goggietara:
Carl did Eric Richardsond ever drive this it could be him he has his stance?
GordonCarl Williams:
RTY5G Dodge 13ton GVW with Marsden Fibreglass luton body. Perkins 6.354 diesel engine.Any idea who is standing next to it?
Hi Gordon,
I don’t think Eric Richardson drove it regularly, but it could well be him.
He used to live down in Tudhoe, I think. Do you know is he still with us?
Carl
hiya,
Hello Carl I look at your thread on a daily basis, I don’t have any imput but enjoy
reading the posts and pleased that your thread is doing so well, the nearest I
ever got to your type of work was back in the late 1950s when I drove a Bedford
S type with a van body delivering Belling (cookers) all over the UK, getting those
things down from two high on your own could be a challenge, it used to annoy me
that the delivery point lads wouldn’t come into the van to give you a lift down to
platform level, I know of one or two drivers that got hurt lifting those heavy old
cookers about, hard but happy old day’s Eh’.
thanks harry long retired.
harry_gill:
hiya,
Hello Carl I look at your thread on a daily basis, I don’t have any imput but enjoy
reading the posts and pleased that your thread is doing so well, the nearest I
ever got to your type of work was back in the late 1950s when I drove a Bedford
S type with a van body delivering Belling (cookers) all over the UK, getting those
things down from two high on your own could be a challenge, it used to annoy me
that the delivery point lads wouldn’t come into the van to give you a lift down to
platform level, I know of one or two drivers that got hurt lifting those heavy old
cookers about, hard but happy old day’s Eh’.
thanks harry long retired.
Hello Harry…Little bit younger than you, but we used to collect Creda cooker parts from Padiham when we were delivering for Thorns (Tricity) where are Belling from, was it liverpool, know what you mean about no one helping you down with the top cookers, sometimes they came down with a hell of a bang.
All the best Eddie
harry_gill:
hiya,
Hello Carl I look at your thread on a daily basis, I don’t have any imput but enjoy
reading the posts and pleased that your thread is doing so well, the nearest I
ever got to your type of work was back in the late 1950s when I drove a Bedford
S type with a van body delivering Belling (cookers) all over the UK, getting those
things down from two high on your own could be a challenge, it used to annoy me
that the delivery point lads wouldn’t come into the van to give you a lift down to
platform level, I know of one or two drivers that got hurt lifting those heavy old
cookers about, hard but happy old day’s Eh’.
thanks harry long retired.
Hi Harry,
Yes as I said earlier cookers were very heavy, however our drivers tended to be lucky, as they usualy had mixed loads of cookers and fridges and obviously the fridges were loaded on top of the cookers and were much lighter. It certainly was easier lowering fridges down onto the van floor. I think the worst option drivers had was struggling trying to push a square of eight appliances to the back of the van on the Joloda tracks, so that they could use the tailift to help unload. In fact that was impossible for a driver on his own, and fitting Joloaders onto forty foot trailers was an expensive addition to the trailer’s costs, just to keep ‘Transport Experts’ 'educated ’ in our universities who had never stepped into a cab happy.
Pleased you siill haven’t got sick of reading this thread.
Carl
Carl
I saw Eric Richardson about two months ago in Durham but he did not seem too well, he & his wife has a bungalow @ the back of the Tudhoe Vic but they both worked in central London for many years.
Carl Williams:
goggietara:
Carl did Eric Richardsond ever drive this it could be him he has his stance?
GordonCarl Williams:
RTY5G Dodge 13ton GVW with Marsden Fibreglass luton body. Perkins 6.354 diesel engine.Any idea who is standing next to it?Hi Gordon,
I don’t think Eric Richardson drove it regularly, but it could well be him.
He used to live down in Tudhoe, I think. Do you know is he still with us?
Carl
edworth:
harry_gill:
hiya,
Hello Carl I look at your thread on a daily basis, I don’t have any imput but enjoy
reading the posts and pleased that your thread is doing so well, the nearest I
ever got to your type of work was back in the late 1950s when I drove a Bedford
S type with a van body delivering Belling (cookers) all over the UK, getting those
things down from two high on your own could be a challenge, it used to annoy me
that the delivery point lads wouldn’t come into the van to give you a lift down to
platform level, I know of one or two drivers that got hurt lifting those heavy old
cookers about, hard but happy old day’s Eh’.
thanks harry long retired.Hello Harry…Little bit younger than you, but we used to collect Creda cooker parts from Padiham when we were delivering for Thorns (Tricity) where are Belling from, was it liverpool, know what you mean about no one helping you down with the top cookers, sometimes they came down with a hell of a bang.
