As there are a lot of of new and interesting posts being suggested…how about Lowe ?
I know we have had some posts and a small thread before, but would be good to refresh that.
Anyone willing to share some pictures, any ex Lowe drivers on here with stories to tell ? 
Not directly related, but I used to work for Eddie Bowden and Brian Barden who ran Transport and Refrigeration Services. This was a commercial vehicle repair workshop which started out on North Farm industrial estate in Tunbridge Wells. Eddie and Brian were both ex Lowe’s fitters who decided to go on their own. Round about 1982 they bought the former Arnold Motors Commercial Workshop in Smithers Lane, East Peckham and took on a Foden repair dealership and expanded the heavy recovery side of the business. Customers included Nitrovit at Crowborough, Mustill’s Transport at Five Oak Green,Tilcon at Riverhead and Farrant’s Haulage in Tunbridge Wells; along with many owner drivers. Eddie and Brian were both ■■■■■■■ through and through and were not great Gardner fans. Perhaps of some interest is that Mick Gould , who now runs his well known heavy recovery and repair workshop in Flimwell, was Eddie’s apprentice.
Taken in Rome, I believe, c.1970
Lowe’s had a major contract to deliver to the NAAFI at bases around Europe. The fleet was unusual in that the units were all chinese sixes or rear steers as they were known then. The yard in the middle of Commercial road Paddock Wood wasn’t exactly in the best place for access. According to Eddie, the ERFs and Atkinsons were fitted with 12 speed David Brown gearboxes.
that Atki of Lowes looks like it is at the F.A.O. building in Rome a place i have delivered to many times, used to drop the trailer whilst it was tipped and run down to the beach at Ostia,good old days!
I used to watch them wending their way through Dover on a Friday evening in he mid sixties. Probably one of the reasons I became a Tir driver eventually.
Also remember Atramef Ghent who had quite a few Brits driving for them at that time.
Can anyone recall a short film called into Europe or something similar,around 1968 I went with my then girlfriend to the odean cinema (rank organisation)to see the sound of music& the short film before the main feature was about lowes twin steer lv erf going into Europe I think it is the same erf that is now preserved ex kevin Dennis --alan
this would be the erf pkr 668g its now been preserved by a company in shropshire and for some reason or other the lowe family wouldnt allow it to be painted in the old livery,god knows why!
ERF’s first twin steer unit was apparently NKM79F built for Lowe’s.
I believe that PKR668G was converted to a breakdown truck, which is probably why it has survived. If you google Q146FLF you will find some pictures and further information on a Flickr site.
In Pat Kennett’s book on ERF there is a picture of SKN788H, which says that the twin steer unit was built for the 32 ton five axle requirement, popular under the C&U regs until 1972.
Great to see some posts being made, thanks. Lawrence, why oh why would Lowe be so heartless not to see one of their trusted old ERF’s not returned to their original livery…I guess being an Ex owner it was a truck doing a job, not something seen with rose tinted specs.Great shame all the same.I see Lowe have a new website but advertising secure document storage from their depot ! Guess that’s what happens when some old TIR operators call time…
We used to bump into Lowes a lot in the 70’s doing the same type of work if was inevitable used to run with them to the south of france to load. Does anyone know if Ernie is still about ? last time i saw him he was on for Intercity.
PKR668 G as it is now. Would be nice back in lowes livery, as they are no longer trading can be done.
LB76:
that Atki of Lowes looks like it is at the F.A.O. building in Rome a place i have delivered to many times, used to drop the trailer whilst it was tipped and run down to the beach at Ostia,good old days!
Yes, the accompanying article was all about its maiden trip to Rome, accompanied by an Atkinson salesman! It was the first example of the ‘official’ Atkinson sleeper, and had a 230 ■■■■■■■ and a 9-speed Fuller. I knew it later when it was owned by an OD from Slough called Bill Donnelly, who used to do traction work for Consair Freight Service of Slough. He was a regular in Fleetwood dropping and collecting trailers for the Pandoro service to Dublin, though booked via B+I Line.
Several times it was parked next to Pandoro’s Rear Steer training unit, and I never ever got a photo 
cav551:
Lowe’s had a major contract to deliver to the NAAFI at bases around Europe. The fleet was unusual in that the units were all chinese sixes or rear steers as they were known then. The yard in the middle of Commercial road Paddock Wood wasn’t exactly in the best place for access. According to Eddie, the ERFs and Atkinsons were fitted with 12 speed David Brown gearboxes.
I’m not aware that David Brown ever built a 12-speed gearbox - there was a 10-speed splitter in the 1960s - but this Atki Leader definitely had a Fuller in it, though the factory build card showed it as having a 6-speed ZF.
Strictly speaking, a ‘Chinese 6’ has the 2 steering axles together, rather than having the second steer set back like the Atki in the photo above.
Hi LB 76,
Ernie Lind passed away a few years ago now, he did work for Intercity untill he retired/they packed up.I know his son David Lind (Bubble) and he is still plodding the hi ways and by ways.Paul
Thanks for the reply Paul, I am so sorry to hear about Ernie, he was a true character and a devil on the exhauster brake making it bang as he came into the docks!
Lowes were taken over by Turners of Soham. Turners main contract was at Blue Circle, Northfleet, but there was no workshop there. For a while Turners used Lowes yard for workshop/repair, until they moved this to Medway City Estate. For some time after two fridges were parked at East Peckham, presumably from work taken over from Lowes.
Hello Tyreman, I have photos of an ERF Chinese six tractor unit Sleeper same as lowes that was built in 1965 for the european market, Sadley got smashed up and returned back to ERF to be rebuilt, They rebuilt back to right hand drive and then Re registered and sold to North Shropshire Transport (Wild) on 1967, I will put photo on for you when i find it.
Nev
North Shropshire Transport