curnock:
what was the name of the cafe on the a38 at thornbury,its gone now replaced with houses ?.
also there used to be one on the a5 at norton canes near to the turf island,that reopened as a little chef which also shut,but has recently just reopned as an indian resturant theres an mg garage on the same site ?
curnock,I used to use the one on the a38 fairly regularly im sure it was called the alconbury t/stop.The owners used to do a lot for meningitis.
O.K. curnock and DafDave, put your thinking caps on
I think that the cafe that you mean was at Alveston on the A38, near Thornbury.
It was one of my all time favourites, some cafe’s I just could not pass.
It was great for overnight parking and within easy walking distance to a pub which was called I think, The Alveston Manor or The Alveston Arms.
It was owned and run at one time by Steve Bayliss and his wife who used to run Steve Bayliss Transport at Pocklechurch or Quedgley.
Maybe The Bubbleman Marc can shed some light on this.
Curnock was dead right about The Meningitis Appeal.
Steve’s daughter suffered from meningites and over the years they got involved and raised I,000s of pounds for the appeal.
They allowed the Meningites Appeal to park their traliers on the cafe lorry park over the winter months.
They say there are loads of lorry drivers who deserve a medal but Steve Bayliss ( and his wife ) certainly deserved one.
Well Done yet again Marc.
This was one of Steve’s motors and the company that he had in the 70’s.
My uncle who passed away some years ago spent his whole working life on the road from the mid '20’s till the 'mid '70’s and in my early days when we both worked for the Wild Group,it was an education to spend a night out with him listening to his tales of trucking through the years.You name it,he’s driven it,starting on Model “T” Fords,through chain drive Scammells and Sentinel steamers,to his last motor,an Atkinson Borderer.
One particular cafe I remember him talking about was the one on the A5 at Dordon,I think it’s still there?
Of course in those days,Dordon was best part of a days run from Stoke!
In particular,I remember him talking of the “girls” that frequentedthe truck stops,apparently everyone’s favourite at Dordon was a lass that went by the name of “The Dordon gobbler”!
She must be getting on now!
Hi Mushroomman. I was on the road in 1955 and recall the cafe, known as Motorways, very well. I can only recall using it on 1 or 2 occasions as it was too near home for me but, at that time I believe that it was owned by an elderly couple and was always a very busy place. It then, I believe, closed down for some time and for some years a very good snack van occupied the lay–by on the other side of the road to the north. After it re-opened I do remember that the owner had strong connections with the Clic charity and, yes, I also remember the trailers being parked in there and banners being spread across the frontage.
Regarding the connection with Baylis Transport. This is news to me. Fredk. Baylis and Sons Ltd. were, for many years based at Hambrook very near to what is now J1 of the M32. They were certainly well eststablished by 1955 as I was given a lift from Chiswick roundabout in an AEC Mercury of theirs one night when I broke down, probably about 1957. Baylis later became involved with Onward Transport of Leeds and moved to Pucklechurch Trading Estate where they still have large warehousing facilities. I think that maybe a relation owned the cafe but I do not believe that there was any actual connection. Maybe someone who used the cafe in the later days can provide more information.theres no times like the old times.
bestbooties:
My uncle who passed away some years ago spent his whole working life on the road from the mid '20’s till the 'mid '70’s and in my early days when we both worked for the Wild Group,it was an education to spend a night out with him listening to his tales of trucking through the years.You name it,he’s driven it,starting on Model “T” Fords,through chain drive Scammells and Sentinel steamers,to his last motor,an Atkinson Borderer.
One particular cafe I remember him talking about was the one on the A5 at Dordon,I think it’s still there?
Of course in those days,Dordon was best part of a days run from Stoke!
In particular,I remember him talking of the “girls” that frequentedthe truck stops,apparently everyone’s favourite at Dordon was a lass that went by the name of “The Dordon gobbler”!
She must be getting on now!
there is a resturant at dorden opposite the petrol station,would this be the old cafe ?
What was the name of the cafe that was situated (could still be there) on the old Brizzle road out of Keynsham? . Was only a small place with on road parking but done a mean brekky when i used it in the early/mid 80s.
Just had a thought,it might have been called the “Keynsham Cafe” - sorry, “senior moment”
Going slightly off topic, remember the days when you could use works canteens !!
BigG-unit
I was first down Kidlington as a kid who spent his school holidays down the road, started about 1959/60, we loaded in Cowley and Abingdon thats when we used the Orchard in the centre of Kidlington, there is a garage on the site now. We also stopped in a private house on the main road in Kidlington, the man of the house used to work on the production line in Cowley; his job was fitting a petrol pipe and bolting up the exhaust flanges on Morris 1000s all day.