All the best Eddie
hiya,
Eddie the Belling factory was quite near the depot ( I was on for Fearings of Burnley at the time ) ,
sort of just behind Turf Moor football stadium no more than half a mile from Fearings yard, the
nearest I ever got to running vans after that time was running those tilts from customer to point
of export, I didn’t go over the water with them just change trailers and deliver and load then do
the same thing all over again, those tilts was hard work if for any reason you had to strip them down.
thanks harry long retired.
pbsummers:
Hi Eddie, I recognised the van in your photo - Bray’s Removals - you did an excellent job in changing the livery and 4hrs is definitely a lot faster than me but our van is a real one. Well done, clever artwork manipulation. I have to admit it has taken us 30 years to rebuild the Foden. I keep promising to post photos but will do it soon.Hi Carl, Going back to the earlier thread about our great grandfather J F Clemments, I Googled him, ie asked my mother about him. Apparently he was a property owner as well as an auctioneer. I was told he was collecting rent from his tennants when he was attacked and very badly beaten by three men and, unfoturnatly, died from his injuries. He was only 52years old at the time. The three men were never charged with anything and got away free.
Hope you both are well Peter
Hi Peter,
I apologise I missed answering you about our mutual Great Grandfather. I never heard of this incident, or how he died, I only knew he died relatively young, and that Aunt Nell went down to Hertfordshire to live with her aunt and her cousin, who was Connie who I met several times, who had one arm.
Dad used to like to go down when he was very young as one of that family used to drive a van for Waring and Gillow delivering furniture, and dad, aged then about ten used to enjoy riding in the cab with him, as he did his deliveries round London and Hertfordshire. I think that is what caused dad his enthusiasm with wagons, and was something he never did with my grandfather, as they never had the closeness, but also because my grandfather never drove a wagon himself during dad’s early years My grandfather was an organiser rather than a worker. (I hope this doesn’t sound disrespectful of him because in his way he had been a very hard worker, but not with his hands)
I also understood that James Clement’s wife (Our Great Grandmother) was ill and went to see a faith healer with what it would appear to be cancerous leg and was ‘cured’ but told the illness would return. On the death of her husband she went south and got a job as a housekeeper. (Presumably after sending Nell who was still young down to Hertfordshire. ■■■■ her twin went to live in a house with Uncle Jim until he married and then joined his sister in St Albans).
Eventually our great grandmother’s illness returned and she came home to Spennymoor to die.
Really was a tragedy, as Clements was, as you can imagine, a very clever man, and none of his family were able to keep the business he founded alive.
The only thing I remember was that my grandmother had a huge photo of her father hung behind the sideboard, and I encouraged by my grandfather and dad used to tell her to take it down as it looked like Hitler. Looking back it was awful as it was her father, but I don’t think there had been much love lost between my grandfather and his father in law.
I think the problem was that all the Clements’ had accused my grandfather of ‘gold digging’ when he married my grandmother. With the exception of your grandmother, Aunt Ethel, he had to his delight from time to time helped the family out to prove he was the one who could make the money, and had not been a gold digger. This was something he could always ‘rub my grandmother’s nose in.
I think when you look at most self-employed people who built up a business, like my grandfather you always find men who have done it mostly to prove themselves. It drives them on. My grandfather had to show he was better than his three sisters and two brothers and also the Clement family.
Best wishes
Carl
A photo of a Bedford TF with pantechnicon van body repainted in the modified livery used during the last two years. The most noteable change was the cream cab, but in fact the full paintwork was in cream with only brown rectangles on front, back and sides with W.H.Williams signwritten as usual in white block capitals with black shading. The side layout was completly altered with the name at top and all other writing in red lower case with no shading…I think when viewed not moving it did look better and more modern but from the front and back when a vehicle was approaching or you were approaching from the rear, they didn’t stand out as much and were therefore not as noticable, which was the one thing that had made our vehicles so well known.
In this case the van was built neither by Marsden or vanplan,but by Carlight who were a very expensive caravan manufacturer. The body was fibreglass and certainly better than the effort made by Boyer brothers (Boalloy the Tautliner makers) but not up to Marsden standard.
NUP856J Bedford KF with Marsden Fibreglass body 330 cu in diesel engine who is standing next to it?
