hi gordon , yes that was me , i drove a leyland boxer reg cbb 217j , and a bedford kyy , i mainly delivered in leicester notingham, and london. when driveing was fun . and not for the faint hearted there was no night heaters or beds in our trucks , or sat navs,. …terry.
bullwinkle:
hi gordon , yes that was me , i drove a leyland boxer reg cbb 217j , and a bedford kyy , i mainly delivered in leicester notingham, and london. when driveing was fun . and not for the faint hearted there was no night heaters or beds in our trucks , or sat navs,. …terry.
Hi Terry,
You were lucky you didn’t have to ‘enjoy’ driving one of the Guy Otters. They certainly were not for the faint hearted
Carl
Gordon BallCarl Williams
Here we are waiting @ Lymington for the Isle of Wight Ferry,notice the steep incline in the other photo to board the ferry i remember after the cars was off i slowly drove onto the ramp of the ferry & with the long overhang of my van the rear end hit the concrete ramp so had to reverse off again so the ferry could come further in to allow me to get on
Hi Terry nice to hear from you its been many years,so how long were you in the RAF & did you drive trucks.Yes you were right no night heaters i used the polystyrene from the top & bottom off a freezer from the shops to put up against the windows & put my pillow against it to stop the cold getting to my head & toes i never came to any harm though.
Gordon
goggietara:
Hi Terry did you join us after being in the R A F then went back to the R A F ?
Gordon Ballbullwinkle:
hi carl , dont know if anybody rembers me (terry fullard ) from the early 70,s i used to lead out of cautaulds , with geordie gleason (the colonel) arther overton, brian sheldon, ray juler,i left to join the r.a.f. i have a couple of photo,s i will put on later if can find them .
Gordon BallCarl Williams
12 hours ago
.
Guess what Carl just found this of Alan Brown loading the removal @ the Villa in the South of France for delivery to Stockton.
Sorry Carl i got the Registration no, wrong in the last photo from France i said the van was TPT19V it shows NGR168T in the photo.
Carl Williams:
Gordon BallCarl Williams
12 hours ago
.
Guess what Carl just found this of Alan Brown loading the removal @ the Villa in the South of France for delivery to Stockton.
Sorry Carl i got the Registration no, wrong in the last photo from France i said the van was TPT19V it shows NGR168T in the photo.
Hi Gordon,
It would be an easy mistake to make muddling the numbers as the two vans as well as several others were identical.
From what I could see Alan is feeling the heat. When Phil Reilly and I were loading in Naples we started at about 7.00AM and finnished loading at 11.30 and we were both exhausted. I can understand for me as I never have been fit, but Phil was and the heat got to him. Had we not finnished when we did I suspect we woud have had to take a Siesta. Anyway Gordon, it would be an experience travelling to and from the South of France
Best wishes
Carl
Correct Carl it was hot but we had a good remedy the Bordeaux Truckstop for a few cool beers it did more than cool us off & stay the night, it was the night Alan got them mozzie bites.You put me on that trip to give me a break from my divorce i will never forget your goodwill.
Gordon
Carl Williams:
Carl Williams:
Gordon BallCarl Williams
12 hours ago
.
Guess what Carl just found this of Alan Brown loading the removal @ the Villa in the South of France for delivery to Stockton.
