Cliff luxton:
On way home couple of weeks ago.
Hi Cliff thanks for the photo, it still looks deserted to how it used to be when we shipped years ago. There was a lot of work created when Truckline first started as we both know it is such a shame that there is hardly anything nowadays. We still have our memories of the good old days though don’t we. I hope you and Lindsey are keeping well,see you at the reunion if not before cheers mate.
Nigel we usually ship out portsmouth to St malo overnight lovely restaurant with excellent food good day to extavia hotel just before Sunbilla you could have a comfortable day then to Bailen couple of nice hotels, then easy day after.
Thanks Cliff , we are going Poole /Cherbourg between Christmas / New Year and driving down , next week going Santander. Called in last Sunday but couldnt park so went to Buckham Fair instead.
geoff luther:
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That is certainly a blast from the past, I used to them a lot loading Basic Slag in the A/F Steel works at Scunthorpe in the 60/70s, Regards Larry.
Geoff this has got to be one of the earliest shots of one off PBC European Mandator coming off the “Poole Antelope” on it’s first trip from Cherbourg to Poole, this was put on the Soton thread by stroker 156 DOT so good on him for the find.
In 1973 I drove an AEC Mandator for PBC and cant believe we used to go out in a non sleeper, I know we really only did France but you could be away four days and slept across the engine on boards, not ideal but we did that back then for £35 quid all in.
Saw Franky Allen about four months ago in the doctors waiting room and asked if he had any pictures but he was not that forthcoming but he must have some tucked away, shame he wont share cheers Buzzer.
What a find John. Triggers many memories that shot…
Frank Allen " not very forthcoming " ? Surely not. 
As you say we only did France in the early days , was Amiens about 6 hours fully freighted??
We did get better kit with the Cabmont tie up and start doing a lot of Spain and Italy , but strangely. I have a soft spot for the Mandator days , trolling along the back roads and a Routier every few k’s.
No phone in the cab ( Happy Days!! ) left to our own devices and we had to call reverse charge back to Sholing HQ… Always a giggle trying to get that across to the operator!
Reload instructions by good old Telex.
Funny but I don’t recall what the refuel arrangements were on there at that time? Small tank on the Mandator and I can’t imagine Frank giving us a wad of running money… Was it DKV or something?
Buzzer:
Geoff this has got to be one of the earliest shots of one off PBC European Mandator coming off the “Poole Antelope” on it’s first trip from Cherbourg to Poole, this was put on the Soton thread by stroker 156 DOT so good on him for the find.
In 1973 I drove an AEC Mandator for PBC and cant believe we used to go out in a non sleeper, I know we really only did France but you could be away four days and slept across the engine on boards, not ideal but we did that back then for £35 quid all in.
Saw Franky Allen about four months ago in the doctors waiting room and asked if he had any pictures but he was not that forthcoming but he must have some tucked away, shame he wont share cheers Buzzer.
Hi Buzzer thanks ever so much for the pic as they are getting so rare now. I remember the old boys on Phillips telling how they also used to go over the water in non-sleepers,proper pioneers in those days weren,t you. I didn’t start shipping out till 1978 so had sleepers by then.Thanks for the pic once again all the best Geoff
Balders back then on PBC we were given cash for fuel usually by George Osmond in the office in Cherbourg, yes Franky Allen was one of the first with a French office mainly to get permits and as you will remember he had quite a few French registered trucks then he could get permits on the backload system but of course he was loading his own trucks.
Later I remember UTA I think it was which was a kind of voucher system and as the wages were crap back then a little plussing on the fuel always seemed to take place to pay for the odd meal but with no sleeper we earned that, Buzzer.
Ah yes John. It was UTA . Red and white vouchers , and yes a bit of plussing did go on. I don’t recall ever getting cash other than the meagre night out money we were paid.
I think I may have been on there a bit after you? I joined up in 1976. They had an office in Le Havre then , by the Ferry Port bar. ( forget her name… Chantelle was it?? ) two young fellas in the office whose names I forget and Tim Allen would ship over on a Sunday night a and go home Friday. He rented an apartment in the town. Always found him a decent sort to work for.
He might be the one to ask for photos if ever you see him…
A few more Poole regulars.
OTA,they used to ship alot of motors through loaded with apples in tilts back in the 80s.
Another one of Trans Oman’s unusual draw bar outfit.
Stuart Taylors were always through with the fish/fruit.
A couple more of the pigeon trucks,first one looks brand new at the body builders.
Remember Avialink,what ever happened to them ?
Duchesse Anne doesnt ring a bell ? Coutances in the background.
Hi DeanB, Regarding your post on the “Duke De Normandie” thread earlier this month, Here is a picture of “Duchesse Anne”,
formerly “Connacht” of B+I Line, It is still in service,operating from a port in Croatia, accross to the
east coast of Italy. I remember the Bedford VAL 6 Wheeler Pigeon Carriers very well, the local
pigeon fanciers would meet at the top of my street,awaiting the arrival of the pigeon lorry.
The bodywork was built by Duple Coachbuilders of Blackpool on coach chassis. In the fifties,
my father had racing pigeons, and at that time the birds would be sent by train,and the liberation
points for the pigeons would be Craven Arms (Shropshire) at the start of the season,followed by
Worcester, Gloucester, Bath, Dorchester, then over the water to Rennes,Nantes,and Bordeaux.
Kind Regards, Ray Smyth.
I sailed Poole to St Helier with my old mate Hop Scotch on the Corbiere, 14 hours on a sea like a mill pond, not even a ripple, which is just as well because my old pal RIP used to throw up at the slightest movement. The return trip however was a different story, we were on the Rozel in a force 10 gale LOL.
Hello Geoff, Is your “Coutances” picture taken at Ouistreham (Caen) ■■
It looks like the double deck linkspan at the outer end of the quay.
Regards, Ray Smyth.
Or is it Cherbourg ?
Ray Smyth:
Hello Geoff, Is your “Coutances” picture taken at Ouistreham (Caen) ■■
It looks like the double deck linkspan at the outer end of the quay.Regards, Ray Smyth.
Hi Ray I am pretty sure it’s Cherbourg regards Geoff.
Think you are right Geoff , and the Manitou Cherry picker seems right as Jean Luc Landais ships those through Cherbourg to Ferndown , but see they are on Marc Comptons land at St Lenards.
