Just a few from my “pile”.
I’ve just been looking at “Scrapbook Memories” by Bubbleman and on page 220 there is a photo of a Giant Transport ERF. I had forgotten all about them. They operated in or around Norwich and some of their work was out of Barnard’s on Salhouse Rd. I seem to remember them running Albions and the only driver I knew who worked there was Philip Mingay (RIP) from the Acle area. Can anyone else recall this company? come to think of it they were locally known as Wilsons Giant Transport. Regards to all, Haddy.
CF85DAF:
Hi George!Thanks for the info you posted. Had no luck with any photos as yet so the search goes on… and on!
Regards, Pete
Another of Roger Mills drivers was Peter Cresswell, I saw him at a rock 'n roll show in Lowestoft last sunday and he said he drove the F86. Haddy.
Hi Haddy!
Yes I remember Peter Cresswell when he had the F86!!
Regards, Pete
Yes ,remember Wilson Giant transport ,Brian Carnell was their transport manager ( i believe ) before he started his own company , he gave me my first driving job when the ink was still wet on the licence , I had just come out of the R N and the first trip was to Cannock , where the kin hell is that I thought , but like every first timer I got there . Happy Days ?
Popeye A K A Concrete Cowboy
Hello Dave, long time no see. I know you’ve got a good collection of photos, mainly Norfolk firms if I remember correctly, how about putting some on here. As for Wilson’s Giant Transport, I seem to think they ran a few Albion Reivers and worked out of Barnards and Norwich Board. Anyway I hope you are keeping OK. Best regards Haddy, ( AKA “The Joker” ) ex Perfects.
I never really got to venture much into East Anglia but whilst working for Western Transport (TDG) we used Sutherlands in Yarmouth for fuelling - are they still there? I think they had the original contract with British Airways (obv not that site) but they were always flying (pardon the pun) up and down the A1. Also some one mentioned earlier ■■? Smith and I’m sure we used to see them loading at Burmah Castrol in Ellesmere Port for the Eastern side. Think they had the B series ERF’s back in the 80’s and I recall one of their lads had a really long beard, nice chap who always mucked in and gave you a hand.
Hello Hayday, unfortunately Sutherlands packed up in 1992(ish). They had a depot in Gt.Yarmouth for many years, and used horse and carts up and down the quay in the herring season. I was told by an old timer that they brought the horses down from Scotland by rail, then after the season finished they would be auctioned off. Apparently they made good money. The next autumn this would be repeated. Yarmouth was known as the herring capital of the world in those days but it’s all gone now. I believe it was the late '60s when the last of the Scottish drifters came.
I cannot place the company ■■? Smith from this part of the world, maybe it will come to me later. Regards Haddy, Gt.Yarmouth.
haddy:
Hello Hayday, unfortunately Sutherlands packed up in 1992(ish). They had a depot in Gt.Yarmouth for many years, and used horse and carts up and down the quay in the herring season. I was told by an old timer that they brought the horses down from Scotland by rail, then after the season finished they would be auctioned off. Apparently they made good money. The next autumn this would be repeated. Yarmouth was known as the herring capital of the world in those days but it’s all gone now. I believe it was the late '60s when the last of the Scottish drifters came.I cannot place the company ■■? Smith from this part of the world, maybe it will come to me later. Regards Haddy, Gt.Yarmouth.
Thank you for the info Haddy - I think the Smiths might actually have been from around Ipswich / Mendlesham area (a small family firm they were) and what was the name of the fridge firm in Thetford (did the bacon) used to see their drivers a lot whilst on for Westerns and GL Baker (and I think they were owned by TDG) they had a really cute young lady driving a rigid wendy house for them
Hello again Hayday, it could have been OJH Smith from near Bury St.Edmonds, brown motors I think. The firm you are thinking of is probably Danepack but there was also Williams Cold-store in Thetford and they ran several motors. I had forgotten about them, isn’t it funny how the old brain goes into gear when someone mentions a name. I was lucky enough to be blessed with a good memory ( compared to some anyway ). Regards, Haddy.
haddy:
Hello again Hayday, it could have been OJH Smith from near Bury St.Edmonds, brown motors I think. The firm you are thinking of is probably Danepack but there was also Williams Cold-store in Thetford and they ran several motors. I had forgotten about them, isn’t it funny how the old brain goes into gear when someone mentions a name. I was lucky enough to be blessed with a good memory ( compared to some anyway ). Regards, Haddy.
