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Ken removed into fresh fields
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WHEN Ken Darvall decided let "a policeman's lot is not happy one" so far as a larried man is concerned, he 'solved to develop his mther's coal merchant's usiness into a road haulage rganisation; the problem as what haulage field to nter.
In 1965, motorway build's] and other civil engineerig projects was big business nd it seemed a good idea, uperficially, to consider perating tippers. After conersations on the subject rith people who were xperienced in that business, owever, Mr Darvall decided gainst this proposal and lunched into general hauige for a beginning. But the usiness did not develop that ray at all.
At that tIme, Mr Darvall 3nior had been operating ansport in Reading — a horse id cart for the coal and a iotor vehicle for some timber 3ulage — for many years nder the title of R. S. Darvall ld Sons. If the business was to a expanded into road haulage, le Darvall family thought, then more positive title was a first With an initial stake of £500 each, Ken and his brother together with their father established the company as Robert Darvall Ltd and began operation with one rigid tilt vehicle carrying general cargo and retaining the coal and timber haulage side of the business for the time being.
Rather affectionately, I thought, Ken told me that the original tilt vehicle had a fault on the left-hand steering lock and that any kind of a left-hand turn, unless it was possible to obtain an enormous sweep, took two shunts to accomplish. Despite this, the business began to grow and gradually a reputation was built up.
It was somewhat hampered by having only a B licence extending for 15 miles so part of another company was acquired with a 50-mile licence. Then followed an A licence enabling the company to operate more widely.
After a couple of years, the Darvall organisation found that more and more people were asking for the removal of furniture. At first perhaps only the odd three-piece suite or piano, but this side of the business grew quite significantly.
Then came the moment of decision: should it specialise on the removals side? Darvalls decided that it should and it was in 1967 that they bought the first new removals vehicle costing, at that time, a mere £2,000. Ruefully, Ken told me the same vehicle would now probably cost about E12,000.
From that comparatively small beginning, the company has increased its fleet to 14 pantechnicons of varying sizes, mainly Bedford with a couple of Fords and a Guy. The last of these is operated as a drawbar trailer outfit and there is a drawbar trailer which is used with a Bedford.
The company has outgrown its present premises, which comprise the original family home, and has planned for occupation next year a brand new warehouse and yard not far away. This, together with existing storage space at Newbury, will bring the space available for storage to about 2,320sqm (25,000sqft).
As well as United Kingdom removals, Darvalls specialise in Continental work.
This arose from a random inquiry for a household removal to Spain in 1968. The company had not undertaken overseas removals before but realised that it was probably a growing field and decided to undertake the removal offered.
The experience proved invaluable in terms of understanding the particular difficulties of overseas work including the necessity for full and careful documentation. Now removals to Spain are a large part of the company activity and Darvalls have a Spanish office in that country near Benidorm and operate regular trips to that area. Other countries, such as Germany, Italy and Greece are also served.
A great deal of the corn.pany's success is probably due to the careful thought and attention paid to the image which it projects and to the adoption of modern marketing techniques.
The vehicle livery is calculated to ensure ,that it attracts attention and that there is no doubt about the kind of haulage in which it specialises. The larger than life figure of a man carrying a house attracts attention everywhere, Ken Darvall told me, and people know that they move houses.
Well, perhaps it's not quite as complete a civil engineering job as that, but certainly Darvalls move the contents.
The British flag has been included purposely in the livery and Ken told me that it commands quite a bit of attention on the Continent particularly from expatriate Britishers who could possibly be future customers, The cleanliness of the vehicles, inside and out, is also a critical situation and drivers are urged to make sure that their vehicles are cleaned out during and after every trip. The company philosophy is that people are reluctant to entrust their precious possessions to a removal man whose vehicles reflect a couldn't care less attitude and suggest that they might be soiled or contaminated while being conveyed to their new home.
This applies equally to the removal of offices and other commercial premises which Darvalls'also undertake. In this context, it receives regular business from a cornouter company which transfers its staff overseas and the resulting household removals also accrue to the company.
Darvalls are very selective in the staff which they employ. Of necessity, there is a great deal of casual labour used but all this is carefully vetted before being taken on to minimise the risk of pilferage and to accentuate the care with which other people's possessions are treated.
Adopting forward-looking policies has become second nature to Darvalls. The advent of containerised storage in the removals field has produced exponents and opponents of this system, but Darvalls is convinced that this method has advantages for the customer and for the operator which far outweigh the disadvantage.
To develop this system of carriage and storage, the new warehouse has been designed to stack this type of container with a clearance of 8.2m (27ft) taking three to a stack. The total capacity will be for 600 containers.
Properly packed, each con
tainer gives 7.8cu m (280cuft of storage space with complet( security and three boxes will IN capable of containing the furni ture from the average house.
The security aspect is o advantage, too, for other pur poses. It is envisaged that such a system could be used for tht safe custody of confidentia documents both for commercia customers and others such ai solicitors.
Very active in Road Flaulagf Association matters, Ken Dar vall is currently the Southerr area chairman and is involve( with public relations an( publicity for the Association Typical of his thinking on thiE subject is the double-decker buE which his company haE acquired and painted in it livery.
This is hired out to corn panies and organisations fol use as a mobile office anc reception area at shows ant exhibitions.
The lower deck is fitted witt. a desk and a rack for publicie5 material while the upper deck iE furnished with seats and tableE for entertaining visitors.
Naturally, while it is beinc used, the livery advertiseE Darvall's activity.