Lawrence Dunbar:
N M P. But I have had the pleasure of driving this classic 2 Stroke Foden, I wish I had bought it some years ago , But alas Im an old man now so Im happy to look back when I was in The Kings Of Road Brigade , Fodens were not liked by a lot of drivers that I new, They couldnt handel the 12 Speed Foden Box, Well Im very proud to say that I could & had no problems at all, The Box with a gear for every hill, The good old days in my book, Regards Larry.
Larry, I drove Ralph’s two stroke just once on the “North of England Road Run”. It was an interesting experience to say the least! The road run clashed with his birthday that weekend, so I travelled with him and took over at Shap, where Isabel waited to whisk him off to his celebration party. Getting used to the ‘box’ was less challenging than the noise in that domed cab, even with ear plugs in place. I don’t think I would relish driving a stroker full time.
Not many people got the chance to pilot Ralph’s pride and joy, so I considered myself very lucky.
Regards Kev.
Hi Ang,Its nice to see you back on this thread, I do hope you are keeping very well my dear We are all going through a difficult time with the COVID. But all we can do is hope for best and comming out of it with flying colours, And having a great meet at The Labour Club again & savouring some Hip Flask High voltage Single Malts, Which I have in my cellar ready for when we get a green light, Take care & stay safe , Regards Larry x.
All well here have been reading this thread so have kept unto date with it nice seeing all the older photos
Yes we are going through times but hope we all come through this looking forward to the meet at the Labour club hoping for this year stay safe all ■■
Lawrence Dunbar:
0G Lowdon Ltd North Road Garage Seaton Burn.
The motors lying at the back of their yard would be ideal for The Graveyard thread Larry
[/quote Well the red alloy tipper to the right of the photo has in fact being restored to its former glory, I cant remember who owned it before Lowdons bought it But they bought it back from them a couple of years ago. The cab was still in canny nick too, Regards Larry.
20/25 years ago when I worked on the sites those FL tippers seemed to be the wagon of choice round here just about everybody had some, I pass their yard fairly often I’ll keep an eye out for the Volvo. I was thinking more of the 6 wheel Leyland for the graveyard thread Larry and whatever else is hidden in the bushes around the back of their yard
tyneside:
Oldham Batteries Austin Van, Pottery Lane / Redheugh Bridge
Tyneside
Hi Tyneside, Great picture, The end house on Pottery Lane was occupied by a lad thats mate drove for Bowmans of Hexham, This was 1964 & I was in London loading for home, This nice looking Young Lady came into Tonys in Mansell Street Cafe & asked for me personally, She was the girl friend of the Pottery Lane bloke she wanted a lift up to Newcastle so I oblidged, She proceeded to tell me that Bowmans driver had orignally beinto pick her up but was held up so I being a Knight of The Road , Brought her up to Pottery Lane, Regards Larry.
tyneside:
Oldham Batteries Austin Van, Pottery Lane / Redheugh Bridge
Tyneside
Hi Tyneside, Great picture, The end house on Pottery Lane was occupied by a lad thats mate drove for Bowmans of Hexham, This was 1964 & I was in London loading for home, This nice looking Young Lady came into Tonys in Mansell Street Cafe & asked for me personally, She was the girl friend of the Pottery Lane bloke she wanted a lift up to Newcastle so I oblidged, She proceeded to tell me that Bowmans driver had orignally beinto pick her up but was held up so I being a Knight of The Road , Brought her up to Pottery Lane, Regards Larry.
I think your old pal Parky Denham used the same tale Larry, he always had a cousin or niece to keep the cab tidy.
Regards Kev.
tyneside:
Oldham Batteries Austin Van, Pottery Lane / Redheugh Bridge
Tyneside
Hi Tyneside, Great picture, The end house on Pottery Lane was occupied by a lad thats mate drove for Bowmans of Hexham, This was 1964 & I was in London loading for home, This nice looking Young Lady came into Tonys in Mansell Street Cafe & asked for me personally, She was the girl friend of the Pottery Lane bloke she wanted a lift up to Newcastle so I oblidged, She proceeded to tell me that Bowmans driver had orignally beinto pick her up but was held up so I being a Knight of The Road , Brought her up to Pottery Lane, Regards Larry.
I think your old pal Parky Denham used the same tale Larry, he always had a cousin or niece to keep the cab tidy.
Regards Kev.
Aye Kev, If he hadnt taught me the Cab Traffic Thing I would have had to leave her In London, For good old Parky to fix her up, , Regards Larry.
He was a unique character that little man. We knew he’d fought in WW2, but until you mentioned it at his funeral we never knew he’d been wounded twice!! Regards Kev.
John is still alive and very active well in his 80s today.
Although perhaps I should not, but cannot help like and respect John for what he achieved over the years.
In about 1982 I bought his house in Ferryhill, Deanhurst, and he gave me his 8 year old Samoyed dog and 2 cats as he and his family were moving into a town house in Durham City and he said they would miss the grounds of Deanhurst more than they’d miss him.
The problem we had was we were running a business that had stemmed from 1919 with many drivers who had worked for us 20-30 years, When John opened John Dee he started with a clean sheet and paid drivers 17.5% of vehicle earnings. We paid based per hour with a bonus system which was fair to us and our employees but our wages accounted for about 30% of turnover. We couldn’t compete and that was a large factor in the demise of our business as John was able to ■■■■■ charges.
In the event however within about 2 to 3 years The John Dee Group, that that article refers to went into liquidation, and John reopened still as John Dee but a slightly different name. Eventually this again went down and then as a completely different name Kaytem which is operating today.
Kaytem now is based at Bowburn and I read on Facebook a driver who clearly didn’t know who John was, complained that he was parking overnight on the road where Katem is now located and ‘This old gadgy came out and complained saying he was blocking access for his vehicles’ I pointed out who this old gadgy was ‘A legend in Road Haulage history’
When visiting him all these years ago whilst looking round Deanhurst & discussing things related to the house move I met another John and not the hard headed haulage boss and I can safely say 'One of the nicest people I’ve ever met as incidently also was his ex-wife Pearl (Although after divorce he might not share my view)
It should be noted at the time Tony Blair and his wife were wanting to buy Denehurst but were turned down for mortgage (How times change) and after the sale was agreed, Tony forwarded me a structual survey he had paid for which spent two pages describing how a hundred year old brass handle on one of the bedroom doors had been repaired by a wire. (In mind the country would be a better plave id morons like Structual engneers stopped sponging off the public)
As I say John is still very active and was asking after my health when my son Paul was speaking to him several months ago.
I’ve added a photo of Denehurst which incidently John used as his base for his first 3 Volvos when he started John Dee.
Sadly its now a nursing home, If I live long enough I might end up in there! I hope not It was a loverly house and I loved living there but I hope I never end in a nursing home,
,Regards Larry.
