Hi Boys
As you may have noticed I always log on automatically displaying my nick name from years gone by. I log on most nights to see what’s new. I haven’t posted for some time now as I was brought up to keep quiet unless I had anything constructive to say. In the early seventies and into mid-eighties while doing Middle East and Europe I like many others just got on with the job of making a living and providing a good service to our customers, not wasting time and trying to rip off people for expenses. I was the quiet one eating out with the locals enjoying the experience but sat in the corner of the UKs service area while “International Trucker Tommy” attracted the attention of budding want a be drivers with his fairy tales. I say all this to try and explain why a lot of drivers especially Middle East lads are loners and do not talk of their experiences for fear of being shouted down. Many of us early drivers still wonder the world not wanting to settle down, a sort of nomadic existence, and are reluctant to share our experiences.
Dave Mackie’s Middle East Drivers Club attracted many ex drivers but very few of us made comments, preferring to talk direct with other lads on Skype. Each individual has his or her own view of life and the way they choose to run it, we must except that. Yes, it would be good if more people joined in but that is life.
I have in the past posted some of my adventures / photos and made comments on other members threads and been shot down for it but will continue to do so if it is appropriate.
Regards Keith.
Hi Keith, that’s a very well constructed response and we have to accept that there are many private individuals who take a great interest in their work and careers, but keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves, and that is their absolute right to do so. We have all been in the company of the loudmouths who claim to have done X, Y, and Z when quite often these are regurgitated tales they have heard from someone else.
Ray Smyth:
Hello Lawrence, just seen your picture with the guitar,I hope you are a member of the “Musicians Union”
Div`nt try and get any music gigs,if you have not got an MU card. You mentioned the “Harp” in your post,
I bet you prefer your “Harp” in a pint glass. Can you still get Harp Lager ■■. Thank you to Dennis for starting
this thread, I agree with his comments, and most of those that followed. I try to put posts on “Old Timers”
thread,particularly when I have spotted something that interests me in the index,which I am trawling through
again at the moment, and not just only bothering about the few threads that I have started on here.
NIL ILLIGITIMATE CARBORUNDUM"
Kind Regards, Ray Smyth.
I hope not, it was only fit for watering the plants.
I don’t join in because I don’t feel as qualified as some of you gentlemen , but I can assure you I’m not nosey , just interested in your tales of days gone bye I used to live just off the A58 in Leeds when it was the main route through Leeds for the A1 heading north or the M1 heading south . I remember lots of old company names passing up and down roundhay road I’d say a lot of you chaps travelled that road in the good old days before the A1/M1 link road
gerard:
I don’t join in because I don’t feel as qualified as some of you gentlemen , but I can assure you I’m not nosey , just interested in your tales of days gone bye I used to live just off the A58 in Leeds when it was the main route through Leeds for the A1 heading north or the M1 heading south . I remember lots of old company names passing up and down roundhay road I’d say a lot of you chaps travelled that road in the good old days before the A1/M1 link road
There was a good fish & chip shop at the Leeds end of Roundhay Road, A lot of drivers used to stop there, Some names of the firms you used to see would be good , As I used to run to Manchester a lot in my early days driving, Regards Larry.
Do you remember the fforde greene pub just as you come off easterly road on to roundhay road ? . I lived a little further down by the big old church st Aidan’s , I bet you passed up and down there many times . The names I remember will all be well known to you I’m sure J Adams, vanhee, furgesons, Waugh lots of tankers ici and Sutton I’d say they where going between Huddersfield and Middlesbrough ici plants . Skaters I think from Malton or Pickering , it was such a busy road back then I mean 24 hours a day .
That should say slaters there was another firm from Stockton used to carry steel girders , then there was local firms like A-one transport and yardleys .
gerard:
Do you remember the fforde greene pub just as you come off easterly road on to roundhay road ? . I lived a little further down by the big old church st Aidan’s , I bet you passed up and down there many times . The names I remember will all be well known to you I’m sure J Adams, vanhee, furgesons, Waugh lots of tankers ici and Sutton I’d say they where going between Huddersfield and Middlesbrough ici plants . Skaters I think from Malton or Pickering , it was such a busy road back then I mean 24 hours a day .