Sorry Carl i got the Registration no, wrong in the last photo from France i said the van was TPT19V it shows NGR168T in the photo.Hi Gordon,
It would be an easy mistake to make muddling the numbers as the two vans as well as several others were identical.From what I could see Alan is feeling the heat. When Phil Reilly and I were loading in Naples we started at about 7.00AM and finnished loading at 11.30 and we were both exhausted. I can understand for me as I never have been fit, but Phil was and the heat got to him. Had we not finnished when we did I suspect we woud have had to take a Siesta. Anyway Gordon, it would be an experience travelling to and from the South of France
Best wishes
Carl
edworth:
Hi Gordon & Carl…Christine on the photo, I am sure she went to Durham Road school and might have been a prefect, it is weird as you get older you seem to remember things more cleary from the past, I cannot remember what the hell I did last week…Carl i think there was a driver from Bishop called Beaumont, think he was related to John Willetts, the only saturday night I ever stopped out was with him, I had a lot of drops for ness and did not get away till late in the week, met up in Kingston he had the old TK 4 cylinder body to big (you know the one) he had been having trouble with it and as we were empty and on our way home we left about 4 in the morning (so I could get back to the club) anyway I stayed behind him all the way to wetherby, I was sick as a pig as it was so slow, I flashed him to stop and to see how it was running and he said it was going brilliant, so I said goodbye to him and off for the club, next morning (monday) when I came in I got such a bollocking off your dad for leaving him as he broke down shortly after I left him, but what made matters worse was when your dad told George Hardy (black spot) to attend him, George went to him in his car and had no bloody gear with him, so when he could not fix it, he had to come back to spennymoor and get something to tow him, no wonder your dad went ballistic, but that was George…wish I had that Alvis now, there was also a 1000cc Vincent in the yard, we use to start it and sit on the seat, but we were not big enough to handle it, what a bike…Gordon, over the food poisoning now, have been bad with it, but like the doc says, as you get older you cannot fight such things as when you are younger, I suppose that go’es for a leg over and all
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
I am sorry it’s taken me so long to reply, but I am almost sure it was John Beaumont and I am adding him to my list.
You mentioned George Hardy and the TK 4 cylinder. Nothing surprises me about George’s work, but he was a great guy, just a little slip shod. Yet occasionally he could work a miracle and get something going that few could achieve. Do you know if he is still alive? I certainly hope so.
George had a job like the firth of Forth bridge painters had with that TK, but much of it was his own doing. It used to break injector pipes on piece, and we eventually found that George, when he put them on was missing some kind of brackets that reduced the vibration, which in its turn broke the pipes.
Never the less George was a character, and life is made interesting by such people.
Best wishes
Carl
goggietara:
Regarding SGS did John Ward drive it? And Colin Watson used to have a fold down steel frame for a bed in i think an AEC in his artic with a big hump in the middle. GordonCarl Williams:
Hi Eddie,The Seddon you bought seems to have been built by VanPlan, from looking at the photo. Am I correct, and after changing the engine how long did you have it? Did you have any problems?
With regard to SGS I have quite a bit to tell,when I can gather u my memory. Thanks for sending the photo as that van had special memories for me How long did you keep it and did you have many troubles with it?
Carl
Hi Gordon,
Yes I remember now, John Ward did drive SGS
Colin had a new Leyland Lynx tractor unit and did have a fold down steel bed, and later when he was given a new Bedford TM he would have put it in it, but we were surprised when we bought a second hand atkinson (Ancient against the TM) he asked to be given it It did have a home made sleeper cab, but he also said he liked diving it better than the TM.
Ronny Allison had a similar bed in an AEC Mercurytractor unit, that he drove from new
Carl
Carl
Dave Brannan rang me to night & it seems he is very interested in the site so lets look forward to Dave’s comments he is positive Jimmy Lutton (Von Lutton)died i am sorry to say he was a real character & gentle giant,i remember a collection note from Thorn’s Electrical in my load for Devon & Cornwall jim had been to Exeter the week before,on the collection note read due to prevailing weather conditions unable to collect what a comment, it was in the summer months still cannot figure the reason maybe a hurricane i have very fond memories of our Jim.
Carl Williams:
goggietara:
Regarding SGS did John Ward drive it? And Colin Watson used to have a fold down steel frame for a bed in i think an AEC in his artic with a big hump in the middle. GordonCarl Williams:
Hi Eddie,The Seddon you bought seems to have been built by VanPlan, from looking at the photo. Am I correct, and after changing the engine how long did you have it? Did you have any problems?
