The last of the photos I took in late 1964 or very early 1965 of the Rover cars we owned at that time. Unfortunatly they illustrate my photographic talents and explain why I took so few photos of the vans.
In this case it was my first car, given to me new, by my Grandparents about two months ahead of my 17th birthday, and the car I leant to drive on and took my two tests in.
It was the first of six Rover P6’s we have, not counting a one I bought a few years ago.
During the seven or so years of this photo, between my grandfather, father and me, we had 12 Rovers, mostly supplied new by Fred Dinsdale and sons Stockton On Tees.
They were main Rover distributors for County Durham (Stockton was part of County Durham in the sixties). The business was run by two brothers who didn’t speak with one another. One was car sales and the other ran the garage and bodyshop. Unfortunatly the business was a casualty of the British Leyland Fiasco, and closed when Rover were taken over. Geoff Pye, one of our drivers who specialised on removals moved the one brother down south, when the garage closed, and he told Geoff that after we had been such good customers to them, he couldn’t choose another company to move him.
One day, long before my Grandfather died we sat down with my dad and worked out that he had owned 18 Rovers prior to buying SUP, the Rover 60, in 1955 from Dinsdales.
After a two car interval I bought a new Rover SD1 in 1978, but it was then made by British Leyland and was a disaster, so I quickly sold it and my remaining cars whilst at W.H.Williams (Haulage) Ltd were Mercedes Benz. Apart from the mess BL made of commercial vehicles, they have a lot to answer by destroying Rover cars.
I’ve tried to put together a ist of employees who worked for W.H.williams Spennymoor.
Although I,ve listed about 184 I know that is only part and many people are not listed
The females who worked in our Newcastle and Sunderland Office are two. I seem to remember Fred Thirlaway moved in with the former.
I cannot remember the names of staff at Sheffield or Wellingborough and although I remebered Jim wilson at London I cannot remember the others.
If anyone reads this list who are missed off or names spelt wrongly I appologise. similarly I appologise to any relatives
If anyone has any further information or names to be added, please contact me When we closed I know the workforse totalled about 250, so there are a lot missing.
I am putting this list as a piece of history and perhaps in 100 years time it might interest someone that there was a haulage contactor based in Spennymoor that carried so many goods.
Please, if you know someone or a relative to someone that worked for W.H.Williams (Haulage) Ltd tell them about this site and ask them to contact me and help yourself or relative be a small part of history
Aaron Smith
Alan Angus
Alan Brown
Alan Henderson Fleet Engineer
Alan Robinson
Alan Stout
Alan Wharrier
Andrew Sottt Commercial Director
Anne Walton/Askwith Spennymoor Office
Arthur Crooks
Barry Lauder
Bev Easter
Bill Bailey
Bill Dixon
Bill Foster (Bilco)
Bill Welford
Bill Westgarth Fitter
Billy Petty Security
Bob Bradley
Bob Hobson
Bob marsden
Bob pinkney Died at the wheel of heart attack in Lancs driving FUP145C
Bob Wetherall First fully qualified accountant employed, left to be head accountant at Ladbroke’s Hotels division
Brian Archer
Brian Askwith
Brian Spark Accountant Spennymoor office
Brian Sheldon
Brian Winter
Brian Wragg Apprentice
Carl Williams Director/ Company Secretary
Caroline Vane
Cess Ramsey
Charlie Brown
Christine Oliver Female Class 1 Driver
christine Ede Spennymoor Office
Christine Harland Spennymoor Office
Christine Heale Spennymoor Office
Clifford Smiles
Colin pinkney
Colin Porter Fitter
Colin Sumpton
Colin Watson
Colin Williams
Dale harrison
Darren Brown
Dave Brannon Fitter
Dave Hastie
Dave Heron
dave Pope
David Dalrymple Removal Sales
Dennis Bradey
Dennis Lee
Diane Spennymoor Office Lived in Durham
■■■■ Porter Fitter
■■■■ Lowes
Eddie Brown
Eddy Donnelly
Eddie Worthington
Eddy Ramsey
Eddy Thornton Workshop Manager/Transport
Eric Nelson
Farrah Clark
Frank Morgan Orriginally driver then went on, after loosing arm to look after Wilcomatic Vehicle Wash and parking
Fred Nelson
Fred Thirlaway
Fred Winter
Freddie Wallace
Geoff Welford
George Graham
George Hardy Fitter
George Sykes
Gordon Ball
Harry Blatchford
Harry Brain
Harry Hawkins
