Well found another pic of one of mine that John Lee had pulling a BCT trailer who took over from ROBA in Southampton!
Regards Pat
Hi heres’s another teaser for you anyone recognise any of these drivers some are Phillip’s I presume! I know that it is Skillbeech’s Transcon on the right!
And this man was definitely a Phillips driver!
Regards Pat
This was one of mine that rolled in Italy after loading lift parts I seem to remember. Driver was Mike Taylor or Cornish pasty as he was called. It was an ‘L’ reg LHD R113 Topliner with an STS Tilt. Mike was unhurt.
Regards Pat
Here is a name from the past one of Springroads Marathons with a very young John Lee ■■■■■■■ in front of it! He was driving the Volvo by the way!
Regards Pat
Evening Pat, The young John Lee looks the image of Larry Fitzgerald Ha Ha.
Getting the pictures now Pat, im using an internet dongle to conect and there was a restriction on downloads, All sorted now i think. Good pics Pat. I will post some on when i get home on Sat…
Regards Kev
Hello all.
Re the above,this happened in the late 60’s when they were inspecting the Blackwall Tunnel.They took out some of the cast iron rings that supported the tunnel and with no warning it collapsed and our yard at Yabsely Street fell in.It was a lucky escape for Billy Denham as he had just washed out the trailer ready for it’s next job and had just climbed out of it.Myself,Michelin Man and quite a few drivers were there at the time-it was quite an event!The ERF and trailer both belonged to UCC and were later recovered from their premature burial and put back on the road.To cover it’s absence the insurance arranged a Big “J” hire from the BRS,which had a ■■■■■■■ engine which went faster than anything we had at the time.Gardner 150’s weren’t renowned for their speed! Hope this helps to clear up the mystery for you all and I wish I still worked there.Halcyon days. Regards to you all from 900X20.
Thank you 900X20 I knew someone would be able to enlighten us all!
Thanks again Pat
Hello you old timers 900x20 is absolutely correct in stating what happened to the ERF and trailer at theold Blackwall Tunnel.We were both on nights and walked into the mayhem,little Billy was very lucky to have got out of the trailer in time.I do have other newspaper photos of the incident and have purchased a new scanner -printer and will post them on in due course.If you wish you can check out 2 x sites on here UCC Brentford and UCC Southampton you will find this item has already been brought up by myself.Its fantastic to know people are still interested in proper trucks and driving when it used to be fun.More later ,.MM
The trailer in the photo used to be pulled by a Thames Trader,which at the time had a Scammell coupling.We had Yorks and CF’s. It was quite an experience driving them with a load of hanging beef and the stopping,while adequate,needed some planning as all we had were the vacuum brakes with the usual rod brake to the trailer. No big deal as others were in the same boat.Eventually,the “Traders” went and the trailers were converted to 5th. wheel coupling with a crude form of air brake fitted.They were handy however for unloadind lambs as they had two side doors N/S which cancelled the need for the trip to the tailboard! More later when the brain comes out of neutral,regards to all, 900X20.
TIR Original:
Only just got round to looking at this thread and its one that I could really get my teeth into. Dave Miller mentioned a company that ran yellow Fodens late 60’s early 70’s. Well Dave I can tell you that company was P.B.C. European.
The company was started and ran by Frank Allen who was a very astute business man.PBC stood for Public Benefit Coal because the company started as a coal haulage firm, picking up coal from the midlands back to their
yard in Sholing, Southampton and to various coal mechants around the south.
They ran a fleet of mainly 6 and 8 wheeled Fodens. As the coal industry was declining Frank decided to divert into general haulage with the continent being high on his agenda. He had a superb yard and workshop from where he started PBC Engineering Ltd. This company was used to cut down his rigid trucks and make them into tractor units and ended up a mixture of 4 and 6 wheeled units. He refurbished some secondhand tilts and Hey Presto !
P.B.C. European were born.
His first work was mainly Rouen and Paris all done then under T.I.R. reg’s.
At one time he worked very closely with a french company from Rouen called
SATCO, who unknowingly donated to me (an o/d) many a tank of deisel in the dark of the night. I hasten to add from the pump in their yard as I have never stooped to a piece of pipe !
Later in the 70’s PBC went in with Cabmont but after a while was all taken back
over by Frank Allen and his son Tim. This was then turned into a company called British International Ltd. mainly running to the Iberian peninsular,Spain
and Portugal. From their yard in Sholing they built up quite a fleet of trucks and trailers which was made up of Transcons,Daf 3300’s and 2 Roadtrains.
The company ceased to trade in the late 80’s as a transport outfit but kept the workshops open to a later date and rented the yard out.
Well here endeth the lesson on PBC who do we start on next, Jameson ?
Frank was also one of the creators of Truckline out of Poole.
I remember the chinese 6 Foden he created, I believe it was wrecked on the peripherique in a head-on with some french drunks going the wrong way up a slip road, I think the accident castrated the diver (but that was a long time ago and I may be wrong)
any of u lads know Malcolm Lee he ailed from pompey
Nice shot of John Lee, the Marathon brought back happy memories of running to Italy, if ever you went “over the top” via Montgenevre to Italy the customs man always asked 2 questions, “Have you got any English newspapers” and “Why haven’t you got Springroad on your truck” as they seemed to be the only English firm going that way !
So sorry to hear about Bingo, a great character.
TIR Original
Very in depth and interesting story about PBC , My bro in law George white
( Snowies son ) drove for them late 60s early 70s just before he emigrated to New Zealand , I bumped into him in Jack Hills once when he was driving one of those enormous Chinese 6 foden 2 strokes , he used to say when the engine ran well you ended up deaf as a post but it was so unreliable they replaced the engine with a Gardener .
If I remember right PBC was at the back of Picadors , the Vauxhall agent off Portsmouth road , Sholing .
Frenchy
ainacs:
Right here is a puzzle for you anyone know who this is a Squibb’s driver? Now informed it is John Eaton from the Portsmouth area CB handle ‘Ocean Clipper’.
Regards Pat
Hya Pat i,m afraid you,ve been mis-informed. I Know John Eaton well and it aint him Drivers name is Bob Cousins
Good to hear you are still around Tony, is that the same Bob Cousins who had a Renault Turboliner on Matsolex ? used to live in Southsea.
MaggieD:
Good to hear you are still around Tony, is that the same Bob Cousins who had a Renault Turboliner on Matsolex ? used to live in Southsea.
HI MaggieD Yes Bob became an owner driver after working for Sqibbs. I saw him a couple of years ago. He,s a painter and decorator now. Anyway I,ve just spoke to Cluey and he reckons its Nobby Palmer RIP
mappo:
ainacs:
Right here is a puzzle for you anyone know who this is a Squibb’s driver? Now informed it is John Eaton from the Portsmouth area CB handle ‘Ocean Clipper’.
Regards Pat
Hya Pat i,m afraid you,ve been mis-informed. I Know John Eaton well and it aint him Drivers name is Bob Cousins
Hi Tony I will have a word with John Lee it was his picture and that is what he told me!!! Anyway here’s another one for you who’s damaged truck was this?
Regards Pat
Hallo Pat, It’s not Solent Shipping’s is it ? seem to remember one of theirs having a smash near Pont D’ain, a left ■■■■■■ I think.!
Sorry Pat, you,ve got me there. Like most of us the brain does,nt work like it used to.
Regards Tony
It was Bob Payne who used to be with Solent Shipping
Here’s another pic of the Merc nice flairs!!! 
Regards Pat