Wigan Album

Gardner engines DID lack power, he might be mistook for a Leyland. didn't RG Browns have john Englands place in Ince.
Another belter Eddie.

Garry, I have no desire to be disrespectful mate, but there is no way on this planet that an S21 Foden could possibly be mistaken for anything that Leyland motors ever produced. With regards to your John England query. John England were based at the top of Makerfield Way, close to where the recycling centre is, whereas R.G.Brown were roughly, and I repeat roughly, before anyone reaches for their tape measure, where Alternative Steel is now located. Next door to Hitchen Foods. No offence intended pal.

We/T.Armstrong had one of these Foden "Mickey Mouse" tractor unit, D reg 1966 with a Cummins eng and 12 speed splitter box. Three Carnforths to redland tiles in New Springs a day.

Some cars have more power than 112 hp.

No I meant just the engine Eddie not the Foden. Didn't RG Brown do the same job as John England Eddie, pipelines.

Pennington is based or was at langate ind est.

That's perfectly correct Colin, Armstrong's did run three loads a day from Carnforth to Kirkless every day. My old mate Johnny Thompson did it for a number of years back in the late 70's, but he was driving a Scania. Whoever did it in an S21 Foden deserves a knighthood, Cummins or no Cummins. I'll be posting a photo of one of Armstrong's motors on here soon Colin. Watch this space.
Regards. Eddie.

No Garry, R.G.Brown did mostly steel plate and section, pretty much the same as Alternative Steel do now, but on a larger scale. They ran half a dozen motors of their own, we were just subcontracting. Pennington's yard is still at Landgate Alex, one of Colin's mates, Gordy works there as a fitter. However at the time this photo was taken, they were based at the bottom of Adamson St. In Ashton.
Regards. Eddie.

At the end of the sixties,or early seventies, there was a chap named Frank used to drive one of those for Dickie Pennington.

There was an elderly bloke by the name of Frank Wheeler used to drive for Richard. I'm not sure if it's the same chap that you mean Jimmy as I would have said he was there a bit later, probably late 70's. He was well thought of by Richard. He was a steady driver, it would take him the best part of a day to drive down to London, but he got the job done.

Eddie, Frank went working there in the early seventies, because he asked me to go there with him, but I went elswhere, I seem to remember him getting someone named Eddie started there just after he started.

Well it's funny you should say that Eddie. Terry Armstrong's first new Foden S80 in 1973 PJP 846M, did three carnforths (tilco) to redland tiles and another load (set-up) from Cuddington in Cheshire. Before tachos and speed limiters 74 mph loaded. I think it payed for itself. Yes I think I remember the Scania 110 or 111, 1979 T reg.

I think we must be talking about two different people here Jimmy. I left Pritchett's in about 1976 and went driving for Dick. At that time there were only a few of us. Arthur Ratcliffe, myself, Peter Hitchen, Cyril Kennedy, Les Walls and Vinny Brown. There was nobody called Frank working there at that time. When Pritchett's folded 12 months later, most of the drivers, Jimmy Swift, Johnny McQuillan, Johnny Thompson and a few more who's names I can't recall went working for Terry Armstrong. I would be very interested to know who you drove for Jimmy. When I went back to Pennington's sometime in the 80's Frank Wheeler was working there. It looks as though it must have been a different bloke. All the best mate.

Eddie, It looks like Frank Wheeler must have worked for Penningtons Twice then, I worked with him in 1971 then he left and went to Penningtons, He tried to get me to go with him, but I tried one day and didn't fancy it, so I got another job elswhere.
He was old at the time and lived in Poolstock.

I really don't know Jimmy, apparently, there was a driver by the name of Frank Carter worked there in the 70's. I believe he lived in the Wigan area, maybe he's your man. Frank Wheeler lived in Garswood all the time that I knew him.

Eddie, it was Frank Wheeler who I knew at Penningtons in 1972, at the time he lived in Poolstock Lane facing the Labour club, but his house was demolished. I worked with him at Thompsons, at that time I think he would be in his fifties, he was a stocky fella with a bald head.
He definitely drove an old Foden for Dick Pennington in the early seventies, if you say he wasn't there in 1976 he must have finished then gone back later.

Hi Eddie, Gary was right pal, RGBrowns were based in Ince and then moved to Ashton in Majerfield. They were Stainless steel tube pipelines stockists and had a fleet of volvos then Scania. My dad Len ollerton was the transport manager. Hope that helps.