Orkney Image Library

Beryl your dad drave ane jist like this afore they gead him a braw new Thames Trader, aal swear there was never a better looked efter larry in th world than that Thames shae ran for many years, bit och och when shae gead tae Groats and Plum drave here she didna git such loving care!!.
I shived here intae the Gallow Hill quarry when shae was scrapped, anither Trader that was as weel cared for was Billy Dass's ane boy she was some good for her age .

The Orkney County Council used to have a quite a few of these Bedfords. They ended their days at the councils depot at Scapa, where the harbour offices is now.I remember them from my days as an apprentice mason.Your dad's lorry likely ended up there.

Aye Laurence the last ane I mind was on Flotta driven by Danny Barnett and runnan like a bag o bolts!! I think shae was a smaller one, was there a 3 or 4 ton verson?.
The Cooncil painted them "broon" in them days no high vis needed then.

John Jolly, Coal Merchant, Burnmouth Rd. Kirkwall, had two new trucks identical frontwise to this Bedford. They had slightly longer wheelbase for coal delivery.By coincidence my next door neighbour Graham Garriock is in this photo looking on nearest the driver's door. Added by Phil Brough.

I think the one before the Thames Trader landed in a heap on the deck o' the Hoy Head after dad had finished touching it up and polishing it to go tae Kirkwall. I mind dad hivan a laugh aboot all his hard work for nothong! The Thames Trader was a grand larry right enough. I can remember the new smell inside it and the plastic covers on the seats.

I mind the one landing on the deck o the Hoy Head, when we think back, the loads that was handled on that wooden mast and derrick, with no much thought to whether it was really fit for it..