Carl
Dennis Gough our good freind (Pea & Ham) from Ireland was staying in Pontefract a regular stopover for Truckers & when he asked a barmaid how Jock Weatherstone an ex Para was doing as he moved in with a wee lass from there, he was shocked to hear he had leaukemia & sadly died three years ago he was a great lad & full of life.He & his girl were due to move to Tenerife to open a bar when he took ill.
Gordon
Carl Williams:
NUP856J Bedford KF with Marsden Fibreglass body 330 cu in diesel engine who is standing next to it?
goggietara:
Carl
Dennis Gough our good freind (Pea & Ham) from Ireland was staying in Pontefract a regular stopover for Truckers & when he asked a barmaid how Jock Weatherstone an ex Para was doing as he moved in with a wee lass from there, he was shocked to hear he had leaukemia & sadly died three years ago he was a great lad & full of life.He & his girl were due to move to Tenerife to open a bar when he took ill.
GordonCarl Williams:
NUP856J Bedford KF with Marsden Fibreglass body 330 cu in diesel engine who is standing next to it?
hi Godon,
jock wouldn’t have been that old. It’s awful isn’t it how so many have died. Soon there will just be you , Eddie and me at that rate!
Carl
Carl Williams:
goggietara:
Carl
Dennis Gough our good freind (Pea & Ham) from Ireland was staying in Pontefract a regular stopover for Truckers & when he asked a barmaid how Jock Weatherstone an ex Para was doing as he moved in with a wee lass from there, he was shocked to hear he had leaukemia & sadly died three years ago he was a great lad & full of life.He & his girl were due to move to Tenerife to open a bar when he took ill.
GordonCarl Williams:
NUP856J Bedford KF with Marsden Fibreglass body 330 cu in diesel engine who is standing next to it?hi Godon,
jock wouldn’t have been that old. It’s awful isn’t it how so many have died. Soon there will just be you , Eddie and me at that rate!
Carl
Carl Jock may only have been about 60 years if that, a great character.
Gordon
A group of vans:
goggietara:
Carl
I saw Eric Richardson about two months ago in Durham but he did not seem too well, he & his wife has a bungalow @ the back of the Tudhoe Vic but they both worked in central London for many years.Carl Williams:
goggietara:
Carl did Eric Richardsond ever drive this it could be him he has his stance?
GordonCarl Williams:
RTY5G Dodge 13ton GVW with Marsden Fibreglass luton body. Perkins 6.354 diesel engine.Any idea who is standing next to it?Hi Gordon,
I don’t think Eric Richardson drove it regularly, but it could well be him.
He used to live down in Tudhoe, I think. Do you know is he still with us?
Carl
Hi Gordon,
Somehow I missed reading this post.
I am so pleased to hear Eric is still alive , Its good to hear not everyone has died.
Carl
Lorry drivers have always enjoyed their devilment!
In the late twenties, early 1930’s my grandfather employed Peter Clearly. He stayed with us until he retired in the early fifties. I still have very brief recollections of him when I was very young.
Peter was originally Irish, and lived with his wife in Tudhoe. Described by both my grandfather and father as very conciencious, and a very nice man. Peter was always at work half an hour before he was due to start, which was usually about 5-00, am.
Peter was terrified of mice, and one day arriving at work at 4-30 in the morning, it was his custom to open the garage dip the oil and fill up with water (There was no antifreeze in those days and they drained the radiators every night). He, then, in the dark got into his cab to reverse the Bedford onto Marmaduke Street, so he could lock up the garage again and sit in the cab waiting for his van lad to arrive so they could get a quick start. To his horror he found that some of his work mates had tied, by its tail a dead mouse to the steering wheel.
The next driver to arrive found Peter petrified not daring to get back in the cab.
As I said Peter worked till he retired and one day a few years later dad got a message to say that Peter had asked if dad could call to see him as he was very ill. When dad went it was obvious to him that Peter was dying. Dad asked Peter if there was anything he wanted and he said he would like to see the priest (Peter was a Roman Catholic, who had married a lady who was C of E and the father, years before, had told Peter he was a sinner, living in sin and not welcome in the church).
Dad who was not a Catholic went to find the priest and ask him to visit Peter. I don’t know how dad managed but he persuaded him to go and see Peter. On, going into the house before he would give ‘The Last Rights’ he told Peter he would have to apologise for living in sin and being a sinner. Peter, although very weak told him to leave his house and never come back, and soon afterwards died.
Dad never had much religious belief, and I think this was an event that made him even surer that vicars and priests were not always as good as they should be.