With regard to SGS I have quite a bit to tell,when I can gather u my memory. Thanks for sending the photo as that van had special memories for me How long did you keep it and did you have many troubles with it?
Carl
Hi Gordon,
Yes I remember now, John Ward did drive SGS
Colin had a new Leyland Lynx tractor unit and did have a fold down steel bed, and later when he was given a new Bedford TM he would have put it in it, but we were surprised when we bought a second hand atkinson (Ancient against the TM) he asked to be given it It did have a home made sleeper cab, but he also said he liked diving it better than the TM.
Ronny Allison had a similar bed in an AEC Mercurytractor unit, that he drove from new
Carl
An Atkinson in my view, was a far superior truck to a TM, but of course they were trucks with different uses, eg the TM was best as a removal/light haulage vehicle, the Atkinson for heavier General Haulage.
goggietara:
Hi Eddy sorry cannot say if Christine went to Durham Road School & if she was a prefect but am trying to contact her brother in Spennymoor so will let you know, as i said she died some years ago but had lived in Australia for many years a lovely woman.Eddie is Peter an ex W H W driver i may know himedworth:
Hi Gordon & Carl…Christine on the photo, I am sure she went to Durham Road school and might have been a prefect, it is weird as you get older you seem to remember things more cleary from the past, I cannot remember what the hell I did last week…Carl i think there was a driver from Bishop called Beaumont, think he was related to John Willetts, the only saturday night I ever stopped out was with him, I had a lot of drops for ness and did not get away till late in the week, met up in Kingston he had the old TK 4 cylinder body to big (you know the one) he had been having trouble with it and as we were empty and on our way home we left about 4 in the morning (so I could get back to the club) anyway I stayed behind him all the way to wetherby, I was sick as a pig as it was so slow, I flashed him to stop and to see how it was running and he said it was going brilliant, so I said goodbye to him and off for the club, next morning (monday) when I came in I got such a bollocking off your dad for leaving him as he broke down shortly after I left him, but what made matters worse was when your dad told George Hardy (black spot) to attend him, George went to him in his car and had no bloody gear with him, so when he could not fix it, he had to come back to spennymoor and get something to tow him, no wonder your dad went ballistic, but that was George…wish I had that Alvis now, there was also a 1000cc Vincent in the yard, we use to start it and sit on the seat, but we were not big enough to handle it, what a bike…Gordon, over the food poisoning now, have been bad with it, but like the doc says, as you get older you cannot fight such things as when you are younger, I suppose that go’es for a leg over and all
Eddie
Hi Godon,
Peter is Peter Summers , my half cousin. My grandmother (dad’s mam), and Peter’s grandmother were sisters.
Befoe he started working, Peter was never away from Marmaduke Street.
Carl
edworth:
Hi Carl…that letterhead reminds me when I was a wagon lad and when I was driving the small vans, we used to have the bill for the removal already made out (Distance ones) and there was a postage stamp attatched so when the bill was paid we had to sign across the stamp, or was it the customer that signed across,not sure which, something about the stamp made it legal etc…Gordon, Peter is not a ex driver, he is related to Carl and he was never away from Marmaduke st when he was a kid, he use to go out with anybody as long as he was in a wagon,I don’t want him to get a big head
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
I think the reason that old letterhead reminded you f the invoices we used to give you when yu did removals in the early sixties was that as it was before photocopiers we used a Getsetner Duplicator machine I had bought as it was cheaper than printing.
They were a fairly primitive form of printing where we first had to cut a stencil with a typewriter and then attach it to a drum filled with ink. It was very messy with ink getting all over the place and the girls in the office hated when they had to use it. Later on of course when we got our first Photostat copier it was redundant, but how I wished I had kept it as it would have been quite a collector’s item today.
Here is a description from Wikipedia
Duplicating machines were the predecessors of modern document-reproduction technology. They have now been replaced by digital duplicators, scanners, laser printers and photocopiers, but for many years they were the primary means of reproducing documents for limited-run distribution.
