When Slaters were part of the Thomas Tilling Group (TILCON) they had a training school at their Kirkby Misperton base. I spent two week’s there in February 1976 doing my HGV training on an old F registered S 34 Foden eight legger with a 150 Gardner, tilt cab, 12 speed g/box and a hydraulic throttle that kept losing pressure so that you had to pump it to get the revs back up! 
The test was taken in Scarborough and the Thornton Dale quarry was used for the manouvering exercises. Our instructor was an old ex Slater’s driver named MATTY, he could tell a tale or two! Good days.
Pete.
windrush:
When Slaters were part of the Thomas Tilling Group (TILCON) they had a training school at their Kirkby Misperton base. I spent two week’s there in February 1976 doing my HGV training on an old F registered S 34 Foden eight legger with a 150 Gardner, tilt cab, 12 speed g/box and a hydraulic throttle that kept losing pressure so that you had to pump it to get the revs back up! The test was taken in Scarborough and the Thornton Dale quarry was used for the manouvering exercises. Our instructor was an old ex Slater’s driver named MATTY, he could tell a tale or two! Good days.
Pete.
Hullo Windrush,
I do remember that old S34 Foden training vehicle, I never drove it though. I also remember very well that old training area in Thornton Dale. My kids, like all the other kids in the area used to go there on their bikes at weekends. Poor old Matty has passed on (RIP), though you may well remember Sid Phillips or mabe Maurice Foxton in the Office. Charlie Grayson was in charge of the Workshop. I wonder if you also remember Colin at the Scarborough Testing Station. I still see a few of the old Slaters’ drivers around Town, but they are getting fewer and fewer each year. As you said Good Days.
Cheers, Archie.
the first lot of siddle cooks from 68-69 belong to colin edwards from lanchester and the last ones are from kevin martin who is also from lanchester the photos with the pipes were taken at the blaenau ffestiniog hydro site but cant tell you anything about the brs motor sorry !the 2 photos of siddles with the long beams were taken at the manchester bypass cheers
Archie Paice:
Hullo Windrush,
I do remember that old S34 Foden training vehicle, I never drove it though. I also remember very well that old training area in Thornton Dale. My kids, like all the other kids in the area used to go there on their bikes at weekends. Poor old Matty has passed on (RIP), though you may well remember Sid Phillips or mabe Maurice Foxton in the Office. Charlie Grayson was in charge of the Workshop. I wonder if you also remember Colin at the Scarborough Testing Station. I still see a few of the old Slaters’ drivers around Town, but they are getting fewer and fewer each year. As you said Good Days.
Cheers, Archie.
Hi Archie, no I didn’t know anyone else at either Pickering or Scarborough as I was based in Matlock and working for Tilcon. Shame about Matty, but as it was 35 years ago I’m not really surprised. I lodged at Mrs Mook’s on the Scarborough Road, just up from the roundabout in Pickering, it was at the time when the North Yorks Railway was being rebuilt and a lot of the worker’s on it stayed there as well.
What I DO recall from the test station was that the examiner made a big issue about the cab being fastened down securely, apparently it had tipped forward with him once during the emergency stop and he was very wary of it ! 
Pete.
T A BULMER MIDDLESBOROUGH FODEN GIRDER CARRIER
Archie Paice:
marcus 22:
SLATERS
WHERE WERE SLATERS FROM LADS ME OLD FELLA THINKS THEY WERE FROM NORTHALLERTON WAY
Hullo Mark,
Originally Scarborough, they were from PICKERING (Heaven on Earth 
), with the Quarry at Thornton Dale, the Haulage Yard was on the Malton Road at Kirbymisperton.
Cheers, Archie.
Hello archie
heres one for you can you remember these or are you too young
regards
mark
hi marcus 22
chris has his own motor a mercedes actros dont know who he hauls for,both chris and terry still live in burnopfield
hello mick
cheers for that, its been a few year since i have seen chris or terry, last time i saw terry he was still at pilkys and last time i saw chris was down in dover about 10 year ago when i worked for RTH international, he had a plain white iveco.
cheers
mark
marcus 22:
Archie Paice:
marcus 22:
SLATERS
heres one for you can you remember these or are you too young
regards
mark
Hullo Mark,
Too Young ? I wish! I know Dave Walker very well (D&S Walker) and his brother Glynn. I remember when they had just come out of their apprenticeships and were starting out in Haulage with a DAF four wheeler, if I recall a 2100. They are just a few years older than my sons.
Cheers, Archie.
ERIC MINTO & SON PONTELAND
R MINTO AND SONS PONTELAND
VAUX BREWERIES SUNDERLAND
DEREK McCARDLES ERF LOADING NOT SURE WHERE THOUGH
DEREK McCARDLES ERF LOADING NOT SURE WHERE THOUGH, ANY IDEAS BUMPER
