Got mine November 1980 and it was red (more or less burgundy red). Still got it somewhere. Also, hubbie says his was red too. He had been driving artics for donkeys years,but missed ‘artic’ grandfather rights because he was driving rigids during the actual period specified. He had to take his test for Class 1.
I had one of the brown ones 
I still have a brown one issued in 1973 but what did we have before that?
I had Grandfather rights so didn’t take a test but can’t for the life in me remember what licence I was issued with.
Did we just carry on with the ordinary licence after 1970 which originally allowed us to drive any lorry provided we were over 21 Y/O.
I still have the black licence holder which the T&GWU gave me.
Russell.
iam very sorry to say,that yes ive had one of these.that what comes of 38 years of driving.
Yep still have mine ,don’t know why but I keep it in my briefcase.
Yep ! still got mine!
Yeah, got the black and the brown one, and even still got the little red driving licence.
Got mine in 1979 cost £30 for test and £150 for a 5 day course in and around Peterborough them was the days full class 1 in one go .
My brown flock one is still here somewhere.I thought it was a handsome document to feel proud of.Don’t remember the cost of the test,but my lessons were £3.50/hr-2hrs min.When it was apparent that my reversing skills needed a bit of honing,the instructor would set out cones,tell me to practice for an hour,and then he went to the pub!!! Still,I passed first time.Good days 
pancho:
Yep, still got mine. Issued 1983.
Yes i still have mine,had my class 3 on grandfather rights at 18/19 then class 1 had test in
a ford D series i think with a 20ft trailer in 1977. Then came the hassel of getting a start.
First time in a 40 ft i thought the trailer was never ending…good days and happy memories.
I got my first black one when I passed my Class 1 on 8th March 1972, but was gutted when they didn’t send it back to me when I renewed it and they sent the new brown one and kept the black original. I still have the brown one tucked away safely somewhere, though I doubt it will ever be worth anything on the Antiques Roadshow.
that explains where my black one went, I had thought that I must have lost it.
1986 i had one of those,they were the days
Yep, got mine in 1977…
I had a brown one. I still have my red licence booklet with an endorsement on it for driving a car with rusty bodywork.
It was in 1969, £5 fine & 7/6 costs.
God I feel old now I’ve writen this 
greggy:
del949:
that’ s not a “proper” HGV licence
The proper one was black with gold embossed lettering , not that crappy mottled chocolate colourruddy hell that brings back memories. i got mine in 1974.
I was born in that year! 
Got my black book in '72… that’s 19 72…of course
I got mine in 1979, and still have them somwhere.
Black Book issued by “North West Traffic Area” with the stickers inside !
yeh got on of those in the seventies, is it really that long ago, " tempus fugit " 