The Working Years 1998 onwards
After leaving university I did the usual trick of being a graduate going around looking for a job. Thus my photo album is full of the train ticket stubs from this time - London, Gloucester, Preston, Crossflats, Leeds - everywhere. Not with a great deal of success.... So I ended up in the bloody transport industry and in the end I realised that I would probably need a surgical procedure to get out before I only had a few marbles left rolling about upstairs. Mind you it did have its upside and I met Emma here (she worked the Scotland and North hub - a tireless task that involved speaking to people who sounded like Rab C Nesbitt) and also Mark (her big brother found at several locations on this page) who inspired to go and do something else with my life....
Not even being employee number 002 at Warrington could brighten my mood! And they spelt my name wrong.
In the yard at Baylis Warringtonwith one of our lovely Volvo F12 trucks. Joe, Jim (you don't bloody listen), Ian (slight brummy accent), Reg (you have it to do), Lee, Roger, me and some other guy who's name escapes me even I sat opposite him for bloody ages.....
In the yard again - I feel my demeanour here really reflects the enthusiasm I had for the work. This is not unlike the gatefold for Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - just take a look and you will see what I mean.
December 1999 I landed at P&O Trans European just after they landed the Shell tanker contract. I eventually landed there again after taking leave of my senses and leaving. This here is George Renner - top man in the Shell contract and good enough to let me back.....
"FFFFFFFFFF*cks sake - I'm having a fag!" John Wilson - X-Matelow and now resident of Cyprus. Serious smoker. I have included the seascape next to him (photo taken by John) to prove to you all that there is life after the transport industry!
Roy - Van Nistle Roy to you and me. A great source of pride as I took him under my wing and now he is the area manager for Stanlow for Hoyer (who now have the Shell contract). I am sure he is very grateful.
PHP - like a coiled Manchester built spring - Pledge Head Pete on the Coryton desk.
Frantic Fran on the Buncefield desk - keeping her militant drivers in line.....
Kev G - still with Shell and pictured here on his Scottish desk....
Trying and failing to get into the Christmas spirit - with Clare (no 'I') on Chrimbo eve 2001 (I think). Just check out that shirt.
The business end of the operation at Stanlow - loading gantries to the left and the fleet parked up against the fence....
The end of the road for T488NMB - the contents of the trailer (32,000 litres of Optimax) going up after a wheel fire on the M4 - I should point out that the driver was fine - pausing only to grab his sandwiches before wisely getting on his toes.
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