Like the typewriter, these machines were products of the second phase of the industrial revolution which started near the end of the 19th century (also called the Second Industrial Revolution)[citation needed][jargon]. This second phase brought to mass markets technologies like the small electric motors and the products of industrial chemistry without which the duplicating machines would not have been economical. By bringing greatly increased quantities of paperwork to daily life, the duplicating machine and the typewriter gradually changed the forms of the office desk and transformed the nature of office work.
They were often used in schools, churches, and small organizations, where cheap copying was in demand for the production of newsletters and worksheets. Self-publishers also used these machines to produce fanzines.
I have another interesting invoice from 1920 I will be putting on in the next few days, which will be quite interesting
Best wishes
Carl
goggietara:
Carl this must be the same Truck i drove to Wigan on a rally, you & Susan went in the red Merc, as i was driving others passed & slowed to get a good look as it was a nice OLD coloured Truck i remember while parked on the A59 near preston a family in a Rolls Royce pulled up behind & was truly admiring it i nearly gave him a swap Carl.Carl Williams:
1937 Bedford 2 Tonner
Hi Gordon,
You went to Tatton Park with it, and here it is.
Hi Beano11…Dickie Porter was the lad for Gardiner engines, he came to WH’s from Dents who had a lot of Atkinson’s (Good Wagon) like you said, it is horses for courses, the Bedford was good for its job and vice versa.
Eddie
Here is an invoice sent to my granfather on 1920 by his father in law. Eho to clarify things, Gordon was my Great Grandfather, and also Peter Summer’ Great Grandfather.
Carl was that me driving? i remember sleeping in the tent a canny weekend. 
Carl Williams:
goggietara:
Carl this must be the same Truck i drove to Wigan on a rally, you & Susan went in the red Merc, as i was driving others passed & slowed to get a good look as it was a nice OLD coloured Truck i remember while parked on the A59 near preston a family in a Rolls Royce pulled up behind & was truly admiring it i nearly gave him a swap Carl.Carl Williams:
1937 Bedford 2 TonnerHi Gordon,
You went to Tatton Park with it, and here it is.
goggietara:
Carl
Dave Brannan rang me to night & it seems he is very interested in the site so lets look forward to Dave’s comments he is positive Jimmy Lutton (Von Lutton)died i am sorry to say he was a real character & gentle giant,i remember a collection note from Thorn’s Electrical in my load for Devon & Cornwall jim had been to Exeter the week before,on the collection note read due to prevailing weather conditions unable to collect what a comment, it was in the summer months still cannot figure the reason maybe a hurricane i have very fond memories of our Jim.Carl Williams:
goggietara:
Regarding SGS did John Ward drive it? And Colin Watson used to have a fold down steel frame for a bed in i think an AEC in his artic with a big hump in the middle. GordonCarl Williams:
Hi Eddie,The Seddon you bought seems to have been built by VanPlan, from looking at the photo. Am I correct, and after changing the engine how long did you have it? Did you have any problems?
Hi Gordon,
Thanks for contacting Dave Brannon. I hope he joins as it would be nice to get some stories from te workshop. I am sorry to hea of Jim Lutton, a real nice bloke.
He could take a joke, and I remember saying to him. ‘Well face the facts Jimmy, you are just like me, bone idle’, and he laughed it off.
Remember Alan Henderson, who ran the workshops, I think he had died. I googled Alan Henderson Hartlepool (Where he lived) and details came up of his funeral. Unless his father was also called Alan, but I think Alan would be about your age Gordon?
CarlWith regard to SGS I have quite a bit to tell,when I can gather u my memory. Thanks for sending the photo as that van had special memories for me How long did you keep it and did you have many troubles with it?
Carl
Hi Gordon,
Yes I remember now, John Ward did drive SGS
Colin had a new Leyland Lynx tractor unit and did have a fold down steel bed, and later when he was given a new Bedford TM he would have put it in it, but we were surprised when we bought a second hand atkinson (Ancient against the TM) he asked to be given it It did have a home made sleeper cab, but he also said he liked diving it better than the TM.
