a Stove pipe hat, that was worth as much as a good A Series!!
I had great fun, and some great deals with him, and my good lady and I miss his company still! His funeral was a collection of most of the “lorry trade”", boy did we do some laughing. Franks son Neil is trading from his old yard, as CVAM. Nice lad. Cheerio for now.
Hi ,MR BEWICK , Sorry to say saw Ralph a few weeks ago he is not so good he seems to be loosing it ,A sorry state i think it might be a of dimentia setting in ,Cheers Barry
An 8 wheel Baker’s wrecker it says Basingstoke on the front would this be from Bakers Cafe on the A30?
Regards Pat
Hi Pat i once had a trailer removed from the little spur road on the Basingstoke junction,it was dropped fully loaded with round timber which i had loaded in old Basing and i bob tailed home this was in the early 70’s when diesel was cheap,any way when i went back at 6am in morning the trailer had gone so reporting this to the police they had removed it as they said it was illegaly parked on the hard shoulder of the motorway,anyways i had to go to a recovery yard at Oakley nr Basingstoke and pay them for recovery,no cheques had to be cash and i got a feeling they were called Bakers but its a long time ago so i may be wrong,cheers Buzzer
Hi John & Pat
Yes thats Bakers of Oakley
& they are still the Police agents for the Basingstoke area.
They are very good & experienced at the job.
Cheers Rich
tribsa:
Hi John & Pat
Yes thats Bakers of Oakley
& they are still the Police agents for the Basingstoke area.
They are very good & experienced at the job.
Cheers Rich
Thanks for that Richard but any relation to Bakers of Southampton or the Cafe on the A30 for that matter?
Regards Pat
Hi Pat
I will ask about the recovery I think they are. Close colours same sign wrightihg but the cafe at Hook if that is the one you mean is Walls Fun Fair & run or owned by one of the Day family who run or did a big wheel & some static fairs one was Barry Island but I dont get time for a chat these days, but Dad worked for them & still visited until his end.
Cheers Rich
tribsa:
Hi John & Pat
Yes thats Bakers of Oakley
& they are still the Police agents for the Basingstoke area.
They are very good & experienced at the job.
Cheers Rich
There you go Pat i was right with the name of Bakers maybe ime not crackin up just yet,or maybe it was the money i had to pay which stuck in my mind,cheers Buzzer.
