Didn’t Bob Alford have an office in the high street below bar Southampton?
I remember when I was subbying for Searoute Ferry Rentco used to rent a back part of their Empress Road Yard and the man who ran it asked me to go to the lorry park opposite TJ Pouparts and ■■■■■■ back a Rentco fridge trailer I think it was on hire to Bob was it a company called Artane?
I know I got £100 for about 1/2 hours work which in 1979 was a fair bit of money for those days. The man who ran Rentcos depot a Jock I think became quite notorious later as he formed a car clamping company that got in trouble with the police and media with regards their methods.
By the way I often see Bob Dillon of the shed variety.
Another name Derek Miller a good friend of John “Busby” Davies I heard that he has just retired.
Thats correct Pat, Artane Transport was Bob Alford. His office as you say was at the bottom of the high street. I know his colours were blue and white and the units were signwritten Artane. Bob is Irish and actually from Artane, Southern Ireland. He came over to here with his brother Tommy in the late fifties. I believe thier first job was with Hills of Botley and then they moved to Pitters at West End. They both stayed around Southampton and worked for various hauliers.
As regard Bob Dillon & Terry Winter, they both frequented Bramshaw Club. I met both of them through Ken Lane as we often would drop in for a Bacardi or ten. Dillon was living in the little cottage at Cadnam then.
charlie one:
Has anyone heard of Garnett Eurotrans.Owned by one Bob Garnett.What happened to him?
Charlie,I thought they were still going,didnt they used to do hanging garments ?
Yes indeed Kerbut .They did do hanging garments amongst other things.Not sure if still running.Out of touch now. Will ask TIR Original.He knows most things.
Merged/taken over by Seabrook & Smith,but still running to Portugal & Spain
How about another blast from the past anyone remember Arthur Porter ran an outfit in Portsmouth Windebank Bros had some eyecatching Scanias? Sorry only got a pick of of his Seddon
I’ve certainly driven the Highwayman Pat, but mine had the fixed front
mudguards rather than moving with the steering. 38 mph all the way to Scotch
and back - apart from Stainmoor of course.
As to the other, my first thought was Rotinoff, but I think they had a wider
bonnet and I don’t remember them doing left hookers.
Like you Spardo both me and Charlie did our apprenticeship on the old Highwayman and managed to find our way around the gate. But same as you didnt go back as far as those old front wings, only had fixed ones.
The other lorry ? If it aint an old GMC then I really dont know what it is but I bet Charlies gonna tell us.
Hi Pat I certainly did drive a Scammell Highwayman. ■■■■ Hampton of Bentley(Dig deep for ■■■■ and throw well back!!).150 Gardener. 26 mph.Used to carry a D9 and Kelly ripper Or a 38 RB. Well overweight. Used to take two and a half days to get to Glasgow. Seems unreal now. But true.
TIR Original:
Like you Spardo both me and Charlie did our apprenticeship on the old Highwayman and managed to find our way around the gate. But same as you didnt go back as far as those old front wings, only had fixed ones.
The other lorry ? If it aint an old GMC then I really dont know what it is but I bet Charlies gonna tell us.
My first thought was a Diamond T but I’m not sure will check on my A to Z of lorries.
TIR Original:
Like you Spardo both me and Charlie did our apprenticeship on the old Highwayman and managed to find our way around the gate. But same as you didnt go back as far as those old front wings, only had fixed ones.
The other lorry ? If it aint an old GMC then I really dont know what it is but I bet Charlies gonna tell us.
My first thought was a Diamond T but I’m not sure will check on my A to Z of lorries.
My first thought also was a Diamond T Pat but my brother in law reckoned not so I went with GMC as I saw one similar years ago in France. Was being used as a wrecker in the Massif Centrale.
As I said you put some good photos up especially of Eric Bakers lorries, its a pity none of the old Scammels. As you know he used to build his own trailers for the heavy haulage side. When quoting for a job he would work out how long it would take to build the trailer before saying when he could do the job.
Now to the HMC. That stood for “Hampshire Motor Company” as that is what he called company that built the the trailers (His own fitters and yard).
I think he must have modified the old ERF with the HMC badge as I remember the trouble that Hills of Botley had when they altered some Guys to six wheel units. Guys were going to take them to court if they didnt remove the name as they did not produce a six wheel unit. They then replaced it with a “Bridge Motor” badge wich was thier engineering company. The same applied to Sammy Williams when they put a ■■■■■■■ engine into a Scania as they would have been sued had they not removed the Scania badge. No doubt someone from that neck of the woods will back me up on that one.
That makes sence as I know that Rush Green Motors of the M25 made their own trailers as RGM!
I have not got anymore pics of Erics wagons but will ask the man who mailed me those if he has anymore! Here is a pic of Hills Crusader 1/2 an Atki and TK though
TIR Original:
Like you Spardo both me and Charlie did our apprenticeship on the old Highwayman and managed to find our way around the gate. But same as you didnt go back as far as those old front wings, only had fixed ones.
The other lorry ? If it aint an old GMC then I really dont know what it is but I bet Charlies gonna tell us.
My first thought was a Diamond T but I’m not sure will check on my A to Z of lorries.
Isn’t it a Diamond T, as re-worked by Wynn’s?
Hi 240 Gardiner well done you are spot on! The man who sent me the pics was in this morning and told me that it was ex Wynns as was the Scamell both were photographed at Joe Sullivans old yard which used to be at Bedhampton near where what is now the A3M!
Regards Pat
PS he says he will send more pics and may even join this site! So watch this space!!!.
can you remember rolar bear ■■. pulled brit euro trailers then gbe later on
i worked for him and had a x rh iveco 300 doing 44 ton railhead work then a ec12 erf proper job with a twin splitter. he wasnt a well man when i worked for roly he had to take so many tablets he rattled when he walked. any info if he is still alive and kicking gratfully recived. thanks
Hi ainacs ; them pictures of bakers lorrys was that Bakers from Southampton if so my Dad drove for him back in 1957. I don’t remember them as i was only 2 at the time.
As far as i know Dad didn’t have any pics, afraid he was like me never bothered taking photos years ago of all the old lorries we’ve driven. But i’ll ask me old Mum next time we go over just incase. Mum was saying they moved down to Fareham in 1957 only stayed couple of years so Dad would have been at Bakers '57 to '59, then they moved back to Watford. She says can’t even remember why they decided to move to Fareham
Hi Pat.Tell me,is Steve Matthews Still going? I ran a lot with him when I was driving for R and A Freight pulling for Roadferry.Had some great nights out with him in France.Lovely man.Last time I saw him was down on the berth picking up a box.That would be about six years ago.