Ronny Allison had a similar bed in an AEC Mercurytractor unit, that he drove from new
Carl
Hi Gordon,
Thanks for contacting Dave Brannon. I hope he joins as it would be nice to get some stories from te workshop. I am sorry to hea of Jim Lutton, a real nice bloke.
He could take a joke, and I remember saying to him. ‘Well face the facts Jimmy, you are just like me, bone idle’, and he laughed it off.
Remember Alan Henderson, who ran the workshops, I think he had died. I googled Alan Henderson Hartlepool (Where he lived) and details came up of his funeral. Unless his father was also called Alan, but I think Alan would be about your age Gordon?
Carl
Hi Carl, Eddie and Gordon.
Yes, I used to be at Marmaduke Street as much as I could. I enjoyed being part of business in those times even though I was not employed by W H Williams. I was quite happy to be accepted by all the drivers as an equal. I used to help tranship loads, do removals and help with deliveries also any fitting when required which helped me with my trade in later life. If I hadn’t become an engineer would I have worked for WHW? The answer to that is yes if you would have had me. I loved every minute I was there.
Eddie, correct me if I am wrong but i can recollect you returning back to Spennymoor in the best vehicle in the fleet (NPT 719D the J2)■■?!!! You started to lose oil. I don’t know how far you were from home but I think you used 44 pints of oil to get you back, pouring it in as you were driving. Had George Hardy been doing work on the sump before you left? Sorry George if you are reading this but you always had spares left when you assembled anything but you would always help anybody out. One thing I can say about NPT in it’s favour is you couldn’t go to sleep whilst driving it as the noise from the engine was horrendous. You had to fight the steering to keep it in a straight line and had to keep changing down on a motorway to keep It going. Eddie you know which Bedford I’m talking about: we have had it for 34 years (but it’s painted in the wrong livery should have been W H W). Just doing some framework repairs at the moment. You don’t know about the second vehicle though: I will put some pictures on later.
Gordon. It was my brother Barry that you met at the Coach and Horses: I’m the better looking one. I can remember you. We went on the same rally at Tatton Park. I had problems down there - got a hole in the radiator and had to remove it to do a temporary repair to get us home. You used to drive TPT19V. I think we should all get together to discuss old times before old times catch us up.
All the best to you all
Peter
Hi Peter…Cannot wait for the photo’s, I have some pictures of the old bedford of yours the one in PIGFORDS colours (sorry about the spelling) I played around with them and put different liverys on it, don’t know if I dare publish them, probaly get sued Yes Peter you are right again about the J2 George had done some repairs the previus day and I was down Cambridge way when the oil light came on, I checked my oil and could see there was oil all over the engine, so I phoned harry and was told if it was not to bad keep topping it up, so I finished my delivery and headed home, I got so sick of stopping every time the oil light came on, I decided that the engine cover which was in the cab, I tied it back so the next time the oil light came on I would pour the oil straight into the engine without stopping, you have guess it, the backflow of wind from the fanblade plus the volume of air with the bonnet open was like weeing into the wind, I was covered in engine oil I had to pull in straight away as I could not see through the windscreen as it was covered in oil, what a hell of a mess I was in and the inside of the cab, but I got home and Harry had a good laugh, at least he got the van back without anybody having to be called out talking about weeing into the wind, when I was a wagon lad, I was on a journey somewhere with Harry Blatchford and I asked him to stop so I could relieve myself,being Harry he said “hang on or stick it out of the door” (remember we had sliding doors on the Marsdens) so knowing he would not stop I stuck it out the door, and just like the J2 oil thing, it all came flowing back into the cab and over me and Harry, he soon pulled in, then he had the cheek to blame me, those were the days …Also George could take ten components off a engine and put 11 back on and still be left with something■■? Eddie.