Sadly Mrs A died a few months ago. It does appear that the company has gone into administration.
Indeed so. Local paper reports it at https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/transport/haulier-duncan-adams-in-administration-1-4884504.
Good info from keith8357.
Edward Jennings:
Hello!
Iâm a newbie to this site and forum, but I was pointed here by my son. Iâm the grandson of the Edward Jennings who had John Jennings Haulage Ltd of Oakwellgate Gateshead.
I was thrilled to see some names mentioned in this thread which reawakened so many memories from my childhood, and some of friends from my adulthood as well.
John Merritt is a name that doesnât take me back that far, but only about 20 years. Itâs strange that he drove for my grandfather before driving for me in the 90âs and into the noughties too. Only he wasnât driving wagons then, but coaches. It was at his funeral that I met Albert Morrison (and his wife) whom Iâd seen around, but I couldnât place him although he was more familiar than just someone on the street. I introduced myself after heâd told me that John and he had worked together for John Jennings, he was surprised at my name, to say the least! I last saw him a while ago at the 'bus stop near the Greencroft Club at Windy â â â â .
Among the other names mentioned so far, I remember Tommy Gray, even though I must only have been about 5, or less, at the time. I remember him as a teddyboy! Big Jock McNeil shouted at me from his front door on Whitehall Road in Gateshead as I was standing in traffic, a good few years ago. It was a miracle that he recognised me after 30 odd years. I also saw him, and had another chat, at a wrestling match at Gateshead Leisure Centre, between Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy, what a laugh!
Little Joe, or so I was told by my dad (GIlbert Jennings, before he died in 1971) drove the first Gateshead artic, it was a Bedford and had wooden blocks on the pedals, just for him. I last saw Joe in about 1976/7 when he was allocating work for John Crow, when they were on Shearlegs Road. I hardly recognised him, as he was wearing a suit. He gave me a few runs with my 18.3 metre Ford D800 Turbo caravan transporter (North Eastern Caravan Haulage Company). It was a lot of fun to drive, but I had to give it up after only a few years, as I was sick of getting pinched for it being overlength.
Another driver who hasnât been mentioned yet, was John Devlin, Godâs gift to women, with his sparkling eyes, gleaming teeth and wicked moustache and whiskers! John was a son of little Tommy Devlin who used to be mechanic for Phillips Transport, also of Oakwellgate. One of the Phillips partners was Basil Mao, whom I last saw in about 1975 serving petrol on nightshift at the Three Mile Garage, because he was skint after paying the redundancy to his drivers, poor old bugger! John Devlin is still hanging on, clarting about with vintage cars and Rolls Royces at one of his two premises, at either Newburn or Crawcrook. I last saw him about two years ago.
Other drivers who come to mind are Geordie Iveson and little Jimmy Pringle, although I think they were mostly local men, running in and out of the Close Works, and into Jenningsies scrap yard with nicked pig iron, covered with turnings. Then there was Billy Lakey, married to my dadâs sister. Iâm not sure whether he was ever a driver, or whether he just worked on the tip at Windy â â â â sorting out the scarry scrap from the Close Works? He latterly kept about 100 pigs next to our garage at Pelaw. Anyone remember him?
I see old Jimmy Adams got a mention. That also brought a vivid memory back. Of course. youâll know that Jimmy Adams bought what was left of John Jennings Haulage after the old man died. Well, a friend of mine bought a Seddon platform wagon off him, in the 70âs I think. He asked me if I would go with him to pick it up from the yard at Walker. I was to drive the wagon back to my place in Pelaw. What came as a great surprise to me was that when I climbed into the cab to get it out of the garage, I noticed that the Operators Licence disc was still in the window, and the name on it wasâŚJohn Jennings Haulage Ltd! Honestly, you could have knocked me down with a feather! Another thing about that was that as I climbed into the cab, I was smacked with the pungent smell of hot diesel which I had always associated with the little old 50âs Seddons with the coachbuilt cabs which my grandad had run, too.
Happy days? I remember my mother complaining that she couldnât get stuff in the car boot when we were going anywhere, because there were always 2 Albion halfshafts and a diff in there, along with the ever present tool box!