We started to load out of the compounds behind Bobs cafe about 1961 up until about 1968, we had a guy down there pulling cars from Cowley and Abingdon into the compound with a 4 car BMC. We also used to stay in the house at Bobs, the Boat pub just down the road and in the flat above the bookmakers in Kidlington.
The cars moved were: MGBs, MG midgets, Mg Magnets, MGC, Morris 1000, 10000000 (limited edition),1100s, Oxfords, Minis, Marinas, Rolls Princesses, Wolsey & Riley range of cars.
Have some photos somewhere of the waggon and drag that I drove for about three years loading and leaving Bobs on its journey back up to the North East.
wessexman:
Hi Mushroomman. I was on the road in 1955 and recall the cafe, known as Motorways, very well. I can only recall using it on 1 or 2 occasions as it was too near home for me but, at that time I believe that it was owned by an elderly couple and was always a very busy place. It then, I believe, closed down for some time and for some years a very good snack van occupied the lay–by on the other side of the road to the north. After it re-opened I do remember that the owner had strong connections with the Clic charity and, yes, I also remember the trailers being parked in there and banners being spread across the frontage.
Regarding the connection with Baylis Transport. This is news to me. Fredk. Baylis and Sons Ltd. were, for many years based at Hambrook very near to what is now J1 of the M32. They were certainly well eststablished by 1955 as I was given a lift from Chiswick roundabout in an AEC Mercury of theirs one night when I broke down, probably about 1957. Baylis later became involved with Onward Transport of Leeds and moved to Pucklechurch Trading Estate where they still have large warehousing facilities. I think that maybe a relation owned the cafe but I do not believe that there was any actual connection. Maybe someone who used the cafe in the later days can provide more information.theres no times like the old times.
Hi Wessexman, it’s good to hear from you .
I was hoping that somebody from the Bristol area might know a lot more than I can remember. As soon as you mentioned The Motorways that name rang a very old bell.
The Steve Baylis, ( Bailey or Baylee ) Transport is probably not the same company as the photo after all .
In 1980, Steve would have been about 40 years old and I think that one of his contracts was moving barrack furniture when R.A.F. Quedgley closed down. I think that he had mainly box trailers with the name Steve Baylee ? written on the side. I can remember going South on the M5 in the early 80’s and seeing several of his trailers parked up on one of the old R.A.F. Quedley sites on the left hand side but by 1992 he owned and was running the cafe at Alveston.
Being a Senior Member Wessexman, do you remember the yard that Blue Dart Bristol had next to Temple Meads Station where they had a Portacabin before moving to the docks in Avonmouth in 1973.
Many a good night has been had on the lorry park at Cannons Marsh, with The Prescott Drivers loaded with Babycham from Showerings at Shepton Mallet on a flat trailer. They often had some free samples to share.
Regards Steve.
Transporterman:
Thanks for the reply, I remember those cars, takes me back a bit! My dad came off the wagons in the 50’s and went delivering cars from Cowley, only single delivery, ie driving the cars. He started off taking all manner of things, including cab-less bus chassis, to all places, but later ran just cars, two a day to London, up untill his untimely death from cancer in 1964. I had a short spell on ferrying cars out of the works in the bad winter of '62/3. We had a ticket with the car model type and colour required. Some were in a field at the back of the works on the Horspath road, covered with snow, so they all looked the same, door handles, boots and bonnets frozen! it was a night mare. Didn’t have much of that and left to go on domestic oil tankers, more fun there!, in great demand! I moved from Oxford at the end of the year my dad died, to follow a career out of transport, only returning to it by accident 8 years later. then with my own motors running into most of the car plants, firstly with Conveyers in the rebuild of Leylands then later with parts of all sorts. so I was always able to keep track of new models etc. By that time I think all car delivery was by you chaps with transporters but I’ll never forget checking out those cars my dad brought home each night for delivery the next day and I still can’t resist going to shows and checking them out today! P.S. Ithink your dad might have thought it best to keep you away from Truby’s at that time! although they did clean their act up later on, (I think!)
How about the Salt Box on the old A50 Foston Hatton , Its still there and still open. Just like school dinners. Used to go in there with my dad 35 years ago. So if your out that way its only two minutes off the twin track. Good food quiet parking with a pub over the road.
