Lawrence Dunbar:
Well thats bad news, Lawsons closing down, I was in the Moss that was also owned by the Lawsons the last week it was open,myself Cliffy Robson from Greenside had our breakfasts there, its a L/Chef now. The Derry was one of the first proper transport cafes I was ever in along with Jakeys, Orrell & Brewsters. ,plus lots of drivers from all over, It was a 24/7 in those days, It was allways busy, Pollocks had two drivers on night trunk loaded for London & that was their half way stop slept through the day, & away again. I remember a young lass called Grace worked there, & the Manageress was called Peggy, no nonsence from these two, old Bob Lawson, & Helen Lawson were also about, & their lorry park attendant with the dodgey arm, Happy Days, Larry
Small world Larry, Cliff is a very good friend of mine, I passed him yesterday at Aycliffe as I was heading for the Derry.
We had a bit of a chinwag on the phone.
Regards Kev.
It sure is Kev, ive known Cliffy & his late dad Colin for years,Hes good crack is Cliffy, Next time you see him give him my regards also our Nigels too. Regards Larry
Lawrence Dunbar:
Well thats bad news, Lawsons closing down, I was in the Moss that was also owned by the Lawsons the last week it was open,myself Cliffy Robson from Greenside had our breakfasts there, its a L/Chef now. The Derry was one of the first proper transport cafes I was ever in along with Jakeys, Orrell & Brewsters. ,plus lots of drivers from all over, It was a 24/7 in those days, It was allways busy, Pollocks had two drivers on night trunk loaded for London & that was their half way stop slept through the day, & away again. I remember a young lass called Grace worked there, & the Manageress was called Peggy, no nonsence from these two, old Bob Lawson, & Helen Lawson were also about, & their lorry park attendant with the dodgey arm, Happy Days, Larry
Small world Larry, Cliff is a very good friend of mine, I passed him yesterday at Aycliffe as I was heading for the Derry.
We had a bit of a chinwag on the phone.
Regards Kev.
It sure is Kev, ive known Cliffy & his late dad Colin for years,Hes good crack is Cliffy, Next time you see him give him my regards also our Nigels too. Regards Larry
hiya,
Well Larry that’s it we won’t get that brekkie in the Derry now with the “old girl” still being out of condition and the house being pulled to bits with plasterer’s and decorator’s, but hell or high water we’ll share a bacon “buttie” or something at the “do” on the 28th we might even get gifted a drop of Irish off our good buddy Kev to wash it down, well second best is OK for swilling food down your neck we can always return to the good stuff when we’ve dined.
thanks harry long retired.
Harry its not closing until the end of the month. So why not you & I go there before its too late its only the 23rd, today so we still have time to do it, We can relive some of the old mems from the old days, so what do you think are you up for it, I will pick you up in my motor, Its a nice thing to travel in heated seats, only for the ., well Ill let you decide that for yourself. well what do you say. This Friday would be good for me, Regards Larry.
Harry, there’s nowt second best about “Bushmills Black”. Some of that stuff from the north
" Leadfrog" in particular,tastes as if if has been dredged from an old Limmer and Trinidad tank.
Ps. give me time to find the “flak jacket” before you start lobbing the mortar shells over.
Regards Kev.
Now lads , you must agree with me when I say there is defo no bad Malts, Its just some are better than others, & its all down to ones taste buds, wouldnt you agree??> Regards Larry.
Harry I went down to the Derry to-day, had a nice breakfast, & its not closing until the 9th Dec. 1.00.pm, so If you are up to it we can still have a run down. Regards Larry.
