Evening all,
Well, this is a sort of meander around the cobweb invested areas of my cranium, …but sort of related to Poole, Cherburg, and of course Derby…the home of FB Atkins.
FB Atkins was a real family firm, Ken, Arthur, and Ian, taking over from their parents…(and for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the sister who ran the café at the end of the yard next to the A38)…got to be old age…for she was very nice indeed…(I loved her bacon sandwiches)!!!
The relationship between the brothers could become quite volatile…in fact when things got really “active”, Ken, (the elder one), used to go to the bottom of the yard and confer with his …Donkey…who he told me had more sense!!!
Arthur was a director of Derby County, in the days of Brian Clough…enough said…but boy could he see business opportunities…
For years their big job was the rubber and tyre job up to Carlisle…then they discovered France…
Ever wondered why they went from Mercedes to Fiat
And from Fiat to Renault■■?
Totally down to one man, Anthony G Neath…a real Bristolian boy…and an avid Bristol City supporter…and he and Arthur really hit it off…
Tony worked for Fiat GB, out of Concord Road Acton…so in came the 170.26s…
Then Tony worked for Renault Truck and Bus UK , out of Park Royal…so in came first of all a TR305, (painted in Atkins original livery of Black, Brown, and Yellow…sounds horrid…but looked absolutely great…Findern Jester was her name…
Then Ken got the bug about costs…and in came the ultra economic…(and really that is all you can say about them)…little 290s!!
Then Tony went off as an owner operator for Westermann Forwarding…(post the honest and reputable Tom Annable, RIP)…and Atkins became part of the Japanese Logistic Giant…(but of course they were right next door to the new Toyota Plant)!
I used to love to go to Cherburg, simply to speak my native tongue… Cadwalladers, .Swains, Atkins, Axminster, and a myriad of others…and as “we” shipped our SMs, and TRs from Cherburg to the UK market…if I got a long weekend pass, then Truckline would always find space for my Renault car on the boat!!!
But Gentlemen, never ever think that it is because one vehicle is better than another, the reason for a fleet changing its buying policy…often it is the man, and the personal relationship that has been established…
Anthony G Neath…wherever you are…bon chance…
I raise a Bollinger to you!!
Cheerio for now.