Great photo ,is that a Swindon vehicle ? code MEG ?
DEANB , the name Rocket Ron was because he was a typical BRS driver , no rushing about and stick to taking your time .
I was sixteen when introduced to RON when I was a apprentice in the workshops ,he grabbed me with a bear hug and I had to promise that I never get in his cab with overalls on “ever” ha ha , [zb] my self !!! .
Also years later when I went on the road I was told to take my time and never carve the job up ,and get plenty of dodgies in ! " which I did "
I could never understand hourly paid drivers who wanted to rush around carving jobs up. They were paid by the hour for gods sake…“take your b loody time, arrive safe”
windrush:
Yes, W.H Phillips from Wirksworth. A large fleet, mostly Leyland and Atkinson when they finished but they did have LAD cabbed Dodge’s with Primrose second steer axles fitted and the Primrose advert in CM magazine used one of their Dodge’s. At one time they had 40+ trucks in our quarry alone plus some based at the tar plant in Tunstead quarry, Buxton, when the Manchester motorways were being built. I reckon they finished in the early late 70’s/80’s as we had some of their drivers, some of the trucks were on lease by that time I believe? Around a 90 vehicle fleet after they purchased Sid Cooks fleet from Wessington, all long gone now but their large garage is still there and used by a pillow company. Pics of them on the road are not common, and they didn’t stop still for long either!
Pete.
Aye Pete,when I were on nights running back from Ross or Chepstow to Maltby I very often saw W H Philips and another one called Mountain at two or three in a morning,going through Derby.I used to park in that lay-by outside Markeaton Park,opposite Derbyshire Yeomanry boozer.
I never saw one in a lay - by,ever.
windrush:
Yes, W.H Phillips from Wirksworth. A large fleet, mostly Leyland and Atkinson when they finished but they did have LAD cabbed Dodge’s with Primrose second steer axles fitted and the Primrose advert in CM magazine used one of their Dodge’s. At one time they had 40+ trucks in our quarry alone plus some based at the tar plant in Tunstead quarry, Buxton, when the Manchester motorways were being built. I reckon they finished in the early late 70’s/80’s as we had some of their drivers, some of the trucks were on lease by that time I believe? Around a 90 vehicle fleet after they purchased Sid Cooks fleet from Wessington, all long gone now but their large garage is still there and used by a pillow company. Pics of them on the road are not common, and they didn’t stop still for long either! Pete.
Thanks for the info Pete,sounds like they were a big old company then.
grumpy old man:
"JAKEY:
DEAN,he name Rocket Ron was because he was a typical BRS driver,no rushing about and stick to taking your time .
Also years later when I went on the road I was told to take my time and never carve the job up ,and get plenty of dodgies in ! " which I did "
I could never understand hourly paid drivers who wanted to rush around carving jobs up. They were paid by the hour for gods sake…“take your b loody time, arrive safe”
Indeed !
Chris Webb:
windrush:
Yes, W.H Phillips from Wirksworth. Pics of them on the road are not common, and they didn’t stop still for long either! Pete.
Aye Pete,when I were on nights running back from Ross or Chepstow to Maltby I very often saw W H Philips and another one called Mountain at two or three in a morning,going through Derby.I used to park in that lay-by outside Markeaton Park,opposite Derbyshire Yeomanry boozer.I never saw one in a lay - by,ever.
Chris Webb:
Aye Pete,when I were on nights running back from Ross or Chepstow to Maltby I very often saw W H Philips and another one called Mountain at two or three in a morning,going through Derby.I used to park in that lay-by outside Markeaton Park,opposite Derbyshire Yeomanry boozer.
I never saw one in a lay - by,ever.
They were paid very well I believe Chris but worked for it, that would be one of Bill Mountains with them. I think Bill’s lad still has some trucks, he was based in Wirksworth but now he is up at Longcliffe I believe?
One of Phillips old drivers told me once that when Ballidon was run by one gaffer back in the sixties in pre Tilcon days he came back mid afternoon to load for the following day, he had already been to either Bury or Stowmarket with sugar stone! Anyway gaffer at Ballidon comes out a tells him there was an urgent load for a foundry at Bromsgrove and could he take it that afternoon? Upshot was that there was a ten bob note in it for him if he went straight through so he loaded it. Weighed off, collected his ten shillings and set off but pulled up under the trees at the lane end to consult his map. Ford Pilot driven by quarry boss pulls around him, comes to cab door and takes his money back; “You stopped”. Driver decides sod it, the load can go tomorrow now and turned up Longcliffe for home! Upshot was the foundry ran out of stone and never ordered anymore from Ballidon! True or not I don’t know as tales do expand at times, but I have heard it from a few different folk so there is probably a good element of truth in it.
240 Gardner:
I didn’t know Mr Rainey personally but, after he passed away, W. H. Bowker acquired the 1934 Beaver shown on one of the pages, and we went down to collect it from Chilthorne Dorney in May 1998: here’s a photo I took at Frankley on the way back
windrush:
One of Phillips old drivers told me once that when Ballidon was run by one gaffer back in the sixties in pre Tilcon days he came back mid afternoon to load for the following day, he had already been to either Bury or Stowmarket with sugar stone! Anyway gaffer at Ballidon comes out a tells him there was an urgent load for a foundry at Bromsgrove and could he take it that afternoon? Upshot was that there was a ten bob note in it for him if he went straight through so he loaded it. Weighed off, collected his ten shillings and set off but pulled up under the trees at the lane end to consult his map. Ford Pilot driven by quarry boss pulls around him, comes to cab door and takes his money back; “You stopped”. Driver decides sod it, the load can go tomorrow now and turned up Longcliffe for home! Upshot was the foundry ran out of stone and never ordered anymore from Ballidon! True or not I don’t know as tales do expand at times, but I have heard it from a few different folk so there is probably a good element of truth in it. Pete.
