Hi Jason Howitt, I ran with your dad several times as you can see from the pics. He was a very nice man who got on with his job and was liked by everybody that I knew then. He was one of those characters that was just out there, most drivers had heard of him or heard stories about him, which I am sure were very much elaborated!!! Like the rest of Feblands drivers he kept on going through the winter weather. I remember one winter evening, it was snowing quite heavily approaching the stilts en route Mont Blanc, from the French side,I pulled onto the services at Le Fayet,there must have been 10 UK trucks parked up,the drivers saying its too bad a snow to get up the Blanc tonight,we will stay here till the morning.I stood in the snow at the side of Uffy looking at the white covered stilts,and watched a snow plough turn off the old road to go back up towards the tunnel,in the snowy quiet of the night I heard the engine of a V8 fire up that I haddent noticed stopped on the hardshoulder of the Autoroute,it slowly moved off and caught up with the plough,it was a Febland truck,that was it, I was off too,trying to catch up,it was a slow hard climb and as I approached the entrance to the Mont Blanc tunnel,sat in the car park with kettle on was your dad “dont know what all the fuss is about “he said to me,” wheres your cup”. Heres to you Peter Howitt
Anyone remember the Bake House near Bourg
Great piccies Wayne,
Does anyone remember Campsite Pete being a TV star? Only briefly, on an episode of You’ve been framd, back in 82. The stunt was to make a car disappear on the Dunkirk to Ramsgate Sally ferry. Briefly they parked a pantechnicon in front of the car, and behind it happened to be Peter in WUA, the ferry sets off and they drive the car into the pantechnicon and suprise surprise when the driver returns. It was shown on a re-run recently. At the end of the sequence you can clearly see Peter standing in front of his truck.
Oh Byron, or Red Volvo or Red Byron or whatever you are calling yourself this week. If you’re not an old-git, then why do Chrissy and Lindy call you Papa after the character on the Dolmio advert??
Dearest tucker Trucker mucker Blackpool,you seem to watch a whole lot of TV,especially adverts,maybe the direction you should go in is “Mastermind”. Mr TB you have 13hrs to answer these questions (1) What was the boss sailor called in a massive fish finger advert ? (2) What marine engine did he have in his trawler ? (3) What was the engine no.? Im trying to remember your first day at Feblands,I recall you following Tim Pulman around the yard like a lickel puppy,inquisitive eyes everywhere,shiny coat,wet runny nose,clutching a Pacamac,you had a piece of paper on your clipboard with scribble on it in crayon,a Wham 8 track sticking out of your pocket,you were about 10 years old short pants, big knees.Can you recall your interview for the job,at the bungalow/office?The questions on your application form, went something like (1) name (2) address (3) spell Volvo (4) count to 10,then go into the next room,take all your clothes off ,and the doctor will come in to give you a medical, do you remember Ian Mayer and Roy Winard bursting in on you, rubbing lubricant into their elbow length Marigolds.
Byron red volvo:
Dearest tucker Trucker mucker Blackpool,you seem to watch a whole lot of TV,especially adverts,maybe the direction you should go in is “Mastermind”. Mr TB you have 13hrs to answer these questions (1) What was the boss sailor called in a massive fish finger advert ? (2) What marine engine did he have in his trawler ? (3) What was the engine no.? Im trying to remember your first day at Feblands,I recall you following Tim Pulman around the yard like a lickel puppy,inquisitive eyes everywhere,shiny coat,wet runny nose,clutching a Pacamac,you had a piece of paper on your clipboard with scribble on it in crayon,a Wham 8 track sticking out of your pocket,you were about 10 years old short pants, big knees.Can you recall your interview for the job,at the bungalow/office?The questions on your application form, went something like (1) name (2) address (3) spell Volvo (4) count to 10,then go into the next room,take all your clothes off ,and the doctor will come in to give you a medical, do you remember Ian Mayer and Roy Winard bursting in on you, rubbing lubricant into their elbow length Marigolds.
Papa, you promised you would never tell, that’s the last time I let you have ‘sloppy-thirds’. What’s all this about Captain Birds Eye and Trawlers, how would I know!!! You’re the ‘cod-head’, not me.
I remember my first day at Feblands like t was yesterday; yes, I used to follow Tim around, like a ‘puppy-dog’. I can clearly remember sitting in the traffic office with Kevin, when this dishevelled, scruffy guy with a beard walked in with a greeting of 'hey-up, you must be the new lad, we’ll see how long you last. Coffee now’. I can remember thinking Yes I am the new lad, but B0****ks to taking this from one of the drivers, when Kevin saved the day, stating meet your boss this is Tony Febland. Opps, Nearly one of those career curtailing moments.
Careful Papa, Red Byron, or whatever, or you name will be changed to ‘The Fleetwood Fridge Phantom’. oops thats the cat out of the bag now.