Harry Smith
Harry Whitehead
Henry Barras
Hillary Harrison
howard Rushton
Ian Askwith
Jack Birch
Jack Wilkinson
Janette Drove 4 wheeler Laird Flat to Oldham each day Roping and Sheeting
Jeff Pye
Jenny Myers Spennymoor Office
Jim cairey
Jim Ferguson
Jim Kirk
Jim Lupton
Jim Wilson London Depot manager
Jimmy Clements
Jimmy Testo
Jock Weatherstone
Jock Spennymoor Transport Office Ex ATM and Ramar
Joe carpenter
John Chapman
John Coed Aprentice Mecanic
John Glancey
John Hetherington
John Hughes
John Hull
John Nixon
John Storey Apprentice Transport Manager
John Tobin
John Ward
John Willets
joy Bunting Spennymoor office nicknaed Blondie
Keith Dixon
Ken Armtrong Fitter
Keith Payne
Keith Winter
Ken Atkinson Painter
Ken Dagga
Kenny Hardy
Kenny Hodgson
Kenny nelson
kenny Smallman
Kenny Smith
Kenny Thmpson Apprentice
John Vasey
Laurece Petch
Laurie hawkins
Les Aislesby
Les Davies
Les Warnet
Linda Irving Lived in Grange Est Spennymoor Wages Clerk last few years emigated to Australia
Linda Turnbull Spennymoor Office
Malcolm Stephenson
Malcome Marsden Removal Sales/ mail Order office
Margaret O’Hern Class 1 female driver lived at Near Scots Corner
Marilyn mason Marmaduke Street/ Green Lane office
Martin Haliday
Martin Wade Fitter
Mickie Solo Fitter
Mickie Driver from Bishop Auckland
Mrs Dennis Marmaduke Street/ Green Lane office
Neil Evans
Neil I’anson
Norman Robinson
Norman Snowball
Norman Flatman Transport Magager Spennymoor office
Ozzie Boomfied
Pam Receptionist Telephonist Spennymoor Office ex ATM
Pat Mccabe Spennymoor Office
Paul Sandford
Patrick Cavagner Newcastle Office manager
Pauline hood Spennymoor Office
Peter Aspinall
Peter Caywood
Peter Clearey
Peter Holliday
Peter moore
Peter Wilson
Peter Windship
Phil Reilly Spennymoor Warehouse Manager
Ray Hornby
Ray Juler
Raymond Russell Fitter/Tyre Fitter/ Recovery Driver/ Class 1 driver
Roger Owen
Ronnie Briggs
Ronnie Harris
Ronnie Wensley
Ronny Allison
Shiela Marmaduke Stree/ Green Lane office
Shiela Juler Office cleaner Green Lane
Shirley cuttey Spennymoor Office
Stehen Cairns Fitter
Susan Firth Spennymoor Office
Susan Spennymoor Office Lived in Darlington
Sydney Credit controler ex Homeworthy Accountant
Taffy Evans
Terry Stores Manager from Wolsingham
Terry Sumpton
Tommy Bowen
Tommy Brophy
Tommy Clements
Tommy Coates
Tommy magles Fitter
Tommy Stoddart
Tony Dark skinned driver class 3
Tony Hawkins
Tony Kirk
Valerie Powell Spennymoor Office
Vic Britton
Vic Young Fitter
Yvonne Spennymoor office lived in Chilton
W.H.Williams (Harry) Managing Director
W.H.Williams Snr Founder and orriginal Propriator
Carl. You missed out Harry Hawkins,Laurie Hawkins and Joe Carpenter for now. I’ll try to remember more when I get my brain into gear. I’ll probably have to go to a brain surgeon or rocket scientist for that(see earlier thread). Peter
pbsummers:
Carl. You missed out Harry Hawkins,Laurie Hawkins and Joe Carpenter for now. I’ll try to remember more when I get my brain into gear. I’ll probably have to go to a brain surgeon or rocket scientist for that(see earlier thread). Peter
pbsummers:
Carl. You missed out Harry Hawkins,Laurie Hawkins and Joe Carpenter for now. I’ll try to remember more when I get my brain into gear. I’ll probably have to go to a brain surgeon or rocket scientist for that(see earlier thread). Peter
pbsummers:
Carl. You missed out Harry Hawkins,Laurie Hawkins and Joe Carpenter for now. I’ll try to remember more when I get my brain into gear. I’ll probably have to go to a brain surgeon or rocket scientist for that(see earlier thread). Peter
pbsummers:
Carl. You missed out Harry Hawkins,Laurie Hawkins and Joe Carpenter for now. I’ll try to remember more when I get my brain into gear. I’ll probably have to go to a brain surgeon or rocket scientist for that(see earlier thread). Peter
When you find 1 let me know please
Hi Angie
I think i have set myself an impossible task, but I can keep correcting
pbsummers:
Carl. You missed out Harry Hawkins,Laurie Hawkins and Joe Carpenter for now. I’ll try to remember more when I get my brain into gear. I’ll probably have to go to a brain surgeon or rocket scientist for that(see earlier thread). Peter
Carl Williams:
I have just remembered a few more and revised the list
o Just Added Brian spark Accountant Spennymoor Office and keith Winter Keith Vasey Alan Stout
o Pam Receptionist/Telephonist Spennymoor Office
I think I have set myself a never ending task.
