FLETCHER’S
Before 1960, Fletcher’s ran two Sentinel/ trailer rigs on double shift, the first trailer mates I remember were ‘Porky’ Grey, Joe Krizz and a young Cliff Jones, the trucks being serviced during the one hour between change over.
A part of Graham Harrison’s story will bring back memories from a different time for some of your older readers, Graham continues with his story…
I started working for A. Fletcher & Co. Ltd., on leaving school in 1960. I worked in the garage as a ‘Go-fer’ later becoming a trailer mate. Fletcher’s were only running one truck/trailer rig while I worked there. I mated to Colin Saunders on a Sentinel six-wheeler, to Terry Burdett on the TVW Cummins eight-wheeler and for a short time with Cliff Bennett on a Guy Invincible eight-wheeler. I only worked day shift.
A typical day’s work would be to load ‘Slack’ (fine coal/dust) at South Leicester colliery at Ellistown and deliver it to Ind Coope Brewery in Romford, Essex. In those days, there was no M25. To get to Dagenham, we went through South Mims, Cockfosters, Grant’s Hill, and down Whalebone lane and on