Johnny aka Little John:
How about the Salt Box on the old A50 Foston Hatton , Its still there and still open. Just like school dinners. Used to go in there with my dad 35 years ago. So if your out that way its only two minutes off the twin track. Good food quiet parking with a pub over the road.
Yes, a frequent haunt of mine over many years, but it wasn’t always so quiet before the by pass was built and that was the main road and the sound of the lorries slowing down and then to accelerate away down the side road to Tutbury. Can’t remember what was down there now, someone will.
Years ago I picked bagged plaster up down there on flatbeds, and 5/6 years ago gypsum in a bulker, I can only think it must have been British Gypsum, but I just can’t remember for sure.
Must agree that the Salt Box and the OK at Kelvedon were two of the very best.
One of the biggest was the Mayfield on the A6 near Garstang huge digs as well it was
like Little Glasgow in there. Another cafe just across the road from it a wooden building
good grub but can!t remember its name
Johnny aka Little John:
How about the Salt Box on the old A50 Foston Hatton , Its still there and still open. Just like school dinners. Used to go in there with my dad 35 years ago. So if your out that way its only two minutes off the twin track. Good food quiet parking with a pub over the road.
Yes, a frequent haunt of mine over many years, but it wasn’t always so quiet before the by pass was built and that was the main road and the sound of the lorries slowing down and then to accelerate away down the side road to Tutbury. Can’t remember what was down there now, someone will.
nestle is down that road,or it was last time i was there !!
Regarding the “side road” to Tutbury it was actually the main A50 towards Burton, Swadlincote, Coalville and Leicester so there would be a lot of traffic on that route besides Nestle and the gypsum works at Fauld (near the site of the largest explosion in Britain by the way). The road towards Derby from the Salt Box was the A516, it all changed when the “new” A50 opened.
Anyone out there remember The Fountain Cafe at Wellesbourne, Warks, used to be run by a nice old boy called Harry in the 80s? There was a good cafe (cannot remember the name) that l used to go in with my old man in the late 60s early 70s about 2 miles out of Berkhamstead towards Hemel Hempstead, it was on a bit of a bend, always packed, Little Chef last time l went down the old road. Do not know what its like now, but it is definately still there, is the Cafe just outside the Railway Station at Boxmoor as you come into Hemel from Berko, had an old Chinese bloke serving you on the till, my old man always said he cut the bread with an axe the slices were that thick! When l think that there would be 4/5 of dads artic tankers pulled up in there outside the station all having breakfast, no worries, now you get screwed if you leave a push bike up against the fence without some kind of council permit!
Remember the fountain at Wellesbourne v well and Harry, tall slim chap, wore glasses ? used it often in the early 80s.
Short walk to the Talbot pub for a few beers.Cafe shut down (houses on it now ) as they were building the by pass
adr
The cafe between Hemel Hempstead & Berko I think was called “Freds” just on the bends by what I think was called “The Watermill” – all by-passed now !
Cafe in Boxmoor station used to be great I reckon they only got about 6 sandwiches out of a loaf of bread + pound of suasages – definite value for money !
I looked in (in my car about 4 or 5 years back) and it was all taxi rank or commuter parking for cars (I couldn’t manage to stop) – you wouldn’t get on there now with a tanker ! Incidentaly I worked out of Buncefield (when I wore a young mans clothes) on Shell Mex & B.P. + National and it was a good stop for a tea break (and waste time) !
adr:
Anyone out there remember The Fountain Cafe at Wellesbourne, Warks, used to be run by a nice old boy called Harry in the 80s? There was a good cafe (cannot remember the name) that l used to go in with my old man in the late 60s early 70s about 2 miles out of Berkhamstead towards Hemel Hempstead, it was on a bit of a bend, always packed, Little Chef last time l went down the old road. Do not know what its like now, but it is definately still there, is the Cafe just outside the Railway Station at Boxmoor as you come into Hemel from Berko, had an old Chinese bloke serving you on the till, my old man always said he cut the bread with an axe the slices were that thick! When l think that there would be 4/5 of dads artic tankers pulled up in there outside the station all having breakfast, no worries, now you get screwed if you leave a push bike up against the fence without some kind of council permit!
Wasn’t there another good cafe in Wellesbourne in the 70’s called Lincoln Farm .
samples to share. 
Didn’t have much of that and left to go on domestic oil tankers, more fun there!, in great demand! 
P.S. Ithink your dad might have thought it best to keep you away from Truby’s at that time! although they did clean their act up later on, (I think!) 
) as they were building the by pass