Wigan Album

First driver on the right of picture, David Brookwell,and from how old (or young ) he looks, I would think this photo was taken around 1960-65 period.

Good assortment of British wagons. Bedford,Commer,Thames Trader and the 4D

SORRY NO BEDFORDS BUT TWO AUSTIN TRUCKS

Ay Skippy, the ones I thought were the Bedfords are from the left, No2 and No4.

I think your right brian when i frist new david brookwell he was driving for robert baylie they had a depotin wigan where m f i wharehouse is now late 60s at that time i was driving for william gaskell upholland used to see dave in heinz kitgreen he leftRB about that time and started WG ileft for two years and then whent back early 70s WG had bought out a haulage firm in widnes also roby transport pemberton dave was made transport manager

I can name most of the drivers on the picture. Stood next to me is Billy Cunliffe, then Jack Walls, and Bill McCracken. The picture was taken in 1959, sadly the owner of white star Arthur Pilkington pass away recently.

Hy, Would this be the Thames Trader that Colin Brandon drove for a spell ? or did they have more than one Trader.?

I Have lived in Selby Nth Yorks for the past 28yrs but have lots of memories of my teenage years working for Arthur and Dennis Pilkington who owned White Star. I work with some great fellows and can still remember most of their names and vehicle registations that they drove. I have still got a photo of one of the vehicles that I drove on the Leigh & Salford run in the late sixties EJP 109 F this was a type D series Ford tilt cab but, the first vehicle I drove was a Trader GJP 327 which was previously driven by Bill Mckraken. To all those who worked at White Star and are still around Best Wishes !!! anyone remember Brian Southern on the Preston - Blackpool run? he was my cousin

The Trader reg no MBN 190 was driven by Kenny Miller, when I was there, I started at White Star in 1962

Byrom ---- well well long time, no see ! how are you ? you are right Kenny did have MBN, then was it LEK ? I spoke to Jimmmy Clark just before he retired with ASDA said you were there also and that you had a great memory for the old trucks. I started in 1963, you'll remember 631/632/633 KTC, GJP327, 252 (rubbish), 649 then later on the last Trader (flat bed) AJP56C,

Sorry Byrom I just remembered two more, HEK49 and HJP123 any others from around this time ?. By the way, do you ever see anything of Jim Ellis ? how is he ? let him know I asked.

wel hello byron remember me we went round liverpool delivering suthaland spreads injjp 252 nice wagon not

Hello Colin
Of course I remember you, and Sutherland's spreads, this is bringing back a lot of memories for me, I hope some of the other lads that worked at White Star see this and get in touch, what are you doing these days?

SORRY ... Byron..... never could spell, hope I hav'nt offended you !!!!. good to know others have fond memories of the old days, the last time I saw you was back in the early 70s, you were driving a Shell tanker I think. Are you retired now ? one of the drivers I spoke to at ASDA Wigan said you were thinking of retirement, (I am)

hello byron doing nothin retired i was driving for b r s for a about 6 years i had a scammel crusader artic got made redundant finished up workin for jacobs biscuets on artics did 13years had to finish on illhealth wat u doin now

Hi Colin, I'm retired now, after I left White Star I did 16 years on tankers, then 19 years driving for ASDA, Goose Green

one of my best friends jimmy ryan worked for asda goosgreen do u know him

Hi everyone,just found the web site. My name is Dennis Jones & I started work for White Star Carriers when I left school in April 1960. My first driver was Colin Brandon & then I worked with Alan (surname?) on the Burnley run. I remember David (Lils Cafe), Billy & Bill McCracken, did he go to Australia or New Zealand? Other names I remember are Tony ? (did the Bolton run), little Jimmy (Blackburn run), 2 brothers called Jolley, Bill Calderbank (mechanic), ? Abernethy in the office. Regards, Dennis

Dennis, remember you, of course we do, Bill Mackraken, Byron and myself Walter Southern are all in touch via email, lets have yours so we can chat, do you have contact with anyone else from Star day's ?.

walter byrom hi i am mark ,bryan southerns son hope you are all well i have good memories of the white star i remember my dads d series ford i to am truck driver now following in his footsteps

Mark -- Hiya, good to hear from you, I'm your cousin and once lived in Aspull remember. I'm intouch with an old friend of your dads, Bill Mckracken he was Brian's 2nd mate in the early days, I'll tell him to leave a message for you.

Hi re Dave Brookwell
Dave was one of my very best friends from days at Lils cafe coppull .Iwas a second mate for Colclough bros out of wilcock st. Wigan his uncle Ben a hard task master was the driver and he gave me a really good grounding in roping and sheeting some thing that stood me in good stead at Reed Transport. Dave went on to being a driver of Goulding’s to be transport Manager of Montgomery transport based at Bamber Bridge .
I last spoke to him around two years ago in Standish . I was pleased to see him in earlier years at White Star
bill parr




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