I remember OJH Smith,brown motors as you say Haddy and they carried a lot of agricultural equip like combines etc. Wincanton had a bacon contract out of Thetford,it was Tulip I think.
Hi to you Haddy ,
Good to hear from you ,don’t get on here much but will attempt to download some pics during the long winter eves .Been doing a bit of the continent for the last couple of years in our american R V , no 8 o’clock deadlines now . Miss seeing all the old faces since I gave up the old POPEYE’s burger van ,got to be like a smaller version of the Snug
POPEYE !
Hello again Dave, you probably already know this but there are some cracking photos of your old firms motors loaded with concrete beams on “eurowheels” gallery ( 1980s vol.2 ). Your old Globetrotter is among them, looks like Norwich ring rd. Regards, Haddy.
Two names of livestock hauliers from my childhood - used to pass their yards on the way to Wells Next the Sea from Coventry - Wilfred Foulger and B F Nelson. Close to Kings Lynn I think - all by-pass now but suspect both firms have gone as I’m going back to late 1970s
Cheers Haddy ,
Didn’t know about that site ,found the old globetrotter ,and the old F89 I used to have before .The F89 came from Hans Frankie of Rotterdam , fantastic bit of kit you could put anything behind her and she would just dig in and pull it . Even though the Globtrotter was a more comfortable motor , the F89 was the one for that job . I would do that job all over again they where good days with good blokes ,unfortunately "Hedgehog " and "Bald Eagle are no longer with us .
POPEYE AKA Concrete Cowboy
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One or two from Cantley last winter
Brilliant pictures Fryske, nice to see some local motors,especially in the snow. Keep it up mate, regards Haddy.
haddy:
Hello mr.vane, I can remember Rickwoods,they ran several Dodges and I came accross a nasty accident involving one of them in the mid '60s. It happened on the traffic lights in Swaffham, this was when the A47 ran through the town, and involved one of Hopton Timber Company’s Fodens. It was early in the morning and I don’t recall either driver being too badly hurt but what a mess.
I think they joined forces with Tom Grange Transport of Wells- next- the- Sea. As far as I know they packed up in the late 70’s/early 80’s. In a book I have called " Views from the North" there is glimpse of one following a William Nicol’s Atkinson on page 64. I don’t miss much when it comes to photos of old trucks.
Best regards Haddy Gt. Yarmouth.
Hi!! I am a new boy on here,didn’t know the site existed.
Re:Hopton Timber Co.,as I can remember one of the Fodens had the name “Mark Skoda” on the doors. My father done a stint with Hoptons,He started on Spruce Transport from Trowse after the war. He then drove for Harry Pointer on Guardian Road Norwich.He then went with Bertie Hammonds from Easton on mainly mining timder.Bertie had 2 thames trader arctics and an old Morris Commercial flat bed.He then became John Medlars 1st driver.Medlar was transporting mining timber for some time.He then expanded the fleet,mainly Seddon artics and then went to general haulage,now Medlars deliver mainly bricks and breeze blocks.My father finished his days working for United Carriers from Weston Road Norwich as a night trunker,then went onto days doing local deliveries.The old boy passed away 33 years ago,but I am left with bloody happy memories from when I used to travel with him on school holidays.(Many a good brekkie in Franks of Donnington and The Farm shop at Fleet.Catch ya later.
Hello Rodney, our old shop steward at Perfects of Yarmouth, Colin Harrison ( RIP ) used to drive for Spruce after the war and he would often amuse us with his stories. He drove an ex American forces motor ( International I think ) on sugar beet etc. Spruces were before my time but apparently became Norfolk Haulage, still at Trowse, and I can remember them having several Ford ridgid box-vans mainly on multi-drop work around East Anglia. In later years they had artics on general haulage and changed the fleet colour from green to red. They were taken over by Mayhew Freight ( in the late seventies at a guess ) then Mayhews were taken over by Turners.
I can’t recall that name on one of Hopton’s Fodens, maybe it was a second-hand replacement door and they didn’t bother with the signwriting, I don’t know. One thing is for sure though, those motors were worked very hard, they didn’t half load 'em up in those days.
Another name from the past that you mentioned was Frank of Donnington,what a character he was! I had many breakfasts there and he would always come out with a joke. I would sometimes get digs there but it was a bit noisy being on the main drag to the north from this area. All in the past now but happy memories. Regards, Haddy Gt. Yarmouth.
Local Motor pulling local cars, Minster Motors from King’s Lynn since 1969, sill going.