At dad’s funeral although he had long left Spennymoor, and had always said to me ‘Don’t waste money on a funeral; I felt I wanted his funeral at St Andrew’s church at Spennymoor. It had been his parish church for so many years. My grandfather was baptised there as was dad, who also had his wedding there, and at the time of the funeral, the vicar was away, so we had to use one from Coundon, who was gay. What my dad would have thought I don’t know but he did a very good service. It just shows there are good and bad in all areas of life.
I was most surprised that the church was overflowing, as after all the years had passed I thought no one might turn up. I never got the opportunity to thank ex staff that went so if you read this-Thank you.
Hi Parcelman,
How is your Dad Jim we would love to hear news of him please get him to comment of his years in Aberdeen.
Thanks - Gordon Ball
parcelman:
Just like to know if anybody has pictures of williams vehicles,contacted carl williams through this site and has been very helpfull by having a few pictures added but admits he doesnt have many.Any drivers who may have worked there or knows somebody that worked there may have the odd picture laying about would be great,incidentally my father jim ferguson would also appreciate getting to see any pictures of williams or getting to hear of any drivers that are still kicking around he would love to hear from you,hope some of you can help?
Carl
Is Peter any relative of a Peter Cleary i lived next door to me in Chilton in the 60s but was divrced & was a lorry driver also but still in his 40s.
Gordon
Carl Williams:
Lorry drivers have always enjoyed their devilment!
In the late twenties, early 1930’s my grandfather employed Peter Clearly. He stayed with us until he retired in the early fifties. I still have very brief recollections of him when I was very young.
Peter was originally Irish, and lived with his wife in Tudhoe. Described by both my grandfather and father as very conciencious, and a very nice man. Peter was always at work half an hour before he was due to start, which was usually about 5-00, am.
Peter was terrified of mice, and one day arriving at work at 4-30 in the morning, it was his custom to open the garage dip the oil and fill up with water (There was no antifreeze in those days and they drained the radiators every night). He, then, in the dark got into his cab to reverse the Bedford onto Marmaduke Street, so he could lock up the garage again and sit in the cab waiting for his van lad to arrive so they could get a quick start. To his horror he found that some of his work mates had tied, by its tail a dead mouse to the steering wheel.
The next driver to arrive found Peter petrified not daring to get back in the cab.
As I said Peter worked till he retired and one day a few years later dad got a message to say that Peter had asked if dad could call to see him as he was very ill. When dad went it was obvious to him that Peter was dying. Dad asked Peter if there was anything he wanted and he said he would like to see the priest (Peter was a Roman Catholic, who had married a lady who was C of E and the father, years before, had told Peter he was a sinner, living in sin and not welcome in the church).
Dad who was not a Catholic went to find the priest and ask him to visit Peter. I don’t know how dad managed but he persuaded him to go and see Peter. On, going into the house before he would give ‘The Last Rights’ he told Peter he would have to apologise for living in sin and being a sinner. Peter, although very weak told him to leave his house and never come back, and soon afterwards died.
Dad never had much religious belief, and I think this was an event that made him even surer that vicars and priests were not always as good as they should be.
At dad’s funeral although he had long left Spennymoor, and had always said to me ‘Don’t waste money on a funeral; I felt I wanted his funeral at St Andrew’s church at Spennymoor. It had been his parish church for so many years. My grandfather was baptised there as was dad, who also had his wedding there, and at the time of the funeral, the vicar was away, so we had to use one from Coundon, who was gay. What my dad would have thought I don’t know but he did a very good service. It just shows there are good and bad in all areas of life.
I was most surprised that the church was overflowing, as after all the years had passed I thought no one might turn up. I never got the opportunity to thank ex staff that went so if you read this-Thank you.
Carl
Seeing as these years are going quickly & so many have left us how about putting word out to all who would like a meet up & a few beers or a meal?
Gordon
goggietara:
Carl
Is Peter any relative of a Peter Cleary i lived next door to me in Chilton in the 60s but was divrced & was a lorry driver also but still in his 40s.
GordonCarl Williams:
Lorry drivers have always enjoyed their devilment!
In the late twenties, early 1930’s my grandfather employed Peter Clearly. He stayed with us until he retired in the early fifties. I still have very brief recollections of him when I was very young.
Peter was originally Irish, and lived with his wife in Tudhoe. Described by both my grandfather and father as very conciencious, and a very nice man. Peter was always at work half an hour before he was due to start, which was usually about 5-00, am.