Anyone else spotted the Febland Europa F88, KLV 11R, Garry’s truck, in Jan 2010 edition of Heritage Commercials mag’?
I must admit I cannot ever remember FFM 43 or any of the Trailor kangaroos looking as good as it does on the photo.
The picture must be over thirty years old and I have to say that Gary turns his own trucks out today as clean and tidy as KLV in the Photo.
KLV 11R - transportphotos.com/road/photo/VS00523
KLV is a great looking lorry but the black and white DAF is better! 
John, I could not agree more. I lerv the old Daf 2800s, don’t think Red Byron would agree. I think the white one had gone when I joined Feblands, but, I drove a B reg for Gary for a while. It was B590 VND, an ex J C Finney motor, in fact if you have a look at the Finney site at North West of England Trucks website, there is a picture of it in Finneys colours.
Here are some more of Red Byrons pictures loading at Otis Pressure Gauges Montrose Scotland for soutern Italy
In the good old days with togs and chains
The white cliffs of dover nice trailer with plenty of ropes but he cant do that now■■?
Took me a few minutes to work out whats wrong with that pic - mind you, i have been on the Gaymers !! 
Nice bit of roping btw.
trucker.blackpool:
Hello everyone. It is really great to see pictures of he old Febland fleet. I worked there for about four years in the early eighties. One thing I will say, is that you did not have to be ‘as mad as a box of frogs’ to work there, its just a coincidence that everyone was.I worked with Tim and Elaine, Kevin Johnston, Tony Febland and Vee Chiappe. After nearly thirty years I still recall my time with the company with fondness, there were some great stories and characters, Garry and Wayne Richardson, Roy Winward, Arthur Gardner, Peter Wade, Peter Howitt, Ivor Whittall, Ian Mayer, Dave Dennett, John Parkinson, Glin Gilgrass, Tommy Mongan, John Wall, Tery Dixon and not forgetting Byron Grimshaw. I recall some of the subbies, I think there was Nick Massey, and someone called Nigel, possibly McKinley?
The one thing I will always remember were he trucks, always well specced and up to the job, mainly Volvos and Sacanias. I have often wandered what happened to the fleet after Febland Europa closed in 1986. I was told that 6 of the units went to AIT (Anglo Italian Transport) which was part of the Alleleys empire. These were: RWW 601W a 141, WUA 121X and EWR 205Y, 142s, RFV 968X, a F10, WBV 847Y and A635 HWM, F12s.
As for the rest of the fleet I have no idea, at the time of disposal consisted of 3 x 141s BDB 357T , BDB 358T ,BDB 359T and B868 ABO a 142. B93 WCK and B76 BRN, 112s. Do any still survive today?
I have some photos to post, however, I am Struggling to paste them at the moment, any ideas?
Hello Mr.Mcvey did I read somewhere that you are interested in caravaning ? I do hope so. I did not realise that the Romainians produced caravans, was your van similar to a Bailey or Swift,an Avondale maybe, oh ! yes,I know,it would have been a PyKEE Allsorta,with off white curtains,and brass oil lamp to swing int rear window (fitted as standard).To be honest, I did not realise,that they smelt so much,maybe you could have taken the rucksack out. I thought that we could get together one Sat night at your house,and puruse the option of owning a caravan,we have only 7 children at home now,so you wouldent have to put on,much of a spread. We could talk,about the best type of sealant,to run on the caravan seams ( I honestly believe in running a trace, behind the awning rail as well,you know). Id like your opinion on using commercial tyres for touring,I think ,it is swings and roundabouts,may be, being stronger against side wall deflections and shock loading caused by air oscillations,compared with price ( yes I know,no cost for an incident ) knowing that you would never wear the tread,and that longevity is marred by cracking and rubber compound breakdown. And what about winterise… p.s. Hey lovely DAF (I did not know Feblands used DAFs to move empty trailers around the yard) its a reet good shunter lots of love Red Byron
Byron red volvo:
Hello Mr.Mcvey did I read somewhere that you are interested in caravaning ? I do hope so. I did not realise that the Romainians produced caravans, was your van similar to a Bailey or Swift,an Avondale maybe, oh ! yes,I know,it would have been a PyKEE Allsorta,with off white curtains,and brass oil lamp to swing int rear window (fitted as standard).To be honest, I did not realise,that they smelt so much,maybe you could have taken the rucksack out. I thought that we could get together one Sat night at your house,and puruse the option of owning a caravan,we have only 7 children at home now,so you wouldent have to put on,much of a spread. We could talk,about the best type of sealant,to run on the caravan seams ( I honestly believe in running a trace, behind the awning rail as well,you know). Id like your opinion on using commercial tyres for touring,I think ,it is swings and roundabouts,may be, being stronger against side wall deflections and shock loading caused by air oscillations,compared with price ( yes I know,no cost for an incident ) knowing that you would never wear the tread,and that longevity is marred by cracking and rubber compound breakdown. And what about winterise… p.s. Hey lovely DAF (I did not know Feblands used DAFs to move empty trailers around the yard) its a reet good shunter lots of love Red Byron
How did I know that sooner or later he topic of ‘tin-tents’ would enter the foray. I refer them as tin-tents as the use of the ‘C’ word is banned in my household. I cannot see the great interest in dragging a 14 foot chemical toilet around for two weeks of the year and annoying the neighbours for he other 50, sorry. No I’m not!!
