Stanfield:
A chap called Bill Dobson was the main trainer at S&R during the 70s/80s.
JOHN
Hi John, Bill Dobson that rings a bell and I seem to recall there were at least 3 instructors or 2 and the boss was Alan the one with a tash and glasses ? and made the bangs with his oveltine tin with acid and water in it blowing the top off. 
I took my first course at Castna kelna in the early 80’s and always remember them showing us the diecast AEC in Esso livery first thing in the morning. Chap in charge filled it with petrol, then emptied it and left on the window sill all day, at the end of the day brought it back to the table, held a lighter to it and it blew all 5 lids off - lesson leant
Funny how some things stick !!
Sniffy:
I took my first course at Castna kelna in the early 80’s and always remember them showing us the diecast AEC in Esso livery first thing in the morning. Chap in charge filled it with petrol, then emptied it and left on the window sill all day, at the end of the day brought it back to the table, held a lighter to it and it blew all 5 lids off - lesson leant
Funny how some things stick !!
Yes. I remember the imploded tank in the same way, drop of water, a candle and a cork
sammyopisite:
Stanfield:
A chap called Bill Dobson was the main trainer at S&R during the 70s/80s.
JOHNHi John, Bill Dobson that rings a bell and I seem to recall there were at least 3 instructors or 2 and the boss was Alan the one with a tash and glasses ? and made the bangs with his oveltine tin with acid and water in it blowing the top off.
Thats the man Johnnie 
from what I was told Alan had been doing tanker work for years and was well respected in the chemical industry. As far as I know ( please correct me if I am wrong ) when the Haz Chem licence came out there were no Grandfather rights, you had to do the three day course in the classroom. It couldn’t of been easy trying to teach a dozen drivers, some of whom had been doing tanker work as long as Alan had if not longer ( and Alan was in his late fifties ) the new way, which was by the book. I am sure that if one of today’s spotty faced 23 year olds with a degree in Transport Logistics would of been in charge of the course then it wouldn’t of been as interesting as Alan made it. On the first morning when he mentioned that he would be bringing in his blow up doll 
sometime in the curriculum which brought out a few witty comments from someone in the class, Alan made sure that the wag was the first one to have a snog with Resuscitation Anne in the first aid module.
The second time that I did a course with Alan was when they had a smashing guy called Frank who was the Health and Safety Officer at Croda in Bradford and he was teaching the First Aid Course.
The last time that I went to L.P.G ( Liquids, Powders and Gasses ) was just after the disaster at Croda Chemicals when they had that big fire which lasted over three days 
, Alan told me that Frank was giving a first aid lecture at L.P.G. when his bleeper went off, he phoned Croda and told Alan he had to leave immediately.
Does anybody remember what year the Croda fire was as I have forgotten, I bet Dreva knows 
.
hi all, The hazcem course was started at CASTNER,S in Runcorn in mid 1970s by a guy called Tommy Wharton,he was a ex ICI driver of about 30 years great guy.We had to do the course every 3 years,it got a bit boring after a few years but as was said,lessons well learnt and never forgotten.One Tom used to do was with ammonia in a dish placed in the middle of the room,then everyone put on gas masks and wentinto the room the door was closed then we were told to lift the corner of the rubber mask tll you got a whiff of gas then put the mask back down and get out.If you wasnt used to a gas mask it wasnt very nice.The blow up doll was always good for a laugh. cheers Ted.
For your delectation and delight, live from Manchester, a couple of blasts from the past courtesy of kevmorrow.
Humko later became Central Edible Oils on Trafford Park amongst others.
Certainly a varied fleet by the look of things, Volvo F10, Volvo F7, Transcontinental, Ford D series, Sudden Accident and an ERF
I worked at Smith & Robinsons Urmston. I remember staying over for a few days at Rothwell to get my Hazchem renewed. We had a mad professor with a white coat doing small experiments. One was where he put a balloon on a Calor gas cylinder and let the gas in very slowly. It was placed near a lit Bunsen burner. He tried to preoccupy us by talking about the next experiment but we were all mesmerised by the balloon getting bigger and closer to the flame. He was trying to simulate a bleve, the polystyrene insulation on the ceiling dropped to the floor. Two of the lads rushed off to the toilet!
Wheel Nut:
For your delectation and delight, live from Manchester, a couple of blasts from the past courtesy of kevmorrow.
Humko later became Central Edible Oils on Trafford Park amongst others.
Certainly a varied fleet by the look of things, Volvo F10, Volvo F7, Transcontinental, Ford D series, Sudden Accident and an ERF
I remember Humko, us Sykes lads were in there quite a lot, as well as bringing in veggie fats we used to load some stuff called kemamine - I’m sure it was more dangerous than they told us - I think it went to P & G in Newcastle, but can’t remember for sure.
Steve
I remember Sykes lads pulling into Humko, Do you remember Alan Bean and young Don Holstead pump men in the room as you entered the yard. They would make you a brew while tipping. I remember one of Seville’s tankers pulling in on a discharge point; he was in a hurry, he put the hose on, opened bottom valve and foot valve. Alan asked the driver was he ready and set the pump running, the lids started to cave in. Seville’s owner or Boss came down to claim off Humko. Obviously you would open the lids before you open the valves. He was sent off with a flea in his ear and a damaged tank.
