Who did a lot of Wholesale market deliveries and deliveries to the backstreet merchants in various towns around the UK ? can you remember merchants or stall holders names, where they were and what were the names of the various hauliers who more or less specialised in this work? Any stories about loading or unloading, did you pick up from the farm, the docks, a packhouse or terminal, recall any characters etc?
I worked for Jack Henley doing fruit and veg all over the UK at a time when it was nearly all on flat vehicles, some of it on pallets some of it not. If I had a regular run it would have been the West Riding: Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley, Wakefield, Normanton and others. More locally at some time there would be some of the London Markets: Brentford, Stratford, the Boro’, Spitalfields, the Old and New Covent Garden, Western International.
To start off: Chelsea bridge tea hut at silly O’clock would often see a queue of lorries from Kent and Sussex parked with drivers having a quick cuppa, all going to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea with maybe a Yate thrown in.
I never did the fish or meat markets but I’m sure others reading did.
cav551:
Who did a lot of Wholesale market deliveries and deliveries to the backstreet merchants in various towns around the UK ? can you remember merchants or stall holders names, where they were and what were the names of the various hauliers who more or less specialised in this work? Any stories about loading or unloading, did you pick up from the farm, the docks, a packhouse or terminal, recall any characters etc?
I worked for Jack Henley doing fruit and veg all over the UK at a time when it was nearly all on flat vehicles, some of it on pallets some of it not. If I had a regular run it would have been the West Riding: Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley, Wakefield, Normanton and others. More locally at some time there would be some of the London Markets: Brentford, Stratford, the Boro’, Spitalfields, the Old and New Covent Garden, Western International.
To start off: Chelsea bridge tea hut at silly O’clock would often see a queue of lorries from Kent and Sussex parked with drivers having a quick cuppa, all going to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea with maybe a Yate thrown in.
I never did the fish or meat markets but I’m sure others reading did.
Hi Cav, I did 3 years driving for Robert Baillie of Horndean near Portsmouth from early 1970. Almost all of our work
was deliveries to Wholesale fruit and veg markets. Baillies had 2 depots in the north of England, one at Doncaster,
and one at Wigan. I was based at Wigan depot, so we did all of the markets in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Westmorland,
■■■■■■■■■■■ Northeast, Glasgow and Belfast. From about the end of March, our main work was Guernsey Tomatoes,
and in the winter months, we did a lot of cauliflower and parsley from Brittany. Two threads on here that should
give you interest to this new thread are Robert Baillie Transport, Horndean, and Louis Reece pictures, also Chris Webb,
a regular Trucknet member, who was on regular night work carrying fruit and veg for Littlewood stores. During the next
few days, I will try and recall many of the names of the Wholesalers that we delivered to. .Please feel free to use any
of the pictures mentioned on the above threads.
Regards, Ray Smyth.
Further to my post above, I have posted pictures of the 2 Northern depots of Robert Baillie, the first is
Worthington Way at Wigan, just 400 yards from M6 junction 25. The late Jack McLoughlin is driving the
forklift truck, the site is now occupied by Sainsbury`s and McDonalds since 1995.
The second picture is the office of Robert Baillie at Chappell Drive in Doncaster. The dealer next to the
Baillie office was a supplier of butchers equipment, cutting blocks, Knives, etc, the main operations on
this site were Doncaster wholesale fruit and veg market, and a very busy abbatoir.
Ray Smyth.
My first “real” driving job was for City Meat Wholesalers out of Nuneaton abbatoir . Bham, London Smithfield were the main market deliveries , Zwanenbergs in Kingston on Thames was a sister company & regular drop . 1st tip of the London run was usually a small place on Leytonstone High rd called Lanes , was owned by a mate of Terry Venables who’d pop in for a cuppa after a night out .
Absalom & Tribe was main customer in Smithfield, and offal into a stall to a bloke called Harry , who’d buy my breakfast from a little chinaman called Henry . If I was collecting , my porter would be Johnny Danse, who’d bring me 10 tops of beef at a time on his barrow for me to lift off his shoulder up onto the hook .
Also tips in New cross , Coulsden, and Ashford Kent were regular .
The Cornwall branch drivers of CMW , would put a "shunters " card in and do 10 drops around London after the market work
I reckon I must have delivered to every high street butcher in the Midlands at some point
I did markets from time to time. Nine Elms was another one of the London markets I did. Ro
Never really did wholesale deliveries into the main markets but the company that I first driving for, started out as a fruit and veg merchant but were more into general haulage. They still had connections in the trade as in the early days , i did quite a few backloads out of New Covent garden for J Collingridge, David Baum ,T Quality to name a few.
