Hiya again Stu, always good to hear from an old workmate. On the subject of D.Buck, when I saw him last he was living on Thornhill somewhere at the top of Warburton Hill and was driving a Range Rover. Not I hasten to add my favourite person and we had a discussion where I asked him if I could put some pressure on his adams apple with my thumbs for a few minutes.
Good to hear from you and you say you are in touch with Tony’s brother Keith. I bet theres a few memories coming up between you there. By the way I was in Porto not so long ago but it wasn’t in a truck, it was on the Oriana. I couldn’t however resist a walk down to the beach and the Green Hut area but highly changed nowadays. (and the trams are ultra modern with no hitch-hikers!) ha ha.
Nobby.
Ah good stuff Nobby. Yes I imagine that like very thing else , as time goes on, the green hut area and Oporto have changed massively. At least you got there in style and didn’t break down 
My last trip down there was as a Roving Ambassador for Lord Davies of Bursledon 
, a lot easier trip in a lot better truck than we ever had in the past.
Yep, still in touch with Keith, don’t swap trucking stories really and don’t think he posts on here .
Maybe someone else will fill in the gaps about Mr B. Ttfn…Stu.
As I said before, we should post some stories and anecdotes on departed drivers to keep them alive in our memories. Well here goes maybe not the most funny or interesting but just something from the early 70’s to keep Albert Keeble(RIP) in memory.
Albert was on his way to some destination in Italy with all the necessary paperwork {including the preverbial bent permit} and after crossing France and the Mont Blanc arrived in Aosta customs as was a must back then. He sorted out his TIR Carnet and all the necessary paperwork that he needed and presented it to the officer on duty at the window who went through it meticulously stamping what was needed to be. Then he came to the road permit and looked at Albert as if to say," Okay then where’s my bung then?" Keeble looked back at him and with a brazen smile said in fluent English, “No coffee today mate that’s a real MacCoy” The officer then had Albert escorted to an interview or holding room and he was left guarded with a uniformed and armed customs officer. He brazened it out for an hour or so and then asked if he could go to the toilet. The officer escorted him to the toilet and stood guard outside. We are talking Albert Keeble here so no sooner in the toilet than out of the window and across to the bar where he quickly downed a few frizzantes and bought two bottles to go. Back he went to the customs entering by the main door and presented himself to the guard holding his latest purchase aloft. The Italian looked at Keeble, then at the toilet door, and shrugging his shoulders again at Albert before returning him to the interview room. I’m not sure exactly what happened then but shortly after Albert was on his way to his destination. That’s the sort of character we have all been lucky enough to encounter in the job we did. Cheers, Nobby.
Very amusing but typical tale from back in the day Nobby.
As you said earlier, we,ve all got memories from the past that we could
Bring back to life on here.
In the meantime, here’s a photo that should jog the memory of someone in
particular that’s not posted in ages, and he now resides in France, but I,m not
mentioning any names… Lol.
mappo:
Very amusing but typical tale from back in the day Nobby.
As you said earlier, we,ve all got memories from the past that we could
Bring back to life on here.
In the meantime, here’s a photo that should jog the memory of someone in
particular that’s not posted in ages, and he now resides in France, but I,m not
mentioning any names… Lol.
Hi Tone,
Rumour has it that he has won the French lottery,and is now living in Monaco,and plans to invite all his old mates to the Monaco Grand Prix to spend the weekend on his Sunseeker (not that old tub in the pic)
The other rumour is he hasn’t paid his pnone/internet bill and has been cut off !!
Knowing him as I do I believe the former. 
Just got back from Rome, San Lorenzo customs has changed !
I will call you next week and get together, hope your health is improving.Angie sends her love x
Regards
Richard
Hello Mappo
Thanks for putting the photo of the MAN on im pretty sure my grandad drove that from new on BAKERS reg number possibly ROW 204M it was 1 of 4 brought buy BAKERS.I will check when I get home.
Regards Jacko
R-JACKO:
Hello Mappo
Thanks for putting the photo of the MAN on im pretty sure my grandad drove that from new on BAKERS reg number possibly M208 GOW it was 1 of 4 brought buy BAKERS.I will check when I get home.
Regards Jacko
Think it was one of six, all red collumb change but I may be wrong, Buzzer.
Can’t take credit really Jacko, I came across it on FB.
As Buzzer said, I remember them being red.
I drove two MAN,s one for Fred Croucher and the other for Peter Green…both column change.
Hello Buzzer and Mappo
Your both right they were column change originally the MANs were just plain red.I belive they were red because Baker wanted them to go straight to work sprayed later in Bakers colours?.I thought there were 4 but you may be right Buzzer about there being 6.I will put some photos on later the registration number may have been ROW 204M I will hopefully confirm this later
Regards Jacko
Hello Buzzer and Mappo
Now im home here are some photos of the MAN my grandad drove ROW 206M in these photos the sign writing has been added
In this last photo there is no sign writing just plain red Reg Number ROW 208M
Regards Jacko
Hi Mappo
Re Fred Crouchers MAN’s Hills had two of his SUS684R-SUS685R both 19 .330 v10’s may have been one of those??
R.Jacko…great pics mate, good to see those.
Dispatcher…The MAN I drove for Croucher was an N reg…the V10,s came later.
It was a long time ago but I think mine was HHR 663N and it wasn,t a V10 although the
one I drove for Peter Green was…UTP —T which had a fuller box with column change.
HHR had the ZF box.
Hello Mappo
There has been some debate in the past about these two photos whether or not these lorries are the same ive magnified both photos and they are not the same MANs in the first photo the MAN on the right i believe is my grandads and in Bakers colours in the second photo the registration numbers are ROW 205M and ROW 207M? has said before my dad thought there were a batch of 4 MANs brought by Eric Baker i may be wrong but possibly the two in the second photo were sold at a later date to this firm HRS which i understand ran to the Middle east?
In this photo the Bakers lorries i belive are ROW 206M and ROW 208M?
In this photo HRS lorries ROW 205M and ROW 207M?
Regards Jacko
Hi Jacko, I can only assume that when new, the four of them belonged to Bakers.
They definitely had at least 4 , and I think we’re supplied new by Morgan’s at Waltham Chase
who at the time were the local MAN dealers.
Did not Terry Sparrow drive a MAN for Bakers? Regards Charlie : 
I dunno Charlie…I never met Terry til Rawlings days.
I,m sure some of the OLDER members on here will know.
mappo:
I dunno Charlie…I never met Terry til Rawlings days.
I,m sure some of the OLDER members on here will know.
Mappo you must be joking, you gotta be one of the oldest posters on this thread. Balders let that cat out the bag when he disclosed the thatched mudguards on your first truck but forgot to mention the wooden wheels. Stop trying to pull the wool over every ones eyes as Charlie told me you taught him to drive and showed him the ropes and he is religious and would not lie, Buzzer.
Now now Buzzer, IF I look older than I actually am, it’s cos I,ve always been a
grafter as you should well know…In 50 years of employment I,ve probably
done 60 years work… 
I think you were slightly mistaken Buzzer re Mappo.Instead of " Poster" it should be " Poser ".Regards Charlie
I always thought of you as a mate Charlie …
Mmmmm thinking about it though, perhaps I was…
