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Harry Caunce
• There were those who believed that the introduction of operators licensing would devalue the strength of the RHA. Harry Caunce, managing director of Thomas Caunce of Rufford, was not one of them. As chairman of the North Western lEastern) area of the RHA, he has resolutely maintained that the Association has as much to offer as it ever had, despite the fact that there is less demand for its licensing service. He believes that events since the introduction of operators' licensing have justified his viewpoint.
It was easy for Harry Caunce to settle in road transport and his loyalty to the RHA has been built up over almost three decades. When he left.school in 1943 he entered the family business and within four years he was running it. It took a lot of Lancastrian courage allied to the zest of youth to overcome many of the difficulties that the young Harry Caunce experienced in the early days. This man has a natural business aptitude and today the firm of Thomas Caunce is operating 60 vehicles.
Not many operators become involved in general haulage, milk collection and, would you believe it, tipping work; but Harry Caunce tackles them all successfully. In addition to the three haulage companies which make up his group he also runs two wholesale fruit and veg companies. He points that this also makes him an own-account operator—surely a unique situation for the chairman of an RHA area.
At 45 he is serving for a second year as area chairman and at the same time is sub-area chairmad of North Lancashire. He also serves the Association on its national Executive Council. It is in respect of Britain's proposed entry to Europe that Harry Caunce sees the future role of RHA. He expects the Association to be the operators' voice when our negotiators in the European Transport Committees are thrashing out the conditions under which we will operate whether on this or on the other side of Channel.
It seems that successful hauliers and energetic RHA members have little time for any activity other than their business and Harry Caunce is no exception. His only indulgence is an occasional harmless game of cricket with Rufford Cricket Club, A. O'T.