mexifill:
8) I logged on this morning looking for information on the Classic and Vintage Commercial show at Gaydon next weekend and it led me to your site and this fantastic thread about old companies from Stoke on Trent. I worked for Beresford Transport in the mid 60s when the colours were cream and crimson and the fleet was mainly ERFs and Fodens (Gardner 150s and 6LXs) plus a few Dodges (rigids and artics) Albions and the odd single Leyland Beaver and AEC Mandator, plus a couple of Sentinel 4 wheelers and drawbars (on Liverpool and Manchester docks work). I was a mere stripling of 16 when I started to work in the rates office there. Beresford’s main customer was H & R Johnson - the local tile manufacturer - and the traffic was drops of boxes of tiles throughout the UK. Certain drivers had designated routes which they tended to stick to. So for example Devon and Cornwall was done by a young driver (whose surname was Brocklehurst) in a long wheelbase Dodge. He’d leave on a Sunday and return on a Friday with a load of china clay from St.Austell. I can still remember how the loaded Dodge would creak as it negotiated the potholes of the yard. Memories of certain lorries have stuck with me over the years - I’m 60 now - and it was a bit of research into one of these that led me to this site. I was after information on an AEC Mandator (409 UVT) that Beresfords ran and I was surprised to find that there was a b/w photo of the AEC (with a 4-in-line)trailer advertised on e-bay. Unfortunately the listing (which was in Polish) had been withdrawn. Other lorries I remember were 515 JEH (a Foden 2 stroke) driven by Edgar Childs. You always knew when 515 JEH was coming out of Tunstall towards Sandyford as you could hear it howling as it pulled a trailer load of pottery flints that had come from Cliffe or Darenth in Kent. 50 GEH was another Foden (Gardner engine) that was on the nightly London trunk. GJC 855 was a battered ERF KV unit that was used as a local shunter. I can remember this ERF coming to grief at the bottom of Porthill Bank loaded with sacks of flour. The flour had been loaded on a 4-in-line trailer and was very much top-heavy.Needless to say the whole lot toppled over.I’ve run out of space but I hope I’ve given a flavour of some memories of Beresfords. I’ll regale you with some more at a later date.
Welcome to Trucknet .Although a Londoner I have a fond fascination with Beresfords mainly during the 80’s tho.I have a friend who is an ex driver and keen enthusiast by the name of John Heath who would have been there in your time and I can willingly put you two in touch .I’m sure You can burn a bit more diesel down Memory lane with him then. Let me know .
Talking about bassetts can any old drivers answer a query for me.This was told me in the 70s but im inclined to think its a myth.Several bassett drivers told me that the sheets and flysheets were issued to the driver not the truck or trl.This meant that on returning to yard and being told to change trls the driver had to strip the sheets off the trl he had loaded and sheet the trl he had been given.Please give me your opinion fact or myth.
regards dave.
dafdave:
Talking about bassetts can any old drivers answer a query for me.This was told me in the 70s but im inclined to think its a myth.Several bassett drivers told me that the sheets and flysheets were issued to the driver not the truck or trl.This meant that on returning to yard and being told to change trls the driver had to strip the sheets off the trl he had loaded and sheet the trl he had been given.Please give me your opinion fact or myth.
regards dave.
no it’s not a myth i had a mate who worked there and he told me thats the way the worked . bassetts had some very funny ways of working
dafdave:
Talking about bassetts can any old drivers answer a query for me.This was told me in the 70s but im inclined to think its a myth.Several bassett drivers told me that the sheets and flysheets were issued to the driver not the truck or trl.This meant that on returning to yard and being told to change trls the driver had to strip the sheets off the trl he had loaded and sheet the trl he had been given.Please give me your opinion fact or myth.
regards dave.
no it’s not a myth i had a mate who worked there and he told me thats the way the worked . bassetts had some very funny ways of working
Thanks for the info mate as you say funny ways,talk about making work.
regards dave.
dafdave my mate was a shunter for them on Shelton bar and all he did was load them and drop them .the driver had to sheet them and chain it down. a good job for the shunter
the flying foden:
dafdave my mate was a shunter for them on Shelton bar and all he did was load them and drop them .the driver had to sheet them and chain it down. a good job for the shunter
Your telling me,a right bobbys job that must have been.
regards dave.
way_1974:
Can anyone also remember Bewerly and Schepens who used to run out of Wedgewoods old yard on Scotia road before Route 1 were there?
My old man used to drive for all three of the above.
I worked out of there breifly after Bibby took over Route 1. The best thing they could have done is demolished the building with all the office staff still in it, they would still not realise what had happened 3 years later.
rapidgem:
Further to my request last August, does anyone have any old photos of Shirley’s Transport of Cellarhead? An old friend who is not able to use the 'net is really interested in Shirley’s and I’m trying to help him out.
Many thanks to those of you who have helped previously with this request.
Any further help would be appreciated.