Also done potatoes from Shoreham to Birmingham market and a fair few loads of seed potatoes out of Scotland.
Fast forward a few years and I done a load of onions from Valencia into New Spittalfields.
Sorry for the rambling
With regard to the comments in the 1st post on this new thread, I can recall some of the transport companies
that I would see in various Wholesale fruit & veg markets many years ago, mainly in the North of England,
They were… Pitters of Southampton…Mainland Market Deliveries of Portsmouth/Fareham…Henley from Kent…
Burnetts of Portsmouth…Percy Powell from Horndean…. Alan Firmin from Kent…Louis Reece from Horsemonden, Kent.
Also White Star Carriers from Wigan who did some of the Lancashire markets with Guernsey Tomato work subbed from
Robert Baillie depot at Wigan.
A few names of fruit & veg wholesalers at Liverpool markets have come to mind, and some were sent to me by Bobhamo
on Bootle History Forum. They are J. V. White…F. W. Waterworth…P & T Fitzpatrick…Louis Reece…Saltmarsh…
Francis Nicholls…Dan Wuille….Charles White…T. J. Poupart….Mark Revill…. Gordon Collins.
Perhaps some of the older drivers/ex drivers will remember some of these transport companies and market wholesalers.
Cheers, Ray Smyth.
This was the ‘Old Garden’. I used to go there as a mate with Alan Firmin, needed for load security when there was garlic on the lorry. After a morning handballing bags of Fertilizer off trailers onto skids and putting it away in the warehouse, I would often go out in the afternoon to assist loading MKV Mammoth Majors, including the now preserved AF 105, or the tilt cab Mandators. The loading would be from local farms, sometimes needing to stack bushel boxes of apples or worse pears, up to eight high in order to get the full weight on the short bodies. Other times it would be winding through the narrow lanes of Hunton, Chainhurst and Collier Street to Eldonwall ind est in Paddock wood to load ex Pascuals rail transfer shed for market. When I later accompanied a different lorry to the one loaded, I often went with with night man George Blunt or one of the Farm workers who wanted a bit of overtime. We would abandon the lorry as near as possible to the stand and then retire to the pub waiting for the market to open at 10 pm.
youtube.com/watch?v=RKSayesj6i8
it would have been early summer 1970 and I had finished a 4 or 5 multi-drop of paper along the south coast, last drop in Portsmouth. So I called Mainland Market Deliveries for a load back to the north west. I had a Seddon 14/4/400 rigid, a good lorry with the coach built cab. They said to report to the docks office. Traffic clerk asked the usual question when you were driving a rigid, “how much can you carry?” Ten tons, I replied. The Seddon had been uprated to 15 tons gross in readiness for Testing and Plating by having secondary braking fitted with a deadman lever. Traffic clerk looks down his list, and found a load of Jersey new potatoes, - I don’t remember them being called Jersey Royals in those days - for Charles Howarth on Bolton Market. Perfect backload on my own doorstep. So I went to load them, hand ball of course, plywood tubs of potatoes. The Seddon had a 22 ft. flat but I still had to go 5 tubs high to get all of them on. Not the best of loads to sheet and rope securely, I used two sheets and a fly sheet and every bit of rope I had. I don’t know what weight was on the lorry, but the Seddon groaned quite a lot and normally it was a flying machine that took hills in its stride. Not that day on the trip back to Bolton. The confirmation note paid 12 tons, but I still believe it was more than that. Uncle always did well out of MMD, fair back load rates he reckoned.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sorry to go off topic but you have surprised me with that post Graham! 
I thought you were younger than me, with you still working I suppose, but driving that Seddon in 1970 means that you must have been over 21 at that time as it was obviously over 3 ton unladen? I hadn’t even taken my car test then! 
Pete.
windrush:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sorry to go off topic but you have surprised me with that post Graham! I thought you were younger than me, with you still working I suppose, but driving that Seddon in 1970 means that you must have been over 21 at that time as it was obviously over 3 ton unladen? I hadn’t even taken my car test then!
Pete.
Hi Pete… don’t go there PLEASE, I was 21 but it doesn’t seem 50 years ago… and the Seddon was 6 years old, Leyland 0.400 engine, Albion 6-speed O/D gearbox. 65 mph no problem, but not that day!
gingerfold:
windrush:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sorry to go off topic but you have surprised me with that post Graham! I thought you were younger than me, with you still working I suppose, but driving that Seddon in 1970 means that you must have been over 21 at that time as it was obviously over 3 ton unladen? I hadn’t even taken my car test then!
