GS OVERLAND:
Alright then how about this…
Anyone remember Peter the Plater. used to work for Hicks, I think he married one of the birds out of the greasy spoon in Dover, or how about Tony Meddings used to be on for Priors, and then there was Black Neville Adams( another good mate of mine, I pulled for Lawrabian at the same time as Neville when he had his White) He pulled for Mavetons and Lawrabian. And what about Red Leader One, on for Lawrabian and Tanker Bill before that, anyone one remember him. I pulled in to the Londra one trip on my way home from Doha, and he stood there and said to me " your late, I heard you were in Aksaray yesterday" !!! What about Johnny Austin and Wing Commander Long. One trip in Bulgy, on our way home, we were all putting our chains on and Wing commander came roaring over the hill, pulled up and said" Hello Chaps, wonderful day for flying" !! then he got back in his truck and off he went.
Phil Houghton’s name springs to mind and so does Ritchie Thorne,used to pull for Whittle and then R& J.
On one trip I ran down from Jordan to the “Mirrors” with Tony Meddings.He was going to Kuwait,I was going to Dahran.He had a load of chocolate in his fridge trailer,and when he got sealed up in Dover,they only put one seal on,on the left hand door!That means,yes you’re thinking ahead of me, the right hand door could still be opened!Every time we stopped for a brew,even in a gang,everyone got a “Twix” or something similar with their tea.
Now the penny has just dropped,Wing Commander Long was Trevor Long,correct?.At one time,he drove for an East anglian firm(Forget the name now)who used to sub for Brit European when I was on there.
It was he I believe who took that writer,Franklyn or whatever his name was,when he was researching to write “Cola Cowboys”.That’s one reason I never bust a gut to get the book,I knew what Trevor was like for filling your head with ■■■■,and the few people I met who had read it but knew the M/E told me it was,shall we say"Massaged".
I only remember 3 guys who worked for Hicks,they were the Hobbs brothers.Bobby,Alan and Dai.Dai was the eldest and unfortunately he died in the Londra.
I put out an appeal in the Trucking magazine some months ago with my phone number for anyone who knew me that was doing M/E in the '70’s and '80’s to give me a call.
I got a call from Bobby Hobbs who is driving for some firm I think he said was in Gloucester.I had a call from my mate Alan Jones from Barnsley who was on Expo freight with me,(Doing Scandinavia and Russia these days),also Alan Shaw on for the same firm.
I also got a letter reply printed from “Hooperman”,about the time we were together on Expo Freight.
