Yes his name was mentioned a while ago by me. This is the first reply. I got to know him when he left Reeds Cranes & started for Ken Short, the fitting shop was in Pipewellgate nextdoor to Marsden Warehouse,s.Then they moved into Green Lane,depot, he was the forman Fitter. --had his own wagons for a while,Billy Hodgon went with him from Shorties, .Then the cranes, I lost touch with him some years ago. Is he still about.? Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Yes his name was mentioned a while ago by me. This is the first reply. I got to know him when he left Reeds Cranes & started for Ken Short, the fitting shop was in Pipewellgate nextdoor to Marsden Warehouse,s.Then they moved into Green Lane,depot, he was the forman Fitter. --had his own wagons for a while,Billy Hodgon went with him from Shorties, .Then the cranes, I lost touch with him some years ago. Is he still about.? Regards Larry.
Yes i think so, he started up again with one crane Newcastle & Gateshhead crane hire, dont know if he still going .
As i said my dad( Geordie Horne ) uses to work for him at Hannahs
I heard that he had a place at Ryton , but that was a bit ago, Regards Larry
I heard that he had a place at Ryton , but that was a bit ago, Regards Larry
Frankydobo:
Gav I know my old man knew your Father, I heard him mention his name a few times, when my Dad packed in driving he had one or two factory jobs in Washington but places didn’t stay in business, it seemed, for five minutes in those days (early Eighties) in Washington, it was supposed to be the new big industrial area and with jobs a plenty, he was at RCA and MEM, big places that closed along with many smaller firms, before getting a start at Fine Fare in the warehouse.
After a few years and nearing retirement age he went into the gatehouse and was able to meet up again with many drivers he knew before. He was good pals with your Dad as he was one of the old school, with a few others. Sorry to hear he passed away, my father died also around the same time aged 81. My younger Brother drove for the Hucknall depot, they had ERF’s and Scania’s, Washington tended to have Seddon Atkinsons and Buffalo’s before that. I could never get a job there as the patter was they didn’t employ anybody if a relative worked at the same place, I had a couple of mates worked there and it was a good job so they said but changed once Gateway took over.
Cheers Franky.
Hi Franky
My grandad was a driver Morris but my dad also worked there Pat McElroy also John Longworth they both worked in the warehouse.
Small world innit! What was ur dad called il hve to mention this to my dad when I see him later this week!
I am here: maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.580762,-0.211494
TYNEXDAZ:
Hello GavMc My dad (Bob Casey) used to work with Morris at Fine Fare they were good mates my dad started there when it first opened in the early seventies, we used to live in Donwell and on a friday i used to wait outside of Fine Fares gates for me dad coming home i used to knock around with young Morris and Keith, didnt his brother used to have a furniture van, Longworths removals. happy days.GavMc P11GT:
Morris Longworth
Yeah thats right Morris and Keith are my uncles Keith is on the wagons now has been for years and John Had the Removal business and later went on to work at finefare with my dad and grandad. It’s amazing the power of the tinternet
I am here: maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.573103,-0.231113
Danscania:
1
A Couple of shots of the family fleet. Dan
I passed the old F the other day…it’s still looking well 
Hi Franky
My grandad was a driver Morris but my dad also worked there Pat McElroy also John Longworth they both worked in the warehouse.
Small world innit! What was ur dad called il hve to mention this to my dad when I see him later this week!
Hi Gav, my Dad was Ernie Dobson, he partnered Stan Allsop in the Gatehouse then later went onto the maintenance until he retired. He loved chatting to the drivers as they came and went, both Fine Fare and drivers he knew delivering goods, although I’m sure at times they thought it was Adolf HItler and his right hand man Hienrich Himmler! My mate John Dunbar also drove for them, I’m sure your Dad and Uncles will know him, he was a real character and sadly died from Pneumonia in his cab parked up one night, when he drove for Knight Berkley. I was in the Army with John, he used to drive our old Centurian tank, infact he chased me with the bloody thing one night during an exercise when I was on sentry duty, but those that knew him would’nt be surprised at that. Cheers Franky
2Diesels:
Danscania:
1
A Couple of shots of the family fleet. DanI passed the old F the other day…it’s still looking well
I had the old girl for a day couple of weeks back with the drawbar trailer. Concrete panels on board, 40 Tonnes gross. Makes for hard work after Hubbys 560.
