Carl Williams:
My son Paul. recently joined Chatfield DAF as a sales executive and I’m pleased to see my family once more connected in Road Haulage, be it vehicles sales. He has just secured his first large order from George Allison Darlington (another old NE name) for 6 new DAF XF Supercab 460 tractor units.
So I’ll be looking forward as they start to hit the road December.
Although most of the old names have gone over recent years and there are few large hauliers left in the North East, he is finding those who he meets still remember W.H.Williams (Haulage) Ltd of Spennymoor and most appreciate meeting someone who’s bloodline is in transport.
I enjoy hearing where he’s been and who he’s been to see. Times change but the characters of Road Transport never do.
Hi Carl. I remember when my dad finished at A.One Transport, I used to come to see him most weekends and regal my tales of my life on the road the previous week. My mam said he really looked forward to this and I was happy to oblige as he took me everywhere on school holidays, with me a smile on my face all the time. Sadly he passed away in 2001so my tales went untold.Hope you are well Carl.Best regards Jeff.
One of our ERF’s taking 1938 Bedford 30cwt to London-Brighton run 1981 seen in Battersea Park waiting to Unload. Frank Morgan was with the van & I am not sure who was driving the ERF. I was too busy to travel with the van & so arrived by train to do the rally with Frank.
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?
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?
I have just been given this photo of SGS333R. This was a van I well remember, because my dad got information that Shaw & Kilburn (London Vauxhall/Bedford agents) had preregistered 4 Bedford TKs in order to get a particular volume bonus and they were to be auctioned at British Car Auctions Leeds. Brand new with delivery mileage, but been registered & stored for 6 months. I got a lift down to Leeds pockets stuffed with cash & trade plates in hand by one of our drivers. One of the first people I bumped into was Norman Fitt who had Mayfair Motors at Coxhoe, who dealt in commercial vehicles & although he would not be interested in a TK chassis cab he would, if he got the chance bid me up to make sure I didn’t get a bargain.I bought SGS & saved over £3,000 on what it would have cost us new even after 15% discount we used to receive on new Bedfords. After paying off I went with it over to Warrington & delivered it to Marsden Coachbuilders who built most of our bodies.They stripped down the cab to build the integral body & we put cab doors, windscreen etc into our parts stock to be used as needed on our standard TK cab.The only thing that dad & I discussed before was that it only had 330cu in diesel engine, & all others we ran with that specification of body length & taillift had 466 (500 when it was introduced) but bearing in mind the money we were saving it would be OK. However apparently (I learned this from a recent driver;s reunion) John Ward, one of our drivers was asked by dad to take a load that entailed him staying over on a Saturday night& returning Sunday morning.Dad told John 'You do me this favour, & there is a new van coming in about 5 weeks & you can have it. John told me that he was pleased to be given SGS until he drove it with the 330 cu in engine & found how slow it was. They say Birds of a Feather … Notice parked next to it is a Mercedes From NESS Furniture Croxdale Spennymoor. The two drivers must have met up & parked to have a night out together.
Hi Carl, Norman Fitt, That’s a blast from the past, He was a hard man to do a deal with, I remember a cousin of mine doing a deal with him on a 8 wheeler Foden, They bartered for hours before agreeing on the price. IIRC He went on to dealing in vans, I wonder if he is still about ?, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hi Carl, Norman Fitt, That’s a blast from the past, He was a hard man to do a deal with, I remember a cousin of mine doing a deal with him on a 8 wheeler Foden, They bartered for hours before agreeing on the price. IIRC He went on to dealing in vans, I wonder if he is still about ?, Regards Larry.
I don’t know if he’s still about,Larry, but although we never bought a commercial off him, & he came over to talk as though he was a long lost brother, he would have tried to make sure I paid through the nose, if he could. When he sold vans I bought three ■■■■■■ vans off him for the fitters to run round in. over three years or so.
It worries me when I look back on that day in Leeds all those years ago, and it feels just like yesterday. Makes life so short!
Hi Carl,
Hope you are well. Here is a photo of some of the vans lined up. I have some more photos, not the best quality, but may be of interest.
Regards, Mark
LR Man:
Hi Carl,
Hope you are well. Here is a photo of some of the vans lined up. I have some more photos, not the best quality, but may be of interest.
Regards, Mark
Hi Mark,
I would be very pleased to see any photos, no matter what the quality. How I wished I had taken some but with seeing them every day I never thought.
Thanks again. I think they are two excellent photos.
I cannot thank you enough
Hi Carl,
Glad you liked them, I have more! Here is Bedford MND 463P
Once again, thanks Mark.
I cannot remember that van being written & painted that way.
It must have been before we opened our Sunderland office, and long before Sheffield, Wellingborough & London.
The lettering is far too crushed, probably why it was a one off. Also the trailer that is showing behind has Spennymoor Newcastle & Sunderland and I can’t remember any like that, and yet neither would have been done without me saying so. I must be getting old. If you have any others I would be so pleased to see them. So far, although we had about 14 painted in Courtaulds livery none have turned up, also The Fisher Price painted trailer. One trailer at least was painted in the ‘New Livery’ with W.H.Williams in Brown along the top of the van, like the vans with the cream cabs had and all the depots listed. All of these I keep hoping come to life, but I can only live in hope. When I was amongst them every day I never thought of getting a camera & taking a photo, now how I wish I did.
In a couple of weeks time my latest grandson,Paul’s son is getting Christened, and I am going, but I’ll nearly be a stranger there as Paul’s mother’s family & Paul’s wife’s family will be there, but none of my family, You know Mark you with Barry,Peter Christine & Allan are my family and I’m so pleased you have kept these photos.
I remember the Courtaulds ones. When I was about 10, I went down to Southampton to spend some of my summer holidays with my aunty Audrey and uncle Phil. You may remember Phil, he drove for Bakers of Southampton mainly on heavy haulage and continental work (they had a removals side to the business - Downer Bakers and also Hills Removals). My dad and uncle Harry organised a lift for me in one of your Leyland Laird’s in Courtaulds colours, unfortunately I don’t think I have a photo though.
I do have a few photos with W.H. Williams wagons in other livery’s which may be of interest.
I remember the Courtaulds ones. When I was about 10, I went down to Southampton to spend some of my summer holidays with my aunty Audrey and uncle Phil. You may remember Phil, he drove for Bakers of Southampton mainly on heavy haulage and continental work (they had a removals side to the business - Downer Bakers and also Hills Removals). My dad and uncle Harry organised a lift for me in one of your Leyland Laird’s in Courtaulds colours, unfortunately I don’t think I have a photo though.
I do have a few photos with W.H. Williams wagons in other livery’s which may be of interest.
I remember the Courtaulds ones. When I was about 10, I went down to Southampton to spend some of my summer holidays with my aunty Audrey and uncle Phil. You may remember Phil, he drove for Bakers of Southampton mainly on heavy haulage and continental work (they had a removals side to the business - Downer Bakers and also Hills Removals). My dad and uncle Harry organised a lift for me in one of your Leyland Laird’s in Courtaulds colours, unfortunately I don’t think I have a photo though.
I do have a few photos with W.H. Williams wagons in other livery’s which may be of interest.
I hope the christening goes ok.
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark, I bet it was an experience travelling down to Southampton in one of our Lairds. Its a wonder you got there. They were so unreliable. You cannot remember who the driver was? I thought we tended to keep them not much further than Leicester.