bumper:
kev when the derry closes that will be the last of the original transport cafes between newcastle and doncaster, there used to be about 20, the job has changed over the last 50years, the crack was good, no phone box in the cab, left to get on with the job,and regardless where you stopped someone would always go for a few beer’s, that’s when you had comradery on the job, bumper
Talking oabout the cafes Bumper here is a few that I can remember,The Rapid Harlow Green,Port Services Birtley B/Pass,Chester Moor, Framwellgate Moor,The Caravan Aycliffe Round About, Mucky Megs Coathamundieville, The Brooklands,The Anchor S/Corner,The Clock,Tyne House Catterick, The Tudor, The Bungalow, Joes Catterick, Jocks At Leeming,Lawsons Lodonderry, The Orchard, The Windmill, The Copper Kettle,& Kellys Borobridge, Happy days Larry
bumper:
kev when the derry closes that will be the last of the original transport cafes between newcastle and doncaster, there used to be about 20, the job has changed over the last 50years, the crack was good, no phone box in the cab, left to get on with the job,and regardless where you stopped someone would always go for a few beer’s, that’s when you had comradery on the job, bumper
Talking oabout the cafes Bumper here is a few that I can remember,The Rapid Harlow Green,Port Services Birtley B/Pass,Chester Moor, Framwellgate Moor,The Caravan Aycliffe Round About, Mucky Megs Coathamundieville, The Brooklands,The Anchor S/Corner,The Clock,Tyne House Catterick, The Tudor, The Bungalow, Joes Catterick, Jocks At Leeming,Lawsons Lodonderry, The Orchard, The Windmill, The Copper Kettle,& Kellys Borobridge, Happy days Larry
Hiya Larry ,the cafe south of Coatham was called the Brooklyn; its very nice bungalow now,Vic.
Aye a remember two dear old ladies having it they catered for the motorists as well, spotless clean, & all home made stuff, wonderfull Eh, The good old happy as Larry days.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Aye a remember two dear old ladies having it they catered for the motorists as well, spotless clean, & all home made stuff, wonderfull Eh, The good old happy as Larry days.
I went to the Derry today as I have all ready mentioned, But let me tell you , the first time I was In Lawsons as it was called in the 50s, It was my first trip to Manchester, for Baxters Road Services, I loaded at Burroughs Adding Machines on Westgate Rd, with a typing sensimatic payroll machine, it was a Bedford van I was driving, I delivered the machine to Tibb Street just off Piccadily Manchester, I loaded 10cwt of bacon from Joseph Stocks in Hanging Ditch Manchester, for Broughs in Oxford Street Newcastle, & I caled at Lawsons on the way back, the other Baxters drivers that were there, were Jimmy Lawson his Bro. Ginger , Tim Nichol Dirty ■■■■., & Bobby Wilkie, my first long run, I had only been as far as Darlington when I worked for Tudor Crisps on Sandyford Rd , which were taken over by Smiths… From then on I was determined to be a long distance man , I bloody loved it , tramping all over the country, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
I went to the Derry today as I have all ready mentioned, But let me tell you , the first time I was In Lawsons as it was called in the 50s, It was my first trip to Manchester, for Baxters Road Services, I loaded at Burroughs Adding Machines on Westgate Rd, with a typing sensimatic payroll machine, it was a Bedford van I was driving, I delivered the machine to Tibb Street just off Piccadily Manchester, I loaded 10cwt of bacon from Joseph Stocks in Hanging Ditch Manchester, for Broughs in Oxford Street Newcastle, & I caled at Lawsons on the way back, the other Baxters drivers that were there, were Jimmy Lawson his Bro. Ginger , Tim Nichol Dirty ■■■■., & Bobby Wilkie, my first long run, I had only been as far as Darlington when I worked for Tudor Crisps on Sandyford Rd , which were taken over by Smiths… From then on I was determined to be a long distance man , I bloody loved it , tramping all over the country, Regards Larry.
Hi Larry what was the food like and has it changed much , never be in for at least 10 years . Is it worth the pilrimage before it closes ? Regards crowbar
Lawrence Dunbar:
I went to the Derry today as I have all ready mentioned, But let me tell you , the first time I was In Lawsons as it was called in the 50s, It was my first trip to Manchester, for Baxters Road Services, I loaded at Burroughs Adding Machines on Westgate Rd, with a typing sensimatic payroll machine, it was a Bedford van I was driving, I delivered the machine to Tibb Street just off Piccadily Manchester, I loaded 10cwt of bacon from Joseph Stocks in Hanging Ditch Manchester, for Broughs in Oxford Street Newcastle, & I caled at Lawsons on the way back, the other Baxters drivers that were there, were Jimmy Lawson his Bro. Ginger , Tim Nichol Dirty ■■■■., & Bobby Wilkie, my first long run, I had only been as far as Darlington when I worked for Tudor Crisps on Sandyford Rd , which were taken over by Smiths… From then on I was determined to be a long distance man , I bloody loved it , tramping all over the country, Regards Larry.