Danscania:
2Diesels:
Danscania:
1
A Couple of shots of the family fleet. DanI passed the old F the other day…it’s still looking well
I had the old girl for a day couple of weeks back with the drawbar trailer. Concrete panels on board, 40 Tonnes gross. Makes for hard work after Hubbys 560.
I’ll bet 
still a good old motor though eh
2Diesels:
Danscania:
2Diesels:
Danscania:
1
A Couple of shots of the family fleet. DanI passed the old F the other day…it’s still looking well
I had the old girl for a day couple of weeks back with the drawbar trailer. Concrete panels on board, 40 Tonnes gross. Makes for hard work after Hubbys 560.
I’ll bet
Definitely. My Uncle would give his right arm for a brand new F10/12. it still pulls like a train just needs to be treat with respect.
I hadn’t seen it for years until you posted the pic of it a few weeks back & then I passed it…spooky 
They were always a well respected motor, not so many going about these days, last one I remember local (other than that one) was Alpha’s F16
gurty:
KG3:
truckers boy:
kevmac47:
Hello truckers boy, you will have a few of us old gits wondering who your dad is come on own up!!! Last I heard of Ritchie Wright he was still running one vehicle but that was about a year ago. I know he is a year or two older than me so he may have retired now. Hope that helps regards kevmac47. PS. 80 weeks to go!!!My dad is Ian Warwick (spot the last name
My granda is James richard Lambton - was known as Dicky lambton also worked for gallagher’s, applegarths, trailerco, gurteens & a hell of alot more.Hi Guy’s, I just came upon this and its what I was looking for all along- I do remember your Granda Dicky Lambton as he was one of the first drivers I spoke to on my first day as an apprentice fitter sept 1985 and his was the first vehicle I helped service It was a Volvo F10 TFT499Y one of four we had along with two Daf 3300 and a couple of F7 tractor units X115/116JRG. I believe the F10 went to Reeve trspt but I saw your Granda a few years later and he remembered me but by then I was workshop foreman. I wonder if he remembers those two apprentices starting out on their careers way back in 1985. I have a picture of one of the F10s TFT497Y but thats about it which is why I was looking for this site in the first place. I believe I was the longest serving fitter at Gurteens so will be able to remember most of the fleet reg/drivers too. Hope this helps KG3
Hi KG3, Good to see you on here mate. I think between you and i we will be able to remember most reg’s and drivers names from long ago. And we should be able to name & shame them!!
Your right there,but we had some caractors driving the wagons- Like Billy Nell, Tony Cooper and topper brown,I hope that I can shed some light on a few vehicles from the workshop point of view for those that saw the wagons day in day out. I wish I had more photos but I seem to remember all the ones I had in my office were yours Gurty and went when it was all over. I am sure somewhere I have some that you took on my camera when you did that photo shoot at Mc Calls quarry with the Daf 8W. I think I have a picture of you also out the back of the workshop with Trev and little Malcolm Clish on top of C494 grab wagon. Unfortunatly its finding them thats the problem- I will keep looking. KG3
KG3:
gurty:
KG3:
truckers boy:
kevmac47:
Hello truckers boy, you will have a few of us old gits wondering who your dad is come on own up!!! Last I heard of Ritchie Wright he was still running one vehicle but that was about a year ago. I know he is a year or two older than me so he may have retired now. Hope that helps regards kevmac47. PS. 80 weeks to go!!!My dad is Ian Warwick (spot the last name
My granda is James richard Lambton - was known as Dicky lambton also worked for gallagher’s, applegarths, trailerco, gurteens & a hell of alot more.Hi Guy’s, I just came upon this and its what I was looking for all along- I do remember your Granda Dicky Lambton as he was one of the first drivers I spoke to on my first day as an apprentice fitter sept 1985 and his was the first vehicle I helped service It was a Volvo F10 TFT499Y one of four we had along with two Daf 3300 and a couple of F7 tractor units X115/116JRG. I believe the F10 went to Reeve trspt but I saw your Granda a few years later and he remembered me but by then I was workshop foreman. I wonder if he remembers those two apprentices starting out on their careers way back in 1985. I have a picture of one of the F10s TFT497Y but thats about it which is why I was looking for this site in the first place. I believe I was the longest serving fitter at Gurteens so will be able to remember most of the fleet reg/drivers too. Hope this helps KG3
Hi KG3, Good to see you on here mate. I think between you and i we will be able to remember most reg’s and drivers names from long ago. And we should be able to name & shame them!!
