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Golden years
Page 9
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Let's indulge in a little nostalgia. The year is 1971, and Nobby's driving his Leyland Comet homewards down the Al somewhere near Peterborough. He's running in company with his old mate Sid, who works for another farm haulier in Kent, and they've both picked up backloads from Doncaster. Nobby was pleased to run into Sid, as they were able to help each other handball an endless stream of lowt (50kg) bags from ground level to the flatbed. Sid's wry humour also helped pass the time while they spent over an hour roping and sheeting in the pouring rain.
Nobby secretly envies Sid in his flashy new Ford D Series, with its synchro gearbox, radio and heater, as he's only just drying out now. He lights up his umpteenth Capstan Full Strength and, as he glances in the mirrors to check the load, he notices the unmistakable outline of a Rolls Royce radiator grille in the distance. He pays more interest than most drivers in the car — his boss always seems to have the latest mode. As the first piece of dual carriageway appears for a long time, the gleaming car pulls past with a cheery wave.
Fast forward to 2004. Son of Nobby is driving the Mercedes Actros he double-shifts with another driver. He's not sure of his name because he rarely sees him, passing like ships in the night. As he leaves the RDC after four delightful hours in a queue to tip he takes a look at his tacho to see if he has time to get to his favourite greasy spoon, It gives him a bit of strength to face the traffic jams on the way back. As he cruises the inside lane on the M25 he passes a BMW with a slightly familiar number plate. The driver of the stationary BMW, stuck in an unending queue of cars, watches the rapid stream of high-tech machinery, all running within a few feet of each other. He gives a slight shudder, and offers praise to the manufacturers of disc brakes, ABS and EBS. Back at base he'll remind himself to have a word with that driver — when he finds out who he is. "Nobby secretly envied Sid in his flashy Ford D Series, with its synchro gearbox, radio and heater" How times have changed! It seems during the past 10 years the relationship between drivers and bosses has altered so radically that drivers no longer feel part of anything solid, It would be nice to think we could return to the golden years, but I think that's just wishful thinking.