Cheers RR
If you are local just nip in and see Arthur he is very accomodating and helpful or just ring and speak to him.
rocky 7:
Does anyone remember JSL from Stoke they sold out to Eddie Stobart just before the
MOD contract ran out for Bosnia and Kosovo.The MD was Carl Burgess who wasone time a director with DOW FREIGHT from Stockport
Yes a few of there of there drivers and office staff come to work at Danesbury .
The following photos have been lent to me by my good freind Dave Taylor, who like myself comes from a family of drivers, Dave’s Grandad worked for Wild’s - Geordie Talylor, his Dad John “Geordie” Taylor (who sadley passed away suddenly earlier this year) worked for a number of companies including Wilds, M A Blackburn, Wass’s, Racheal Davis, Reid Freight and recently J & K oils, where Dave and is brother Chad work now.
Many thanks to Dave for allowing me to post these photos.
Geordie Taylor Snr Wilds yard - Stoke 1970
Dave (slightly younger than today !!!) in his Dads ERF - Wilds 1972
Dave and Chad - Wilds Yard
Geordie Talylor Snr
John " Geordie" Taylor (RIP) Wass’s
Dave’s 1st Motor - Wass’s
Dave’s mate - Willie “Jock” Clarke, now driving for J&K oils (who as also promissed me some photos - get yeh finger out willie !!!)
Loading at IFB Stoke, when Wass’s started going into Europe.
Dave driving for Alf Taylor - subbing for Lee Durose Int.
Dave worked for Brendan Henvey International in the early 90s before becoming a Stoke haulier himself - under the name of Jackie Trans, sub haulied for a number of companies including LDT/Mosspack, PJM, FransMaas and Morrison Freight.
The following phoptos have been lent to me by my good freind Dave Taylor, who like my self comes from a family of drivers, Dave’s Grandad worked for Wild’s - Geordie Talylor, his Dad John “Goerdie” Taylor (who sadley passed away suddenly earlier this year) worked for a number of companies including Wilds, M A Blackburn, Wass’s, Racheal Davis, Reid Freight and recently J & K oils, where Dave and is brother Chad work now.
Regards
Ant
Ant,
Well that’s a blast of nostalgia for me!
I knew the Taylors when I worked for Vic Wild.I believe Geordie Taylor had been a Durham coal miner before he came to Stoke and started in transport.
I also knew his son John who would have been about my age,I’m sad to hear of his passing.
Just before I finished working for Vic Wild,a lot of us had become owner drivers,renting the motor from Vic and working for ourself,loading through the Wild Group or finding our own work.
I had the very first DAF 2600 on the fleet,(See my avatar),(bought by Vic to spite ERF and Atkinson when he couldn’t get any new ones when Gardners went on strike),and very soon got to working direct for English China Clay out of St.Austell,although all my loads were found by the office they had here in Sandy Lane,Newcastle.Could be anything down to Cornwall but always China Clay back up.
What finished me and a lot of others was that Vic wanted all invoicing done through his office where he took a big slice out for the priveledge.EEC would only pay the haulier,that being me,and Vic would not have it and before I had time to get my own set of wheels Vic had me park up.
Looking back now,it was all part of life’s rich pattern,shortly after this,I started on for Brit European and so began my middle east career.
The only guy I knew who had any real success was Tony Balckburn,he seemed to get on with Vic better than anyone else.
Happy days.
dafdave:
Talking about bassetts can any old drivers answer a query for me.This was told me in the 70s but im inclined to think its a myth.Several bassett drivers told me that the sheets and flysheets were issued to the driver not the truck or trl.This meant that on returning to yard and being told to change trls the driver had to strip the sheets off the trl he had loaded and sheet the trl he had been given.Please give me your opinion fact or myth.
regards dave.
Rob Campbell:
This is a copy of a Beresford traffic plan for the continental boys shipping out .I’m sure some of the drivers names will jog a few memories with you all.
I remember every name on that list even mines on great pictures a great trip down memory lane
This is a couple of Harrison’s ERF’s that I drove in the 70’s Both of these used to do Berresfords European trailers into Dover for change over’s and delivering European goods in UK. Harrisons did this usually winter time when building was not busy. The A series was ex Jones of Aldridge and was a European Tanker PRF 298L
ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPANY, TOOK IT THE OTHER DAY IN CAULDON LOWE, ITS AN OLD FRIDGE TRAILER, IT SAID STOKE ON TRENT ON THE BACK DOOR. ANY INFO OR PICS WOULD BE GREAT.
ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPANY, TOOK IT THE OTHER DAY IN CAULDON LOWE, ITS AN OLD FRIDGE TRAILER, IT SAID STOKE ON TRENT ON THE BACK DOOR. ANY INFO OR PICS WOULD BE GREAT.
CHEERS
GAZ
IIRC it was something like Franchesca Euro Cool. I think they were based Burslem way and they had a mixed fleet of everything from artics to 7.5t.