Carl did you see the photo of Tommy Bowen on the Dents thread,Vic.
Hi Vic
So good to hear from you again, I hadn’t noticed, but when I look I have difficulty in recognising anyone.
I am almost sure when he worked for us he drove YWT802G, a Bedford Marsden Luton van usually used on Removals, as it was not as large as our usual ones. I think he then went onto RPT602M, a Ford Passenger chassis , turbocharged with a Pantechnicon body which was usually used on removals, and if that is so it was probably him that was pulled up doing 90MPH with that van I would appreciate if anyone can verify this for me, and also help with the names of other employees as I think I have listed only about half.
v7victor:
Someone will know Carl,as he still lives in Spenny.Regards Vic.
Hi Vic I wonder abut that. There are many in Spennymoor. Two in particular, Colin Watson and Phil Reilly will remember a lot, but as yet they have not been in touch. Never the less I live in hope.
There is still a lot to come, and if your name is not included or has been added late, I apologise and blame my memory, but you are stil equally important
Here are a few drivers for you Carl hope they are not mentioned before —
Terry Sumpton,Eddy Donnelly,Bob Pinkney died @ the wheel in Lancs,Neil Evans lives in Holland,John Chapman(Chappie),Farrah Clark,Peter Winship,Allan Angus died,Paul Sandford died,Dave Hastie,Vic Britton,Big Les Davies,Keith Payne,Eddie Brown,Jock Weatherstone,Billy Welford.
Hope i can think of more Carl - Gordon
animal:
Spoke to Gordon this afternoon was really nice to speak to him & hope we can get the problem sorted about him being on here
Thanks Angie
I am meeting Godon and his wife for a cup of tea tomorrow afternoon. it will be the fist time we’ve met for over 10 years, and I,m sure we’ll have a lot of catching up to do.
Thinking of drivers who lived in Spennymoor, has anyone seen Brian Sheldon recently?
The last time I met him he had a car scrap yard at Chilton and he must now be well into retirement.
I remember Brian driving 4479 PT and then onto Ford D series boxvan FPT721G for many years mostly delivering yarn from Courtaulds, and often traveling in convoy with Ray Juler (Sadly deceased). Brian and Ray made a good comedy duo.
Another character from the past was Ray Russell. He joined us when he was fifteen and stayed until the end. Ray will be approaching retirement now and last time I heard he was still living in Spennymoor.
Ray and Brian will have a wealth of stories to tell.
If anyone knows what they are doing today please let me know. I live in hope they will make contact
Just had a very enjoyable reunion with Gordon Ball, talking of old times.
Between us we remembered a few more ‘names of employees’ and a few stories that I’ll be adding.
I always remembered Gordon Driving BUP32F but he reminded me he then went onto LPT866J and then VPT18V, which again gave him a sleeper cab.
He was telling me that when he went to the South of France to bring back a removal, although they managed to find the small village deep in the countryside, they had to ask a local for the address directions. No one spoke English and both Gordon and Alan spoke no French, so they had a very interesting experience finding the house.
Following my meeting with Gordon
Bob Wetherall Accountant spennymoor office, Bryan Winter, Les Ailesby, Keith Payne, Alan Stout. Peter Cawood , margaret O’Hern,Howard Rushton, Jeanette class 3 driver Sydney Credit controller. Spennymoor office. Fred Nelson
Gordon, at our meeting reminded me of a particular incident in 1984 with Christine a female class one driver who lived in Richmond. Christine had a young daughter and was a single mum, and had her mother looking after her daughter to enable her to earn some money.
She earned one week £360 plus subsistence (A very high wage for 1984) the following week when news got round she found, when she came back home to get into her car, her tyres were slashed and her windscreen wipers were snapped off. Although we had 24 hours security there was no close circuit television in those days and the culprit was never discovered, but it must have been a fellow driver. Jealousy is a terrible thing, but what she had achieved was available to anyone else who was prepared to plan the work and work hard.