Can you remember Baxters Road Services, Orrell & Brewster,Rankins, McPhees,Eagle Transport,Capstaffs,Smiles for Miles,Crows of Gateshead,Hewitts from Morpeth, Dents from Spennymoor, Cawthorn Sinclairs, Arnaco Oils, Regards Larry.
Roundhay Road. Yes I’m sure it was in Roundhay Road in North Leeds. There were big houses up there with big front gardens. From about 69 to 74 I used to run from Kent up to that area delivering fruit to the wholesale fruit and veg markets. Whenever I was there I would get a return load of slabs or whatever from Marshalls at Southowrem near Halifax. But first a good nights sleep was required and a good meal. There was one of the best drivers digs in the country in Roundhay Road. We all parked up in the front garden. No artics just rigids. Many drivers doing run arounds of multiple deliveries. Can’t remember any of the companies now or the name of the lady who ran the digs. What I do remember though is every evening before dinner she would come into the lounge and ask exactly the same question!! Cabbage or peas. There were maybe ten or twelve drivers there and she would count on her fingers who wanted cabbage or peas. Great days.
sandway:
Roundhay Road. Yes I’m sure it was in Roundhay Road in North Leeds. There were big houses up there with big front gardens. From about 69 to 74 I used to run from Kent up to that area delivering fruit to the wholesale fruit and veg markets. Whenever I was there I would get a return load of slabs or whatever from Marshalls at Southowrem near Halifax. But first a good nights sleep was required and a good meal. There was one of the best drivers digs in the country in Roundhay Road. We all parked up in the front garden. No artics just rigids. Many drivers doing run arounds of multiple deliveries. Can’t remember any of the companies now or the name of the lady who ran the digs. What I do remember though is every evening before dinner she would come into the lounge and ask exactly the same question!! Cabbage or peas. There were maybe ten or twelve drivers there and she would count on her fingers who wanted cabbage or peas. Great days.
That would have been Cross Green Market, IIRC, Regards Larry.
I remember a big house on spencer place just off roundhay road that must be the place your talking about , always lots of lorries parked up there ,
gerard:
I remember a big house on spencer place just off roundhay road that must be the place your talking about , always lots of lorries parked up there ,
Another thing I remember of those digs was as soon as you arrived she allocated you a bed in one of the half dozen rooms there. She was a broad Yorkshire lass and seemed to remember everyones name or if not your name at least the company. All the rooms were a different colour so it was “you’re in the green room tonight” or red or blue or whatever. Luckily she didn’t have a pink room. Being a Yorkshire lass I reckon she knew none of us would have dossed down in there.
gerard:
Do you remember the fforde greene pub just as you come off easterly road on to roundhay road ? . I lived a little further down by the big old church st Aidan’s , I bet you passed up and down there many times . The names I remember will all be well known to you I’m sure J Adams, vanhee, furgesons, Waugh lots of tankers ici and Sutton I’d say they where going between Huddersfield and Middlesbrough ici plants . Skaters I think from Malton or Pickering , it was such a busy road back then I mean 24 hours a day .
I wish I’d a shilling for every time I’ve come on Roseville Rd. on past the church, past The FForde Green and out to the A1 at Wetherby. That was BEFORE they invented the Leeds Inner Ring Rd.
Hell, I remember the trams running up to Roundhay 
But it wasn’t a bad attempt, Brian! 
Lawrence Dunbar:
Bewick:
Retired Old ■■■■:
But it wasn’t a bad attempt, Brian!
Who gave you permission to join in ? 
I’ll have to have a meeting with the “Committee , thank you please” Will let you know in two weeks after we have deliberated. Now come on “H” don’t warm that Black ball up otherwise he’ll never get back on! 
Anon.
Now then Dennis, Would you really have him black balled,■■?, Regards Larry.
Well as long as he behaves himself Larry ( Impossible I know!) we’ll put him on Probation for 6 months, but if he causes us any grief we’ll catch him, bag him up, and then set him free back in the Forest in the middle of the night in just his under kecks eh! Cheers Dennis.
A free trip to the Forest? You really are too kind, Dennis! Let me know the date and I’ll get a clean boiler suit ready.