Your right there,but we had some caractors driving the wagons- Like Billy Nell, Tony Cooper and topper brown,I hope that I can shed some light on a few vehicles from the workshop point of view for those that saw the wagons day in day out. I wish I had more photos but I seem to remember all the ones I had in my office were yours Gurty and went when it was all over. I am sure somewhere I have some that you took on my camera when you did that photo shoot at Mc Calls quarry with the Daf 8W. I think I have a picture of you also out the back of the workshop with Trev and little Malcolm Clish on top of C494 grab wagon. Unfortunatly its finding them thats the problem- I will keep looking. KG3
I drove TFT 497Y it was double shifted before I got it, I drove it during the miners strike tramping the hythes around Mistley Quay and Colchester, also scrap to Sheerness out of Bedford and Talbots in Coventry, would love to see a photo of my “home” I remember going into Clanwern steel works as a convoy the weekend that taxi driver was killed when some arse threw a paving stone off a motorway bridge onto his car!!! Is Topper Brown still on the go I have a photo of him and the youngen who dad drove too was that Billy burden they live in Sunderland
I mentioned a while ago Kenny Allison, from Blaydon area. blue Fodens , he used to park one of them in a lay by on the road up to Rowlands Gill, Canny bloke Kenny he was on the sprats from North Shields in the 70s. allthough he had a Saviem then, he still had a Foden, anyone know if he is still about ?. Regards Larry.
Aye it is a small world Gav, my dad was also the shop steward at Fine Fare and to this day he still regrets packing it in to go back on general haulage, i think he missed the ropes and sheets to much. Cant find many photos of old Fine Fare motors but at Washington in them days they were nearly all Leylands with the odd ERF and Sed Atki. If your mam is from the Longworth side of the family she will know my sister Pauline, they were all good mates in them days. Who is Keith driving for now and what is young Morris upto?
GavMc P11GT:
TYNEXDAZ:
Hello GavMc My dad (Bob Casey) used to work with Morris at Fine Fare they were good mates my dad started there when it first opened in the early seventies, we used to live in Donwell and on a friday i used to wait outside of Fine Fares gates for me dad coming home i used to knock around with young Morris and Keith, didnt his brother used to have a furniture van, Longworths removals. happy days.GavMc P11GT:
Morris LongworthYeah thats right Morris and Keith are my uncles Keith is on the wagons now has been for years and John Had the Removal business and later went on to work at finefare with my dad and grandad. It’s amazing the power of the tinternet
I am here: maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.573103,-0.231113
Is that Bobby Horne the export packer and quality case maker??
Rob h:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Yes his name was mentioned a while ago by me. This is the first reply. I got to know him when he left Reeds Cranes & started for Ken Short, the fitting shop was in Pipewellgate nextdoor to Marsden Warehouse,s.Then they moved into Green Lane,depot, he was the forman Fitter. --had his own wagons for a while,Billy Hodgon went with him from Shorties, .Then the cranes, I lost touch with him some years ago. Is he still about.? Regards Larry.Yes i think so, he started up again with one crane Newcastle & Gateshhead crane hire, dont know if he still going .
As i said my dad( Geordie Horne ) uses to work for him at Hannahs
Has anybody got any older pics of O’brien’s lorries from east boldon? I rememer when I was a kid they had a big 6x4 Volvo F10 and 3 series scania’s. I have some photo’s of the current fleet if anybody is interested I’ll put them on, also Viv Parker haulage of south shields?
Is this the Parker Haulage Co, that used to haul sand off the beach, I was myself involved in hauling sand off the beach at Cresswell after Woods of Blyth weretaken over by Northern Agg. Ltd. from Catterick Pallet Hill Quarry, that was in the earley 80s. Regards Larry
Is this the Parker Haulage Co, that used to haul sand off the beach, I was myself involved in hauling sand off the beach at Cresswell after Woods of Blyth weretaken over by Northern Agg. Ltd. from Catterick Pallet Hill Quarry, that was in the earley 80s. Regards Larry