Yes I only knew Smart Freight when Peter Mason owned it! He also had was it Phil Oldham? selling tailer spares from that yard. DO you remember Solent Shipping and Transport? Jack Pheasant ran that and Ian Lawson and Steve Mathews sprung from that stock in fact Ian is still running that V reg F12 all over Europe. Also John Compton who is still about got a 6wheel rigid on boxes now.
TIR
I did a couple of jobs for Trebor Transport Orchard Place about 1976/7 with my first truck (god I hate that word) I mean lorry a TK Bedford got paid ok.! You are right about the old docks I was on traction for SRF late seventies dragging Trailers out of Townsend Thoresen and/or Normandy Ferries would not know where from now!
Ian Lawson had my old motor from Jimmy Rawlings. Reg VCG 668H.One of the first F88s in the south. Last saw Steve Matthews last year.He was a really good friend of mine.Ran with him quite a bit when I worked for R and A .You remember them I know.
Hi Pat, you are right about ACJ and dear old Jack Fecitt ,God rest his soul.He did finally retire to run a pub at Downton, before he died.
Colin Wilkes, well there’s a character that could make your blood run cold cause he’d have your boots and then come back for the laces! Only bloke I know that could walk under a snake whilst wearing a top-hat. Taffy Griffiths had the yard rtight up the end of Belgrave Rd. ,nice man who kept himself pretty much to himself and trod on nobody’s toes.
Don’t know if there was any tie up in latter year between Ernie Smart and Pete Mason 'cause I wasn’t in the game then. One thing I do know for certan is that Ernie started and owned Smartfreight on his own ( though he may have had a bit of help from Mike Pitter). The company was actully called Manorbane Ltd.
He bought the company name off the shelf and did the old T/A bit (trade as). This I do know for sure because Ernie was a good friend of mine and we had some discussions when he was starting the company. I also did a bit of work for him as JBM. That work was NYK boxes which were a better rate than ACL or DART, whom I did work for direct.
Not seen John yet or has he told you and you dont want to speak to me? ha ha
Dave Tutt, was he a biker type? Scary looking but a totally nice bloke, if it’s the same one I ran with him a few times in the early 90s, he was on for Davies (Busby) Peter Clue was also on there until he was lured away by Norman Offer & an original ssc Daf with a 500 ■■■■■■■■ I remember him telling me he’d only drive a left ■■■■■■ so god knows where he works now
Hi TIR
Thanks for the info on Smart Freight and Ernie Smart as I say I only knew Pete Mason when he was running it, he had a tractor on for STS most of the time till they fell out over the cost of the Severn Bridge I think.
Havent seen John yet I dare say he will turn up though and I shall show him this forum and I hope he will tell me who you are! Bin racking the old grey matter as I am certain JBM rings a bell in there somewhere!!! Come on tell me or at least a few more clues please! Another name came to me an o/d had a Volvo ages ago Bill Reypert last time I saw him he was afitter on for Molo’s up at Nursling with Tony Eldrige.
Hi Mercman yes Tutty was a biker my driver said he saw him the other day still got that great big grizzly beard driving a tipper. He left me went on for Roy Gover BKG then on for Busby then I think he had a spell on for Petworth Plant driving a lowloader he left there and was driving for a plant hire firm out of Hook.Don’t know what pete is doing now I know he did do a few years driving in America I don’t think I’ve seen him for about 4 years now.
Sorry Pat but haven’t had much time to get on here today. I feel rotten keeping you guessing but I reckon I’ve given you all the clues that I can muster. I have to admit though that our paths haven’t crossed much and I’m not really a memorable person. Probably the last time I was in your yard having a cup of tea, you only saw the bloke I was with and I was of no importance. Not to worry though 'cause thats the story of my life. As regarding actual transport we’ve not dealt with each other. Nevertheless over the years I have reccomended many customers to you for spares from all over the country. By the way the Nobby Golden you mentioned. Don’t know if its the same chap as Derek Golden from Baddesly. If it is then I got him his first workshop when he went out on his own, so I got priority for sevicing on my lorrys.
All will be revealed sometime tomorrow , either before or after the dentist.
Best regards from Nobby ?