Peter was terrified of mice, and one day arriving at work at 4-30 in the morning, it was his custom to open the garage dip the oil and fill up with water (There was no antifreeze in those days and they drained the radiators every night). He, then, in the dark got into his cab to reverse the Bedford onto Marmaduke Street, so he could lock up the garage again and sit in the cab waiting for his van lad to arrive so they could get a quick start. To his horror he found that some of his work mates had tied, by its tail a dead mouse to the steering wheel.
The next driver to arrive found Peter petrified not daring to get back in the cab.
As I said Peter worked till he retired and one day a few years later dad got a message to say that Peter had asked if dad could call to see him as he was very ill. When dad went it was obvious to him that Peter was dying. Dad asked Peter if there was anything he wanted and he said he would like to see the priest (Peter was a Roman Catholic, who had married a lady who was C of E and the father, years before, had told Peter he was a sinner, living in sin and not welcome in the church).
Dad who was not a Catholic went to find the priest and ask him to visit Peter. I don’t know how dad managed but he persuaded him to go and see Peter. On, going into the house before he would give ‘The Last Rights’ he told Peter he would have to apologise for living in sin and being a sinner. Peter, although very weak told him to leave his house and never come back, and soon afterwards died.
Dad never had much religious belief, and I think this was an event that made him even surer that vicars and priests were not always as good as they should be.
At dad’s funeral although he had long left Spennymoor, and had always said to me ‘Don’t waste money on a funeral; I felt I wanted his funeral at St Andrew’s church at Spennymoor. It had been his parish church for so many years. My grandfather was baptised there as was dad, who also had his wedding there, and at the time of the funeral, the vicar was away, so we had to use one from Coundon, who was gay. What my dad would have thought I don’t know but he did a very good service. It just shows there are good and bad in all areas of life.
I was most surprised that the church was overflowing, as after all the years had passed I thought no one might turn up. I never got the opportunity to thank ex staff that went so if you read this-Thank you.
Gordon…There was a Peter Cleary from Croxdale, he had a brother or uncle called Butch, he only had one arm and worked for Sunter’s of Northallerton as a kind of wagon lad (it was heavy haulage) there was another lad from Spennymoor who worked for them John Eastman or Easter both were good lads,we used to pick them up on the A1 and give a lift home, at the moment I am having trouble with kidney stones,waiting for a scan at James Cook to see what they going to do, do you know if Colin Watson is still around, I would have thought he would have been on here by now if he was, last time I saw him was at WHs funeral with Doc Holiday,Brian Sheldon,Norman Flatman,Dennis from Ness,we were all talking as we waited for the hearse to arrive and a helicpoter flew over, we all looked at each other and said it must be Harry keeping a eye on us…Carl, Gordon is right about meeting up, the way we are all dropping we will not need a big table 
Eddie
edworth:
Gordon…There was a Peter Cleary from Croxdale, he had a brother or uncle called Butch, he only had one arm and worked for Sunter’s of Northallerton as a kind of wagon lad (it was heavy haulage) there was another lad from Spennymoor who worked for them John Eastman or Easter both were good lads,we used to pick them up on the A1 and give a lift home, at the moment I am having trouble with kidney stones,waiting for a scan at James Cook to see what they going to do, do you know if Colin Watson is still around, I would have thought he would have been on here by now if he was, last time I saw him was at WHs funeral with Doc Holiday,Brian Sheldon,Norman Flatman,Dennis from Ness,we were all talking as we waited for the hearse to arrive and a helicpoter flew over, we all looked at each other and said it must be Harry keeping a eye on us…Carl, Gordon is right about meeting up, the way we are all dropping we will not need a big table
Eddie
Hi Eddie and Gordon,
Peter would have been older than my grandfather about 120 years old now, but I’m sure he will have had children, who in turn will have had children.
I hope Colin Watson is still alive, I haven’t heard anything different. His daughter used to work in Darlington Hospital as a receptionist I seem to remember, but my mam has decided she is too ill to go now for pointless appointments that don’t help her ad in our opinion are just made up to keep consultants earnings high to enable them to enjoy their lives, so we haven’t heard anything from that source.
I hope he does hear of this thread as I am sure he has many memories to tell.
I hope we can meet up sometime, soon before it’s too late. I for one have been told my illness is ‘Life reducing’ and not to expect a long life. Hope Peter Summers can find the time to come as well because with his memory……
Best wishes
Carl