harry:
When I was there Roger got fired from Manno’s and started with Breda. Now you tell me that he swapped jobs with Dashboard ? Those companies were all in their deathroes anyway… I could see it coming from Breda mile off and got out. I manipulated soppy Bob to fire me then claimed £5k compensation. I liked Breda but the Dutchmen were too clever for their own good,always scheming.
Both Roger and Dashboard moved to Breda from Manno. As for the Dutch drivers, they were on very good wages but were run ragged by the Hazeldonk depot who demanded their pound of flesh (which was typical of Dutch outfits of the time). Those of us who ran out of their Folkestone depot were permitted a slightly statelier English regime with commensurate lower pay. Robert
harry:
In all honesty I have to say that Breda was one of the best outfits I ever run for ,despite their faults. Shame they packed up.
I feel a bit the same. I left them under a bit of a cloud because I didn’t like them running us over night when it wasn’t entirely necessary, but over all they were an exceptional company to work for. Robert
Just found this thread ,fascinating stuff,hats off to you boys what a experience it makes my trips to Reggio Calabria look like a day out to New Brighton Respect boys
dexterboy:
Just found this thread ,fascinating stuff,hats off to you boys what a experience it makes my trips to Reggio Calabria look like a day out to New Brighton Respect boys
Reggio with swinging beef can also be hairy with the local bandits.
dexterboy:
Just found this thread ,fascinating stuff,hats off to you boys what a experience it makes my trips to Reggio Calabria look like a day out to New Brighton Respect boys
Reggio with swinging beef can also be hairy with the local bandits.
Yes, it’s easy to forget how much has changed since the '70s/'80s when it was cowboys-and-indians on the Italian Run and peace-and-tranquility on the North Africa Run. Everything goes in phases - all arse-about-face…Robert
Hi Harry I used to run from Southampton. To Reggio Calabria I used to run to the docks at Reggio with personnel effects for armed forces personnel at Malta drop trailer pick up anther one full of baby pants ,no weight loved blowing the old Italian Fiat 8wheeler and drag full of fruit off on the mountains around Naples and Rome ,I took my lad with me he was 12 really blond hair blue eyes .the women mobbed him they would come out of houses to feel his hair they ignored me because I looked Italian he loved it he done 2trips with me what an experience for a young lad he also done Ireland ,Belgium Holland with me I wish I had done Middle East /Africa what a venture that was I feel quite jealous
Yeah , you missed a pleasant walk in the park, Dec.
Since I retired I tried going to Spain as a tourist, didn’t recognise the place or the people ,never been since. If you want to see a country take a truck and you meet the people.
The road down to Fez- likes nice doesn’t it…apart from the motorbike ‘guides’ who hang out at the end that somebody touched on earlier. Even in a Moroccan plated car they still spotted us as being Europeans/out of towners (Casablanca plated Clio) and hounded us all the way to the factory. Telling them to FO in arabic didn’t work, telling them we knew where we going didnt work, ignoring them…didnt work, every bloody time!
One of the few places in Maroc where you could get bacon from! image uploading
The company I used to work for (Cannon Viking) used Davis Turner to delivery all the equipment to Morocco (and many others countries around the world) they are in Trafford Park Manchester.
They used to love the packing cases in the 3rd world countries as they were decent huge wooden boxes and used them as extensions to their shacks/homes.
Ha! I’d forgotten all about the forklift ‘depot’ at the bottom of the road by the Seamen’s Centre. It was by the railway crossing. The depot was actually in the road itself and they were often abandoned all over the place, so if you wanted to turn right from Seamen’s with an artic to get back to the main road you’d sometimes have to get someone to move them out of the way. Robert
This picture is very evocative of midday stops for lunch and vino in Spain, when heading south to Morocco.
It’s that particular Med light, isn’t it. Robert
Hey Robert, times of wine (vino) have gone for ever
It’s all over for ever.
I have compassion with the young drivers today who have to do that and are forbidden to do that
and so on.
tiptop495:
Hey Robert, times of wine (vino) have gone for ever
It’s all over for ever.
I have compassion with the young drivers today who have to do that and are forbidden to do that
and so on.
Cheers Eric,
Yes, I know. Those poor sods now have to wash their fine Mediterranean food down with water at lunch time,
not a bottle of vino tinto like we did. I used to enjoy those relaxed afternoon drives over the Pyrenees
through olive-groves awash with glittering sunlight… Sigh. Robert
hi Robert just had browse on Africa brought some great memories I used to work for tony Bradfield /and short time ashford int. to see some breda boys welsh steve me and had eventful nite in tangier 1nite ha ha stevie may get em in wow liked a drink that boy .good ol j.c. then some not mentioned black magic stevie kilner milkman. the man and wife on mannos drawbar always ad the full meal cook up think the ladies name was margeret .the guy in pic from loyds of Ludlow was cliff him and the other guy use to take it in turns.another good ol boy Cornish Gerry on mannos great times good pics m8 im going home next month from Canada got quite few from down there will try post them now another ones popped into my memory little legs wot a gr8 guy I remember he brought his mum down to cassa we had good ol nite in seamens lovely lady . me and u must met down there gd article m8 steve jones
stevejones:
hi Robert just had browse on Africa brought some great memories I used to work for tony Bradfield /and short time ashford int. to see some breda boys welsh steve me and had eventful nite in tangier 1nite ha ha stevie may get em in wow liked a drink that boy .good ol j.c. then some not mentioned black magic stevie kilner milkman. the man and wife on mannos drawbar always ad the full meal cook up think the ladies name was margeret .the guy in pic from loyds of Ludlow was cliff him and the other guy use to take it in turns.another good ol boy Cornish Gerry on mannos great times good pics m8 im going home next month from Canada got quite few from down there will try post them now another ones popped into my memory little legs wot a gr8 guy I remember he brought his mum down to cassa we had good ol nite in seamens lovely lady . me and u must met down there gd article m8 steve jones
Well I certainly recognise all the names you’ve mentioned, and knew most of them. The couple you mentioned were called Howard and Margaret. Milkman drove for Manno, Black Magic drove either for Savil Freight or Ashford I think, Welsh Steve on Breda was Stevie Hutt. Good days, like you say. I remember your name, so we must have met at some time. Got any pics, mate? Robert
yes m8 but home in Northampton uk ive been living Canada 9yrs but home next month for good so get them on here then as u know most had a nickname one time after loading hull for cassa very posh lady in new saab convertible nearly caused a multiple crash then had a go at me of course time I got to tangier my new name was roadrage ha ha another guy was the plank someone while back said he had passed away glad I done the job met some real characters
Robert
