mat man:
avonmouth based 1635. have you got any more cartran keep putting them on.
was that dougies or big john greens truck■■?
Is that one of those god awfull 40ft skellys that you ■■■■ yourself on every corner? They ended up on KG dock in Hull as slave trailers for North Sea Ferries.Cliff
cartran:
Carlc:
Is that one of those god awfull 40ft skellys that you [zb] yourself on every corner? They ended up on KG dock in Hull as slave trailers for North Sea Ferries.Cliffcartran:
Hullo Cliff, Yes bloody things, do you remember fetching them down from the Glasgow depot ?. Over the old A66, with a 20’ Box that weighed (?) very heavy though, plonked in the middle, was certainly a bit of a hairy job at times. 
. Cheers, Archie.
Archie Paice:
Carlc:
Is that one of those god awfull 40ft skellys that you [zb] yourself on every corner? They ended up on KG dock in Hull as slave trailers for North Sea Ferries.Cliffcartran:
Hullo Cliff, Yes bloody things, do you remember fetching them down from the Glasgow depot ?. Over the old A66, with a 20’ Box that weighed (?) very heavy though, plonked in the middle, was certainly a bit of a hairy job at times.
Archie. I once took two 20ft boxes down to Anglesey on one of those 40ft skellys to load aluminium powder. I loaded the back box then went to the Freightliner at Holyhead and had the loaded box lifted off and the empty put in the middle. I loaded that up with powder and took it back to Manchester, what a bloody trip, every corner I went round you could see daylight under the rear wheels. It was a very scary ride home.
Cliff
Hullo all, Today I had a message from Dave Clark’s wife, to say that CLIFF LEADER passed away yesterday. He had been in pretty bad health for a while and would have been 80 years old in April. I’m sure that all of us on here send our condolences to his Wife and Children ( Gary and Carol.) R.I.P. Cliff. Archie.
hiya,
As an ex-Bowker driver and of the era when Cliff Leader also worked there,
although I haven’t seen Cliff since the early 70s it has come as a shock to
hear of his passing he always gave me the impression he would go on forever
and I didn’t know his age, my condolences to his family, RIP mate.
thanks harry long retired.
I worked for Cliff in my Early days at MAT. A very firm boss but a very fair boss. I have seen him give a driver a bollocking and then he would go and buy him a coffee. I remember his favourate breakfast and we had many together on Saturday mornings, Vera Bushmans hot bread cakes with butter and jam.There is no return load this trip mate, but you will be in good company up there, and by the way I can tell you now that the Scammel Routemaster you gave me to get back to Manchester was ■■■■■■■■■ Cliff I will raise a glass to you tonight when I am on my own.
Cliff.
R I P cliff. mat man
cartran:
:roll:
drove long such a 3200 DAF
Good Machine 
I never worked for him but did know of him through my old boss Joe Fuller.
RIP Cliff, there will be some old drivers waiting for you up there.
Carlc:
I worked for Cliff in my Early days at MAT. A very firm boss but a very fair boss. I have seen him give a driver a bollocking and then he would go and buy him a coffee. I remember his favourate breakfast and we had many together on Saturday mornings, Vera Bushmans hot bread cakes with butter and jam.There is no return load this trip mate, but you will be in good company up there, and by the way I can tell you now that the Scammel Routemaster you gave me to get back to Manchester was [zb].RIP Cliff I will raise a glass to you tonight when I am on my own.
Cliff.
