First artic job was with Yearsley Cold Storage, they put me through the artic lessons and test so it was only right that they used and abused me!
So its a Saturday run from Heywood to Coleshill, change trailer and come back, easy you think!!
Friday night and one of the night guys gives me a crash course on a Scania 3+3 gearbox.
Saturday and I am running in front of a much more experienced lad as my guide.
Got to Coleshill, my guide says to watch how he positions it to reverse on to the bay and do the same for the next bay.
On the bay, my running pal goes to get a brew while I get on the bay.
A full hour later and I’m on, Mr Yearsley himself is there and says “you will do anything to get another hour out of me!”
150ft jib sections for a 30ton crane. (Chris Miller).
My first day on an F7 artic was tipping a silo tank in Stockton. That was the interview on Saturday. On the Monday I went over to Ellesmere Port with a liquid tank and loaded, there was another driver with me. I dropped him in Manchester to collect a hire unit. The F7 became mine for 12 months.
The rest was a blur
When I got a job in 1956 at Baxters Road Services on the Quayside in Newcastleone of the first wagons I drove was a three wheeler Mechancil Horse, JVK 44, I then went as second man now & then on a wagon & drag,I worked with some good men who showed me the ropes & would have clipped my ears if I didnt do what they said, My first brand new wagon was a 4 wheeler Atki & my first new artic was a K type tilt cab Dodge, I left to go & work for my Uncle Smiles for Miles, Then went back to Baxters, I left again to Drive a works bus, But it didnt suit me & I went back to Baxters, The good old days 
, Regards Larry.
Passed my test on a Ford D series 2417 artic with Swansea Road Transport Training first time more luck than anything first lorry i drove was a D1000 flat on concrete pipes then 6 months later had my own D1614 again on concrete pipes all over the country