Pete.
Hi Pete… don’t go there PLEASE, I was 21 but it doesn’t seem 50 years ago… and the Seddon was 6 years old, Leyland 0.400 engine, Albion 6-speed O/D gearbox. 65 mph no problem, but not that day!
Ah, a year or so older than me then! I never would have thought that. That makes me feel better, has nobody ever told you that at 65 you can get a nice pension and put your feet up? 
Anyway, back on topic. I don’t remember many firms doing market deliveries when I lived ‘down south’ but I suppose there were some delivering to the Reading area? There were plenty of local firms dealing in fruit and veg of course like ‘The Quick Turnover’ (later QTR Transport) and a family firm who had stalls and ran anything cheap they could lay their hands on, but whose name escapes me alas!
There was also Mr Bullingham at Grazeley Court Farm near the M4 who delivered his own produce regularly up to Covent Garden, I think he ran a Morris Commecial LC at one time? We used to park our caravan on his little farm site until a few years ago when visiting my mother (he was long gone but his widow still lived there) and it was like a time warp with the old fuel pump and tank there plus his garage with tools and old enamel signs. She liked to chat about the ‘old days’ of getting up early to get him fed and sending him off up to London, pre M4 of course, and how much their produce made. She even gave us our receipt for camping using their old bill heading and the price of individual veg, and still in £ s d and this was in the 2000’s! When she passed away I believe the place was levelled as the location would be a prime spot for housing. 
Pete.
Re Mainland Market Deliveries. 1968,I had an Albion Reiver 7637 WJ with the Leyland 375 and had tipped a load of Bassetts sweets at Baltchfords Southampton off a Shefffield Haulage and Storage 20ft box. I rang MMD and they only had a two dropper,tomatoes - W H Collins Manchester market and another in Liverpool - was it Queens Square,can’t remember.Before I said yes I rang gaffer as a Yorks drop would have been better,and surprisingly he said load it and bring it back to Sheffield,I’ll get another driver to tip it,so it must have been a decent rate to go off route like that.So away to their office on Hampshire Terrace and they told me where to go - could have been Flathouse Quay. One of their own drivers told me that the Manchester drop could be done any time but you tipped yourself.
Anyroad,I got back to Sheffield and found a note in diesel cabin “Will you deliver it and put Bob’s name on log sheet”. 
I had started at 0730 in Southampton that morning and it was over my spreadover time when I got to Sheffield. Anyway I filled up,took wagon home,had some snap and left about 2300 with Bob’s name on sheet. I handballed the W H Collins gear off and asked a regular market driver where the Liverpool drop was which turned out to be near tunnel entrance,so no problem there.Away onto East Lancs,into Liverpool and there was a feller at the pitch who helped me tip and gave me a tip - 2/6 I think.Oh,and and an envelope for MMD driver at Manchester 5 bob tip . 
Got back to Sheffield,filled up,parked up and put me hours through letterbox. I got paid no problem plus a night out but there was a little hiccup …………………….as I was on me way through Hillsborough Sheffield towards Woodhead earlier,one of our drivers who had been out on the ■■■■ spotted the wagon and it’s reg number. Instead of asking me direct he told shop steward who quizzed me.So I said yes,it was my wagon loaded ex MMD and Bob took it that night as I hadn’t the hours. Luckily Bob had been wised up and confirmed,he was gaffer’s nephew.So,apart from a couple of hours at home I’d done about 24 hours and that is the only time I did owt like it for any firm I worked for. Money was the carrot……………
Hello Chris, Hope you and yours are OK during this difficult period. I have just read your interesting post above,
it sounds about right for Market work. I thought that you would appear on this new thread sooner, rather than later.
You are correct about the location of the wholesale market, it was just a stones throw from the Mersey Tunnel entrance.
You mentioned W. H. Collins at Manchester Market, That was one of the 8 Licensed Guernsey Tomato traders that I went
to many times when I was with Robert Baillie from Horndean and Portsmouth from early 1970. At that time, you will recall
that the wholesale market was at Swan Street, and it was all handball. I cant remember the names of the other 7 traders
that I delivered to, but I can recall loads of others that I went to regularly in Bradford, Carlisle, Liverpool, etc.