Hi Larry what was the food like and has it changed much , never be in for at least 10 years . Is it worth the pilrimage before it closes ? Regards crowbar
Ralph, the girl that runs it is a good cook, the dragon on the counter in the mornings couldn’t make tea to save her life!!
She makes also Jimmy Galbraith look like a novice at customer care and we know how welcoming he was
Regards Kev.
bumper:
hi lads think the Lawson family also owned the clock cafe? for the young whipper snappers that the little chef going north before scot’s corner, bumper
Bumper the Clock belonged to The Neale Family, they lived in Scuragh Lane , the son raced stock cars at Aycliffe, I believe when thye sold up the went Abroad somewhere, Regards Larry
Your right again,Tony Neal went to new zealand years ago he was over here 3 years ago i met him at a do we both went to, heres one of him in the 60s at Aycliffe.
Cant remember the Anchor at Scotch Corner where abouts was it, coming off the A66 turn left on to A1, on the left was the Farm was it, I remember the Clock, the Orchard ,the Tudor, Bill Earlys Tyne House at Catterick
ben walker:
Cant remember the Anchor at Scotch Corner where abouts was it, coming off the A66 turn left on to A1, on the left was the Farm was it, I remember the Clock, the Orchard ,the Tudor, Bill Earlys Tyne House at Catterick
Ben.
The Anchor Cafe was on the left on the old part of A 1. before it was made into a duel, there was a phone box next to it, the exchange was Middletontyas. and the one further along on the left was Gillingwest, this cafe building might still be standing, next time Im passing Ill have a look PS. [the Anchor was south bound side], Regards Larry
Lawrence Dunbar:
I went to the Derry today as I have all ready mentioned, But let me tell you , the first time I was In Lawsons as it was called in the 50s, It was my first trip to Manchester, for Baxters Road Services, I loaded at Burroughs Adding Machines on Westgate Rd, with a typing sensimatic payroll machine, it was a Bedford van I was driving, I delivered the machine to Tibb Street just off Piccadily Manchester, I loaded 10cwt of bacon from Joseph Stocks in Hanging Ditch Manchester, for Broughs in Oxford Street Newcastle, & I caled at Lawsons on the way back, the other Baxters drivers that were there, were Jimmy Lawson his Bro. Ginger , Tim Nichol Dirty ■■■■., & Bobby Wilkie, my first long run, I had only been as far as Darlington when I worked for Tudor Crisps on Sandyford Rd , which were taken over by Smiths… From then on I was determined to be a long distance man , I bloody loved it , tramping all over the country, Regards Larry.
Hi Larry what was the food like and has it changed much , never be in for at least 10 years . Is it worth the pilrimage before it closes ? Regards crowbar
I think so ,I had bacon egg toms, 2 bb, & a tea £4.04.p, I enjoyed it, the tea ? Ive had worse. As Kev said Jimmys Brew, recycled perhaps, I f you fancy going I will take you , Regards Larry
Made a mistake there getting a bit a bit dottery, meant to say come off the A66 turn right heading South always thought the first Cafe on the left was the Farm, think i remember a phone Box outside, could be wrong though.
harry_gill:
hiya,
Used the Aviary, when working for Bowker’s the lads used to call it “t’ birdcage” not a bad un,
thanks harry long retired.
Harry, did you ever have a pint for breakfast at the Hinkley Knight? Not far from the Birdcage. I used to stop there in a morning with Stan Hindle and Paddy from Bowkers when I was driving the old Highwayman for Gilly’s. That would be in about 1969/70. a pint and an egg butty went down well.
We lodged at Ma Butchers on Londsdale square Islington or up at Kitty’s on Cally road.
I have had to re-register to get back on here, my old name was tankerman (without the * after it.)