Hi TIR
Yes the same man I knew Derek/Nobby when he was working in Colin Harris’s yard opposite mine in Nursling we even worked a couple of times well into the night changing cluches or gearboxes on mine as they were shipping out next morning!
Didn’t he have a workshop in Eling? That seems to ring a bell!
You remember Fred Croucher? I think that Colin Grimes of Anco fame worked for him before working for Bradys out of a yard just round the corner from mine in Nursling and then starting on his own with alight blue transit flatbed. I see Colin now and again it was him who told me of the death of Micky Mathews.
Very curious as to who you are! I won’t be on here now till pm as have to take Sue to hospital at 2 to see the oncologist to get results of her recent scan and maybe start next course of chemo!
Pat ,good luck to you and Sue when she has the scan. Not really a great deal I can say on that .
Dereks first workshops were at Woolston, Wilments Shipyard. I used to take my units over on the Floating Bridge (although they were too heavy) and give the conductor 2/6d each without a ticket. Blinkin’ heck am I really that old ?
Fred Croucher and I were nearly joined at the hip at one time and used to treat me as his son. I was there when he bought his first unit a F 88 240 from Perrins, the Vauxhall agents in Southampton. I’d not long bought a F 86 for I think £4,500 off the same people and was worried about my H.P on it. When the salesman asked Fred about H.P. arrangements you should have seen the look on his face when Fred chucked about £5,600 on the table and said , “I cant be doing with no H.P. rubbish”. And boy can that bloke give you some stories of his youth in the East End of London.
Grimesy well that chap caused me some grief with his mouth so dont bear talking about. The less said the better on that one.
Once again “Good Luck” to you both this afternoon.Catch you later.
Thanks again TIR.Racking my brains i was wondering if i called dock gate 10 by the number 57 because there was a Heinz factory there?
Don`t know if they have been mentioned, but was there a Whitehorn Transport?
Yes Les, there was a Whitehorn Transport but I didn’t know too much about them at all. I am pretty sure they had a yard at Nursling next to Dave Coombes and close to Pat Duffys’ yard. If that should be correct then Pat will be able to give you the info you want.
Yes quite right TIR he had the yard on the left as you drove to my yard there were two brothers Roger and Ryan started with mixer trucks but then had artics I believe they did alot of work for ISR to Membury and back to Fawley. Then Roger had a variety of trucks the big eyed Fodens F88’s and Renaults and finally a Foden. He doesn’t run any trucks now but still drives at nights for a container company. Ryan stopped driving years ago and was doing up houses last time I spoke to him.
Sorry for mentioning Grimesy didn’t know it was a sore point! I never knowingly met Fred but have heard about him was he ex speedway? I know Tom O’Connell who had a Hiab and tippers on tarmac Was. Other names with tippers ■■■■■■ and Derek Pratt and Norman Russell.
Well come on TIR who are you■■?
Regards Pat
Scan seemed ok today but was not able to get in to see doctor with Sue because the hospital was totally gridlocked so had to park miles away (couldn’t get into the carpark)!!!
Hi Pat. Have you read my personal message to you.Sent it a couple of days ago.Good news about your wife.Fingers crossed eh. Tonight maybe the famous Nobby will reveal himself.Not literally I hope!! Actually I do know his identity.
Hi Pat, well a promise is a promise so here we are but it is quite an ante-climax. I tried to give the clue with Albert so you see I’m just another one of the five Strattons. Wasn’t even worth waiting for was it but at least you have my history. Whats your comments ■■?
The only reason they raised thier hats Charlie was to make sure I hadn’t nicked thier hair. You may have thought it respect but they were genuinely checking. Especially today as mines growing inwards and comming out of my nose and ears !
I an glad you gave Pat that reply ,as it has stopped me guessing,yes I know you and you know me ,I went every name I knew on BI ,but forgot Albert Stratton !!. I have been into Pats yard several times to pick up rental trailers when TIP (?) stored them there
Sorry Kerbut but it looks like you got the wrong end of the stick there. Albert Stratton was never on for BIT ,in fact Albert is not a driver. You may have met Andy Stratton on BI . And I’m not Albert otherwise why would I call myself Nobby ? ?