Hi Kevmorrow, mentioned this thread to Colin Jones, Colin used to be a transport supervisor at Humko in the early 80s and remembers you well along with Alan Bean and young Don Holstead.
He mentioned quite a few of the other characters of the day and sends his regards, Unfortunately no photo’s but plenty of tales.
Did you ever work with Big Jock Trotter, maybe from the Trafford edible days ?
kevmorrow:
Steve
I remember Sykes lads pulling into Humko, Do you remember Alan Bean and young Don Holstead pump men in the room as you entered the yard. They would make you a brew while tipping.
I remember the good old days, when we were running fat into P&G the grey haired guy with the white overalls in the weighbridge would weigh you in, put a brew on while you backed onto the set. He then came out and started that massive victorian steam pump and by the mug of tea was empty, so was the barrel 
The only sample was looking for water or hard fat in the butterfly.
I worked with David Healey and he was on for Alan Seville and maybe even Humko for a while.
Hi sniffy
Colin will remember most of the drivers at Humko! Tommy Oliver, Jimmy Preston, Burt Whiteworth, Sid Holt, Les Bailey, Johnny Mack, Ray Rothwell, Graham Whittaker, Ian Greenhalch, Dave Boyd, Jimmy Brown, Billy Rubbery, Phil Keep, Stan Smith, Ronnie Hughes, Tommy Hughes, Hughie Smith. Most of the drivers worked for S&R CPC, Reliance tankers in their past life. Transport Office with Colin Jones, ■■■■ Mauger (Majors) Bob Lauder, and Jim Oldham main office. Where is Colin Jones now? He was very well respected by all the drivers. If you look at my post Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:37 pm and click on the camera on the left you will enter my personal album. The elderly grey haired chap is me 6 years ago! If you could forward them to Colin It would be most appreciated. I think Jock started after I was made redundant just after Pura Foods had taken over (Trafford Edible Oils) He will remember Dave Boyd and Jimmy Brown that were kept on driving PL Transtore motors. I started back at S&Rs Urmston and made redundant again. I moved to Norfolk just after and worked for the Ministry of Defence as a Lorry driver, based at Raf Marham.
Cheers Kev
Hi Wheel Nut
Yes you were right they were the good old days. Did you ever load up crude Fish or Palm oil at Mode Wheel Road weaste? They had a massive boiler and run many similar pumps. One of the workers had got washed and cleaned up early as he was going to a wedding as a guest that day Saturday dinner time. He put on his suit ready so he could go straight to the church. Leaving the plant he was covered with crude palm oil as the chap helping Alf Wharton the charge hand had turned the wrong valve on by mistake. Good old days. I remember Dave Healy on Seville’s.
Searched northwesttrucks.fotopic.net/c1721169.html and noticed the old ERF Southern oil. This photo was in the transport office at Humko. ■■■■ Major drove this tanker before becoming transport manager. When WTB248 was scrapped the tank was put SNB270R. Southern Oil was taken over by KRAFT Foods (HUMKO) 1961
kevmorrow:
Steve
I remember Sykes lads pulling into Humko, Do you remember Alan Bean and young Don Holstead pump men in the room as you entered the yard. They would make you a brew while tipping.
No Kevmorrow, I don’t remember much from those days, it was just one long blur of loading, driving, tipping, more driving - oh, and occasionally a little sleeping.
Here’s one of the Sykes’ motors:
stevecook wrote
I don’t remember much from those days, it was just one long blur of loading, driving, tipping, more driving - oh, and occasionally a little sleeping.
Here’s one of the Sykes’ motors:
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Hi Steve
I drove a Scammell Crusader, Roller 290. I was at Shannon Southern Ireland 1974/5. I noticed the rad was leaking, so I lifted the front grill and swung out the radiator. It was the hose that was split. An engineer from a company nearby where I was tipping came over to view the tractor unit. I had told him it was leaking. He went back to his workshop and returned with some sort of quick setting heavy duty rubber solution. A new hose was ordered but never fitted. I used to see Sykes Tankers pulling out of Pura Blackwall Tilbury and Liverpool. I am sure they used to pull out of Shell Carrington with Etheline Clycol.
Hi Kev you are correct we did more chemicals and solvents than fats and oils I always preferred them to fats and oils as I thought they were cleaner well I did not get as scruffy with them everything in the same tank then just got to clean out good but we always had a crude load or two before a edible load . The chemical loaders were very keen as they used to get tissue paper to wipe in the tank and outlets to check for any sign of oils even when they had seen your cleaning ticket no certificates in them days.
kevmorrow:
Hi Wheel Nut
Yes you were right they were the good old days. Did you ever load up crude Fish or Palm oil at Mode Wheel Road weaste?
Weaste was an old tale I was told about, it was being developed into Salford Quays when I got there in the late 70’s
The mechanic:
SORRY WRONG PHOTO.
Hi Folks,
Modern day version,
Cheers Malc.
Came across this, not sure if it’s been posted before but its quite good. It’s been done better since but a good bit of film.
Managed to dig out an earlier Synthomer picture
