ATKY RULES – OK?

Every cloud – we are told – has a silver lining and John Ramm for one, might not disagree. At 77-years-young, he’s been around long enough to have had the odd tempest of storm clouds thrown his way a time or two. But the recollection of one such downside was to have a huge (long-term) effect on his thoughts regarding load carriers of old. “I remember one day crossing the Severn Bridge,” he says. “I’d just pulled away from the toll-booth and the half-shaft of the S21 Foden I was driving suddenly snapped. It was a bit odd because I was empty and I’ve always been careful how I handle motors so I knew it wasn’t down to me. They found out later that part of the Foden driveline was running out of true but to replace my unit while it was being repaired, I was given an Atky Borderer for the week. I just couldn’t believe how good a wagon it was in comparison. And – hand on heart – I’ve always reckoned that of its time, the Borderer was simply the best.”

And it’s perhaps no wonder, John’s now one of Atkinson’s biggest fans.

Early Starter

John’s life starts in Guildford in 1942 and he recalls being introduced to load shifters of all sorts of sizes from an early age. His dad – also called John – had a small building firm and was running a Guy Ant and a Morris Commercial, so perhaps no surprise John soon wanted to sit on his dad’s knee and try his best to steer as they were in motion.

Perhaps more surprising was the load carriers his mum Molly let him handle: “She was a nurse and I remember when she was on holiday she gave her aunty Rose a spell from her work. Rose was a tea lady in the Dennis factory at Guildford so I’ll never forget the day I spent