Old NE Haulage Companies? I remember PG Walton, who was in the place where Albany Motors is now, Capstaff, L.P. Nelson and Son, of South Shields. (I well remember old Jimmy Nelson knocking a bloke out in the weigh cabin at Marsden Quarry when he was about 72!) and McPhees, where there was a sign beside the phone saying (words to the effect of) âThis phone must NOT be answered as McPees Transport!â
LastlyâŚhave any of you old buggers got any pictures of my grandadâs wagons, please? My brother and I have hunted high and low, but havenât come up with anything more than one of a few wagons standing outside the yard in Oakwellgate.
Is there anyone left? I wonder.
TTFN,
Edward
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
keith8357:
has anyone heard about Duncan Adams, i heard that they had gone bust yesterday morning
more bad news Beamish Car Transporters called in receivers yesterday, i think the caravan side is still ok, B.C.A. are trying to keep some of the drivers in jobs apparently
keith8357:
keith8357:
has anyone heard about Duncan Adams, i heard that they had gone bust yesterday morningmore bad news Beamish Car Transporters called in receivers yesterday, i think the caravan side is still ok, B.C.A. are trying to keep some of the drivers in jobs apparently
The Port of Tyne closed their distribution business the other day,the container side is still going but most of the curtain sider fleet is going
Hiya,
Iâve just driven past Beamish Transport yard, I donât live very far away, every
motor parked up not one loaded, I didnât realize they had that many vehicles,
there must be thirty or forty in there, it looks like the rumour theyâve shut up
shop is true, just hope the drivers and there must be quite a few, are able to
find jobs, just goes to show they always looked busy but what was happening
behind the scenes remains right there, sad day.
All Beamish drivers have got work, not gone bump but sold the car Transporters still running the flats on caravan & camper work. Nobody buying cars these days.
greek:
All Beamish drivers have got work, not gone bump but sold the car Transporters still running the flats on caravan & camper work. Nobody buying cars these days.
Hello Kenny, havenât heard from you for a while, are you still with the Consett Air Force?
Regards Kev.
I am Kev still 2days a week out Wed back Thurs last 4 & a half yrs now. Was not going to bother with CPC up in sept but changed me mind so its back to School done 2 last couple of weeks so just another 3 days of boredum 
greek:
I am Kev still 2days a week out Wed back Thurs last 4 & a half yrs now. Was not going to bother with CPC up in sept but changed me mind so its back to School done 2 last couple of weeks so just another 3 days of boredum
Iâm not doing the CPC Kenny, so come Sept. I wonât be legal to drive commercially, but I might keep the licence up for the vintage scene. Regards Kev.
greek:
I am Kev still 2days a week out Wed back Thurs last 4 & a half yrs now. Was not going to bother with CPC up in sept but changed me mind so its back to School done 2 last couple of weeks so just another 3 days of boredum
I have 2 days left to complete
20170712_094028 by Ken Wright, on Flickr
Not sure you have seen this Kevmac47 took it down to London for the 500th cart marking ceremony 2017. Siddle 1st put it on the road 1st August 1965, Nigel Cook got it back 5/6 yr ago had it restored
greek:
Not sure you have seen this Kevmac47 took it down to London for the 500th cart marking ceremony 2017. Siddle 1st put it on the road 1st August 1965, Nigel Cook got it back 5/6 yr ago had it restored
I have seen it Kenny, I took some pics of it at âSeb and Oliviaâs Charity Rallyâ a couple of years ago. Very impressive motor. Regards Kev.
looks good Kenny, but is it doing any of the rallyâs or is it an ornament that standing in a shed or yard, would be nice to see it on the road , bumber
Asked Nigel Jim for the TYNE Tees last yr it has a little low loader to go with it but unit needs airlines,. gathering dust in the garage at the minute although I did take to a Scammel invite at the Locomotion Shildon couple of months after London & one of the lads took it Gosforth but thats about it.
Iâve just received some sad news that may strike a chord with some of the old stagers round here.
I have to report that Jack Mingay has died in Australia at the age of 90. Jack had his own wagons in Sunderland and was then manager at Archbolds in Newcastle in the 1970s and 1980s before retiring and emigrating to Australia.
Hi postal, that is sad news about Jack Mingay I used to load off Jack when he ran Archbolds office up at No 5 The Side if I remember correctly this was back in 1965 when I started on my own as an owner driver always good for a back load to â â â â â â â when delivering in the North East. RIP Jack.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
More sad news, Gordon Dring (Dringy) to his mates sadley has passed away at the age of 80, He was a J R Adams driver and a great bloke to know, RIP Dringy Regards Larry.