fleetclean:
trucker.blackpool:
Hello everyone. It is really great to see pictures of he old Febland fleet. I worked there for about four years in the early eighties. One thing I will say, is that you did not have to be ‘as mad as a box of frogs’ to work there, its just a coincidence that everyone was.I worked with Tim and Elaine, Kevin Johnston, Tony Febland and Vee Chiappe. After nearly thirty years I still recall my time with the company with fondness, there were some great stories and characters, Garry and Wayne Richardson, Roy Winward, Arthur Gardner, Peter Wade, Peter Howitt, Ivor Whittall, Ian Mayer, Dave Dennett, John Parkinson, Glin Gilgrass, Tommy Mongan, John Wall, Tery Dixon and not forgetting Byron Grimshaw. I recall some of the subbies, I think there was Nick Massey, and someone called Nigel, possibly McKinley?
The one thing I will always remember were he trucks, always well specced and up to the job, mainly Volvos and Sacanias. I have often wandered what happened to the fleet after Febland Europa closed in 1986. I was told that 6 of the units went to AIT (Anglo Italian Transport) which was part of the Alleleys empire. These were: RWW 601W a 141, WUA 121X and EWR 205Y, 142s, RFV 968X, a F10, WBV 847Y and A635 HWM, F12s.
As for the rest of the fleet I have no idea, at the time of disposal consisted of 3 x 141s BDB 357T , BDB 358T ,BDB 359T and B868 ABO a 142. B93 WCK and B76 BRN, 112s. Do any still survive today?
I have some photos to post, however, I am Struggling to paste them at the moment, any ideas?
Hi, to post piccies on here you will need to do so from a public file such a photobucket or the like, its free. There are instructiions posted on the main Truck web site. Briefly you subscribe to the chosen site download piccies, go to properties on the chosen piccy and copy and paste them between the brackets on img from the toolbar. Its easier than in sounds honestly.
Well Byron I think it’s time to have your medication reviewed again but as you are currently on the maximum dosage permitted it might be time for you to return to that nice place where all the nurses are big male grippers who keep you safe and restrained at all times, it’s for the best!!
John McVey:
Well Byron I think it’s time to have your medication reviewed again but as you are currently on the maximum dosage permitted it might be time for you to return to that nice place where all the nurses are big male grippers who keep you safe and restrained at all times, it’s for the best!!
John, The only ‘nice place’ that Papa knows is that sanctuary on Herring Arm Road, where the ‘grippers’ are in the form of Gary and Mark- ‘the Pie-man/storm in a T cab’, Haugan. They just fasten him down in a straight-jacket and show footaqge of Volvo F10s and F12s to bring him down to earth. Bless him he is still recovering from the sale of his ex-army skip.
He is often picked up in your headlights, pedalling frantically towards Fleetwod (also known as the largest cul-de-sac in Lancashire), in the wee-small-hours of the morning, shreeking ‘don’t worry my precious FH, Papa is coming’.
PS, By’ don’t take it to heart, luv-u-loads, Trucker!!!
She wasn’t just some old 2800, she was a 310 with a 13 speed fuller!
trucker.blackpool:
John, I could not agree more. I lerv the old Daf 2800s, don’t think Red Byron would agree. I think the white one had gone when I joined Feblands, but, I drove a B reg for Gary for a while. It was B590 VND, an ex J C Finney motor, in fact if you have a look at the Finney site at North West of England Trucks website, there is a picture of it in Finneys colours.
John McVey:
She wasn’t just some old 2800, she was a 310 with a 13 speed fuller!trucker.blackpool:
John, I could not agree more. I lerv the old Daf 2800s, don’t think Red Byron would agree. I think the white one had gone when I joined Feblands, but, I drove a B reg for Gary for a while. It was B590 VND, an ex J C Finney motor, in fact if you have a look at the Finney site at North West of England Trucks website, there is a picture of it in Finneys colours.
Sorry John, I meant FT 2800 DKS, honestly!!, I think your old, sorry, FT 2800 DKS could me my next modelling project as I there is a 141, F12 and F89 in my mini Febland fleet at already.
The black and white DAF would indeed be a worthy modelling project, let me know if you need any help with the detail.
John