night shift bri:
Bloody hell Harry, is there anybody you havn’t worked for. I wonder if we’ve ever crossed paths, I’ve been round the block a few times myself-Roadline, Smith & Dixon, Clarks, Les Sampson, Van Hee, John Kerrs, Vaux, Alex Smiles, Fergies to name a few. Started on wagons in 1973, so maybe I’m still a new starter!!!
hiya,
Only lived in the North East since 1972 but worked as a driver for Youngs, Glendennings and Cookies/BRS finishing my working life at Northumbrian Water did a trip or two for a pal of mine an O/D Geordie Walton until the old class one ran out, but when in the North West where i originate from must have worked for three dozen or more hauliers a lot of them holiday relief, cash in hand a lot of them even did a week or two for Wynn’s the heavy boys as a push driver on a couple of occasions could have had a full time job there but it was a bit of an awkward place to get too and a bit of a traffic nightmare to get there but i was single in those days, a bit like have gun will travel in those days you could get a job anywhere and there was always a driver having a week or two off for illness or holiday and the firms did’nt have access to agencies like in this day and age have driven some odd motors in my time the smallest a four wheeled Dodge the biggest a Mighty Antar would’nt have changed my way of working for anything to have stayed with one haulier other than BRS for any length of time would’nt have suited me.
thanks harry long retired.
hi marcy
seeing the name hepplewhite does bring memories back when i was 17 years old that would be1960 i worked for ronnie in the workshops at metal bridge,that quarry was sand and gravel the quarry at haugh hall was yellow sand is this the same quarry you are talking about they were also quite big in plant hire
Here’s some more pics of Alex Smiles motors. I worked for him for 10 years, what an experience. If you havn’t worked for a scrap man you aint lived.
Here’s one of F Troops FMs on it’s side on top of the M1 link road at the Castleford split. It was driven by a kid straight out of the RAF , took the roundabout too quick. He was looking for a new job the next day.
Hi f7sidd is that Charlton who had a yard at Birtley years ago?Westline ind est there was a company called Charltons.Ouston Farm had some old tipper traiers cut down to be towed by tractors with Charlton on the side.Do you have any pics of Hargreaves clear waste from Birtley?
wow ther are some good memories in these pages does any body have more reeves of quarrington hill my dad worked there for a while when it was a fleet of 8w f86’s 1 f7 8w and 2 f7 artic’s it been a long time since i’ve seen a pic of them . thanks and keep up the good work , simon .
There used to be stacks of tipper outfits running around the north east, Thomas Bros. from Murton, Lincolns from Houghton J D Maw from Sunderland (the least said about them the better), Toulsons from Middleton Teesdale, Andersons of Westerhope,even Van Hee used to run them. I suppose with the pits closing and the power stations dissappearing the work has all but dried up and there’s only a few tipper firms left. You still see Thompsons of Prudhoe running round but he has his own quarries to keep him busy, and Youngs from Esh Winning are now pulling ejector trailers full of rubbish. You don’t even see that many scrap tippers on the roads these days.
mother trucker:
hi marcy
seeing the name hepplewhite does bring memories back when i was 17 years old that would be1960 i worked for ronnie in the workshops at metal bridge,that quarry was sand and gravel the quarry at haugh hall was yellow sand is this the same quarry you are talking about they were also quite big in plant hire
i cant tell you if its the same as i wasnt born till the 70s but the hepplewhites i remember is nr coxhoe just of the new bowburn bypass its now a tarmac quarry
nice pics also guys its just like sciveing of school to go with my dad takeing coal to swalwell (now ikea at the metro centre) and seeing all the wagons waiting to tip on the hoppers i can remember
and what about a mention for Norman’s cafe at Brotherton a favourite watering hole for scores of North East lads.
Can anyone pinpoint this place for me?? I mean the caff, not Brotherton. And a photograph would be even handier.
have a look on google earth mate, its in the middle of the village. looks like manheim car auctions have moved in there from the other side of the a1 its full of cars and all fenced off
and what about a mention for Norman’s cafe at Brotherton a favourite watering hole for scores of North East lads.
Can anyone pinpoint this place for me?? I mean the caff, not Brotherton. And a photograph would be even handier.
Norman’s cafe was on a stretch of the old A1, turn in left at the Fox Hotel, over the top of the A1, round the bend and about quarter of a mile along on the right side. Here’s a pic of it taken on Good Friday sometime in the late 70’s. This must have been one of the few times the cafe was shut, hence not one lorry in the park.
and what about a mention for Norman’s cafe at Brotherton a favourite watering hole for scores of North East lads.
Can anyone pinpoint this place for me?? I mean the caff, not Brotherton. And a photograph would be even handier.
have a look on google earth mate, its in the middle of the village. looks like manheim car auctions have moved in there from the other side of the a1 its full of cars and all fenced off
I sent a few pictures of old cafes to the Classic Commercial Vehicle magazine quite a while ago along with a little article. Among them was one of Normans that I took in 1990, it was not too long after that it closed down. I received a letter from the editor saying that my photos etc. will be used before too long so keep looking. Cheers,Haddy, Gt. Yarmouth.
gazzad:
Hi f7sidd is that Charlton who had a yard at Birtley years ago?Westline ind est there was a company called Charltons.Ouston Farm had some old tipper traiers cut down to be towed by tractors with Charlton on the side.Do you have any pics of Hargreaves clear waste from Birtley?
Gazzad i spoke to john proctor today whos pictered with the Charltons merc and asked where there yard was as i was nt sure, he said they did have a yard in westline ind est birtley and one at sherrif hill on old durham rd. il have a look but i dont think ive got any Hargreave pics
, took the roundabout too quick. He was looking for a new job the next day. 
