Wigan Album

I don't remember all their names. Standing in the bucket L to R. Eric Doran, Vinny Roberts, can't remember the third bloke's name, but he worked on the weighbridge. Sat on the boom of the machine, his name was Terry, he came from Bolton, he was in the paras and he was a top bloke, but I've forgotten his surname unfortunately. On Terry's left was Bernard, the machine driver , he came from Orrell, and the cool looking Geeza leant on the machine drove the low loader, as well as anything else that required driving. I've forgotten his name as well malheuresement. Is that o.k Michael ? Or have I omitted a letter ?

Tommy Woodward leaning on the wheel.

Gaskells tippers from Ashton, and the diggers a Chasside.

i think you will find out the machine is a cat 944 new to gaskells in 1968 when they opened the sand pit nr the m6,the first driver was alex seddon,because i was on the weighbridge,the sand pit was owened by harry fairclough & ever ton that went out he got 6d a ton.

The Chasside digger is 1970, H reg.

You're correct about the machine g.p, it's most definitely a Cat. I'll put another photo of it on here soon, and you're quite right also when you state that Borrow pit was owned by Harry Fairclough. I used to see their wagons dumping building waste in there when I was carting sand out of the place for S&A. That would have been around 79/80. I believe the quarry was originally opened up by Mc Alpine's when they brought the M6 through there in the late 50's. You'll probably know more about that than I do though. At the time that I was there, the lad on the weighbridge was a quiet Irish guy by the name of Eric. Maybe you knew him ? Funny isn't it how minor inconsequential details remain with you over the years ? I remember the site foreman was a no nonsense type of bloke from up Orrell way who everyone knew as 'Gibbo' . Have I got that right ? He used to ride around the site in a Daihatsu jeep maintaining law and order. You really didn't want to mess with Gibbo. Although I'm normally a good lad , I managed to incur his wrath on one occasion by driving at 20 m.p.h the wrong way through the concrete trough, which served as the primary wheel wash, just for the hell of it, totally emptying the thing. The visual effect of my foolish action was quite spectacular, but the verbal thrashing that I received from Gibbo still echoes to this day. Needless to say, I only did it the one time.

Regards. Ozy.

I almost sure gaskells opened up the borrow pit because the entrance was almost on the island for the m6 not where it is now,the borrow pit mc alpines used was where the m62 to m6 slip road is,mcs had the first cat 992 with a 17yrd bucket with extra spill board,regarding the 944 I remember it being delivered by levertons & driving the lowloader was none other than Stan(lofty)Allsop,i know the year is right because I was there part of 67to may 68,yes ozzy John (gibbo) Gibson was a man to take no messing about,at the time I was there transport manager was Terry Corbet

Your probably right about the borrow pit gp, in fact the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that you are. The one that Mc Alpine's used would have been on the northbound side, the area alongside the M6 that is now permanently flooded. Apologies for my error. I came across Terry Corbet on one or two occasions. He was known as Kibbo to us lot. He was a big chap. I believe he'd spent some time in the army as a redcap and to me he came across as a bully....Let's call a spade a spade why not ? His character was completely opposite to that of the late Gerry Partridge, a machine driver for Wm & C who you may also have known. He, in contrast was a total gent. I never knew Stan Allsop, I presume he was employed by Leverton's ? Apart from Kibbo and Tommy Woodward, the only other person that I knew that drove Gaskell's low loader was a lad called Johnny Dutton who came from Downall Green. I believe he was driving the Atki with the 240 Gardner in it when he somehow managed to partially demolish one of bridge parapets over the railway line at Bryn, so he probably wouldn't have worked there for very long. I forget the year that it occurred. Perhaps you remember the incident ?

Regards. Ozy.

It's funny how peoples perceptions of people differ. I only met Terry Corbett socially but found him to be a great guy.

Yes the bloke in the middle in the bucket is vincent roberts. My father😊

Hi Paul, great to see your dad in this photo. I worked with him at Todds in the 80s and early 90s mostly at Albert pit. I remember him always being on the cb radio in his Leyland 6 wheeler telling other users off for swearing. I think he called them bucket mouths. They were good times sadly gone.

Sorry, can I ask did Vinny Roberts use to work for William Todds Pemberton? I use to work for Todd's many years ago remember Vinny Roberts who was a driver.

The machine is a Caterpillar 944A. From the cab style it was one of the last made in 1969/70. They were fitted with the D330 engine and it was probably built at the long gone Uddingston factory in Glasgow. If I recall the serial numbers of the Scottish built machines began 77

I think we are all wrong. The cab style is confusing me and on reflection I believe it is actually a 966C (it has been over 30 years)