If I was to do Manchester market, I had to start at midnight at Wigan depot, drive to Manchester, and start handballing up
to 1800 trays of Guernseys in bundles of three to the 8 traders. It would take about 4 hours to unload, then by about 5 a.m.
go to all of the 8 stallholders for them to sign the delivery notes. Each trader would give you 5 shillings tip, and it was always
2 half crowns, which back then was a generous tip. Alas, by the time 1971 appeared, the half crowns had been withdrawn from
legal currency, and the traders would each give you 2 x 2 Bob pieces, so that was a reduction of 8 shillings in total. 
Meanwhile, Keep safe and take care. Cheers, Ray Smyth.
in 1930 brothers Wallace and Frank Turner bought a lorry for transporting produce from their family farm at Soham, Cambridgeshire. Soon they were carrying produce for neighbouring farmers to wholesale markets. From humble beginnings 90 years ago their company that has become Turners (Soham) Ltd. is still delivering nightly to wholesale markets throughout the mainland UK. Ninety years of unbroken transport services to wholesale markets with fresh produce. I would be interested to learn if any other company can match that record. For many years until the end of the Cold War they did it the other way round as well. Loading up from 5 to 8 lorries daily from Covent Garden to deliver to US military bases as far apart as St. Mawgan in Cornwall to the Mull of Kintyre and Wick. Lakenheath base had an artic load daily from Covent Garden.
Some company names I remember were Rowe Manchett & Till, and Walter Game, and Cornwells all from the Somersham area in Huntingdonshire and Machins who I think were from Spalding and I’m sure I saw Bowkers in the markets as well. Backloading for Gateshead frequently were the Kent Connection.
Ray Smyth:
Hello Chris, Hope you and yours are OK during this difficult period. I have just read your interesting post above,
it sounds about right for Market work. I thought that you would appear on this new thread sooner, rather than later.
You are correct about the location of the wholesale market, it was just a stones throw from the Mersey Tunnel entrance.
You mentioned W. H. Collins at Manchester Market, That was one of the 8 Licensed Guernsey Tomato traders that I went
to many times when I was with Robert Baillie from Horndean and Portsmouth from early 1970. At that time, you will recall
that the wholesale market was at Swan Street, and it was all handball. I cant remember the names of the other 7 traders
that I delivered to, but I can recall loads of others that I went to regularly in Bradford, Carlisle, Liverpool, etc.
If I was to do Manchester market, I had to start at midnight at Wigan depot, drive to Manchester, and start handballing up
to 1800 trays of Guernseys in bundles of three to the 8 traders. It would take about 4 hours to unload, then by about 5 a.m.
go to all of the 8 stallholders for them to sign the delivery notes. Each trader would give you 5 shillings tip, and it was always
2 half crowns, which back then was a generous tip. Alas, by the time 1971 appeared, the half crowns had been withdrawn from
legal currency, and the traders would each give you 2 x 2 Bob pieces, so that was a reduction of 8 shillings in total.
Meanwhile, Keep safe and take care. Cheers, Ray Smyth.
Hi Ray.
Wasn’t there a self employed bloke in Manchester market who had his own FLT and tipped wagons for a fee? There used to be one in Sheffield Parkway Market IIRC.
gingerfold:
in 1930 brothers Wallace and Frank Turner bought a lorry for transporting produce from their family farm at Soham, Cambridgeshire. Soon they were carrying produce for neighbouring farmers to wholesale markets. From humble beginnings 90 years ago their company that has become Turners (Soham) Ltd. is still delivering nightly to wholesale markets throughout the mainland UK. Ninety years of unbroken transport services to wholesale markets with fresh produce. I would be interested to learn if any other company can match that record. For many years until the end of the Cold War they did it the other way round as well. Loading up from 5 to 8 lorries daily from Covent Garden to deliver to US military bases as far apart as St. Mawgan in Cornwall to the Mull of Kintyre and Wick. Lakenheath base had an artic load daily from Covent Garden.
Hi Graham.
Yes,I remember Turners Collyhurst trunk drivers int 60s telling me that some loads ex Manchester depot were for either USAF Lakenheath or Mildenhall,so from Liverpool docks I presume? Not produce of course though.
^^^^^^^^
It could have been tinned food and other non-perishables. As you know USAF Lakenheath / Mildenhall is a massive base and I did loads to several of the USAF bases. The larger bases really are home-from-home with the facilities they have for the Americans stationed there. McDonalds, and other fast food places, even bowling alleys on some of them. The commissary at Lakenheath is bigger than many UK supermarkets and is stocked with American brands and products. They would let drivers use any of the cafes for a coffee and a burger if you wanted one. They accepted British currency, but obviously the default currency was USD. I nighted out at both Fairford and Menwith Hill.