Cliff
Good memories. Cliff Leader was a legend in his own right. Brian Perry and Cliff leader run the job regimental. In the early days a lot did not like the rules and regulations but it kept us on the straight and narrow. Cliff can you remember a bloke that subbed from Gilbraiths, I think his name was Trevor. He used to spend his holidays at Docks around the UK filming and taking snaps of Lorries mid 1970s. He spent a week filming Wynnes and Lloyds of Ludlow. It is a shame Trucknet was not about then. The other driver had a curved spine through arthritis and used to be in agony. He used to park up and would get his knitting needles out. He said his wife used to sell scarves and jumpers he made on Burnley or Blackburn market.
kevmorrow:
Carlc:
I worked for Cliff in my Early days at MAT. A very firm boss but a very fair boss. I have seen him give a driver a bollocking and then he would go and buy him a coffee. I remember his favourate breakfast and we had many together on Saturday mornings, Vera Bushmans hot bread cakes with butter and jam.There is no return load this trip mate, but you will be in good company up there, and by the way I can tell you now that the Scammel Routemaster you gave me to get back to Manchester was [zb].RIP Cliff I will raise a glass to you tonight when I am on my own.
Cliff.Cliff
Good memories. Cliff Leader was a legend in his own right. Brian Perry and Cliff leader run the job regimental. In the early days a lot did not like the rules and regulations but it kept us on the straight and narrow. Cliff can you remember a bloke that subbed from Gilbraiths, I think his name was Trevor. He used to spend his holidays at Docks around the UK filming and taking snaps of Lorries mid 1970s. He spent a week filming Wynnes and Lloyds of Ludlow. It is a shame Trucknet was not about then. The other driver had a curved spine through arthritis and used to be in agony. He used to park up and would get his knitting needles out. He said his wife used to sell scarves and jumpers he made on Burnley or Blackburn market.
Hi Kev
I do remember the Gilbraith boys, one of them had his motor lettered up Accrington Brick & Tile. You are right about MAT being a bit regimented but it was not a bad thing, work to the rules or go. However they did relax a bit after Cliff went and Derick (spelling) Heron took on the job.
Cliff
Hullo Cliff and Kev, I have had another message from Glynis, Dave Clark’s wife, to say that she is seeing Cliff’s son Gary tomorrow and will let me know the Funeral arrangements, from that. I also remember those lads from Glibraiths, a good lot they were too, the one I saw most of was a small dark haired bloke, I think his name was Billy, I do know that when Dereck Heron dispensed with the sub contractors, Billy went to doing Scrap Metal. Kev you were obviously there at the same time as both Cliff (Carlc) and me, so we must all know each other. I think I recall the name, but can’t put a face to it. Cheers, Archie.
Archie,
I think the Billy you mentioned was Billy Howarth.
He worked for Gilbraith Haulage, Bowkers, Tom Martins scrap and then came to our place Gilbraith Tankers, after a while he went back to Tom Martins and then Bowkers.
We had a bit of a get together recently when another Bowker driver came up to see us and Billy told me he was still doing a bit of local shunting for Bowker.
From left to right, Me, then Jack Birchall and Peter Davison both ex Bowker men, then Rodney the Tankers foreman fitter and Billy on the right.
Has anybody got any info on Cliff Leaders funeral? I was told it may be in Accrington where his family is buried. A few of us old lags would like to show our respect.
Russell.
Hullo Russell, Yes mate, that’s the man Billy. By heck, haven’t we all weathered well eh? A really good photograph. Cheers, Archie.
Hullo All, I have just learned the details of Cliff Leader’s Funeral. The Service will be held on Friday 9th Feb, at 10 a.m., at Oakworth Crematorium. This is about 2 miles from Keithley, West Yorkshire. R.I.P CLIFF LEADER.
hiya,
Long time no see Russell, Jack and Peter all weathering quite well, notice your’e getting a bit thin on the thatch Russ
I don’t have much hair myself my old woman shaves my dome on a regular basis just to match the rest of my mates and
not make them feel inferior.
thanks harry long retired.
The house smelt of diesel for weeks after that day Harry, the miles we did would have worn out one of Billy Bowkers 180 Gardner three times over.
We even had the wives laughing at some of the cleaner stories we related.
We usually have a similar do once a year.
I have a photo of Stan Hindle (another Bowker man) some where Harry, I will try to find it and send you a copy.
Now he was a chap who could empty a pint glass before his change hit the bar.
Russell.