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Harold Russett
• While the citizens of Bristol were wreathed in smiles last week when the university students sponsored "Make Friends Day," I was, appropriately, talking to Harold Russett, a Bristolian who seems to wear a permanent smile.
For he is one of those fortunate individuals who can face trials and tribulations with good humour. At this time when transport operators are finding life more difficult than usual, the Russett smile seems to be attracting customers. He told me that only last week he had tied up a substantial number of vehicles on contract work and rented out a large expanse of his warehousing space. Depression and recession are words he does not care to use.
Harold's business, Premier Transport, was started by his grandfather, but in those days when it was known as Pioneer Transport it had a strong passenger bias. The passenger side was sold to the local authority in the Thirties and the firm gave a guarantee that it would not move back into the passenger field.
When that undertaking was made the company could not have foreseen what it would mean to the present managing director. It is difficult to imagine Harold Russett finding any time to run a passenger transport business. He is chairman of the RHA's express carriers, long-distance, and commercial committees, and immediate past chairman of the RHA Western area.
This week he has attended RHA meetings in London on the first four days, today and tomorrow he will be at the IRTE conference at Solihull.
Aged 51, Harold Russett has no thought of retirement and his son Robert is studying at Birmingham University in preparation to become the fourth generation in the business. However, he will first follow a course of management studies with emphasis on accounting.
Harold Russett is an ex RA gunner and although he has little time for hobbies he was an RFU touch judge at 50 and has been seen swimming in the evening often on RHA conference! He is one of transport's most hospitable men. His favourite saying is: "I would not want you to leave Bristol feeling thirsty." In fact, having met Harold in Bristol you feel you don't want to leave at all. I.S.