Nice story Pete !!
“Robroy” Thanks for the photo !
HRS:
For the ERF members.
A typical South African heavy duty tractor unit with localy made cab, Harvey
MAN is an Isle of Man reg plate. I don’t know who ran the Spanish Dodge but the tankers are Manx Petroleum who were Shell agents,with the terminal on Douglas harbour.It’s still there,they run MANs now,I can see it from our front room window.
The MP fuel comes into Douglas from Stanlow.The fuel for Ellan Vannin Fuels,formerly Total Oil, comes into Peel on the west coast from Pembroke Dock.
windrush:
Yes, W.H Phillips from Wirksworth. A large fleet, mostly Leyland and Atkinson when they finished but they did have LAD cabbed Dodge’s with Primrose second steer axles fitted and the Primrose advert in CM magazine used one of their Dodge’s. At one time they had 40+ trucks in our quarry alone plus some based at the tar plant in Tunstead quarry, Buxton, when the Manchester motorways were being built. I reckon they finished in the early late 70’s/80’s as we had some of their drivers, some of the trucks were on lease by that time I believe? Around a 90 vehicle fleet after they purchased Sid Cooks fleet from Wessington, all long gone now but their large garage is still there and used by a pillow company. Pics of them on the road are not common, and they didn’t stop still for long either!
Pete.
Don Phillips walks past here everyday to visit his wife in the cemetery ,I think he is 90 now ,although I think Don always had his own lorry ,Ive heard it said that buying Sid cooks for the licences was contributory to Phillips finishing ?
Punchy Dan:
Don Phillips walks past here everyday to visit his wife in the cemetery ,I think he is 90 now ,although I think Don always had his own lorry ,Ive heard it said that buying Sid cooks for the licences was contributory to Phillips finishing ?
I remember Don having a truck, a blue tipper at one time I think? I heard the same from folk, Cooks had a lot of debt’s (fuel/tyres etc) and Phillips only wanted the A licences but inherited their debt’s as well. Then shortly after the licencing system was abolished anyway! It was before my time up here but many have confirmed that story.
Now young danl I think the reg no was ltv304w ex Jw Dunn was badged 30-21 Don changed the leyland engine for a rr 265 singlehanded at Middleton. I don’t know when the red paint scheme happened ?
revman:
Great pic of Brian Hornsby (Rotherham) I think David Baker at Crossroads commercials sold him that, cheers Alan
Chris Webb:
Anyone recognise the Dodge ■■?
Cant make the name out on the tankers ■■
MAN is an Isle of Man reg plate. I don’t know who ran the Spanish Dodge but the tankers are Manx Petroleum who were Shell agents,with the terminal on Douglas harbour.It’s still there,they run MANs now,I can see it from our front room window.
The MP fuel comes into Douglas from Stanlow.The fuel for Ellan Vannin Fuels,formerly Total Oil, comes into Peel on the west coast from Pembroke Dock.
Good stuff Chris !
“Punchy Dan,windrush and phop” That W.H.phillips pic certainly brought back some memories. Heres
another one of theres following the one i posted yesterday !
JAKEY:
Hello DEANB, love the photo of the North Western Red Crusader , lovely period curtains in the back window .
“JAKEY” No frilly curtains in there ! I dont know if you have used the search facility for your BRS trucks JAKEY
as there have been alot of BRS trucks from various depots posted ■■
Chris Webb:
Anyone recognise the Dodge ■■?
Cant make the name out on the tankers ■■
MAN is an Isle of Man reg plate. I don’t know who ran the Spanish Dodge but the tankers are Manx Petroleum who were Shell agents,with the terminal on Douglas harbour.It’s still there,they run MANs now,I can see it from our front room window.
The MP fuel comes into Douglas from Stanlow.The fuel for Ellan Vannin Fuels,formerly Total Oil, comes into Peel on the west coast from Pembroke Dock.
Good stuff Chris !
Hi Dean.The Spanish Dodge was owned and run by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd. - I have been informed by a local driver.
Chris Webb:
Anyone recognise the Dodge ■■?
Cant make the name out on the tankers ■■
MAN is an Isle of Man reg plate. I don’t know who ran the Spanish Dodge but the tankers are Manx Petroleum who were Shell agents,with the terminal on Douglas harbour.It’s still there,they run MANs now,I can see it from our front room window.
The MP fuel comes into Douglas from Stanlow.The fuel for Ellan Vannin Fuels,formerly Total Oil, comes into Peel on the west coast from Pembroke Dock.
Good stuff Chris !
Hi Dean.The Spanish Dodge was owned and run by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd. - I have been informed by a local driver.
That makes sense Chris,we had at least one other blue vehicle that was owned by the Isle of Man Steam Packet
Co. Too many companies to try and remember them all !!
which I did "
