Colin Jones
National President
After leaving school at the age of 15 in 1962 I started work as an apprentice motor mechanic for Tyldesley
Co-operative Society. At the age of 17 I passed my driving test and was then asked to drive delivery vehicles to various branches with coal, milk and bread (not on the same vehicle) while still attending college.
In 1983 I began working for United
Co-operative Dairies as spare mechanic, working at all their depots in Oldham, Weaste, Walkden and Whitefield. I moved to Unigate Foods where I obtained my HGV license. The company offered me the opportunity to open a new garage/depot in the North East, which I accepted, and stayed with the compnay for 6 years.
On moving back to Lancashire I joined William Hare Ltd, Structural Engineers as a mechanic. I was promoted to Foreman and opened a new garage. I obtained my CPC and became their Transport Manager. Whilst there I gained my Advanced Drivers License. Having worked for the company for 32 years, I retired in 2011.
I joined the Transport Managers’ Club and have held the positions of Local President, Chairman and Secretary., and was made a National Life member in 2024.
Trevor Chapman
National Secretary
Kevin Dutton
National Chairman
I left school in 1976, aged 16 and started a 3 year apprenticeship as a mechanic at King of the Road Coaches.
In 1979 I joined a local Commercial workshop in Worthing from where I retired 46 years later.
During my employment there I held the positions of Foremen, Manager and eventually Company Director. I achieved my Class 1 HGV License at the age of 21 and my PSV license under Grandfather rights.
Karen and I have 3 children and 6 Grand children who still live in Worthing.
In 2022 Karen, and I moved from Worthing to South Wales where we are no longer surrounded by commercial vehicles – but sheep!
I am currently on my second spell as National Chairman having held the position in as a member of Suussex Area and now as a member of Bristol Area.
Jim Bailey
National Treasurer
I left school aged 16 with a couple of GCE ‘O’ levels and started work as a Junior Clerk in the freight department for Bristish Rail. Under the Government Transport Act in 1968, I transferred to National Carriers (part of the National Freight Corporation).
During my time with them, I worked in most departments finishing up as Assistant Branch Manager at their Kings Cross Depot, London.
When the depot closed in 1979, I opted for redundancy and moved to the West Country to join a Trailer Rental Company. I was soon encouraged, by a Customer, to join the TMC Bristol Area. I have held all the Area Officer’s positions at some time, have been made a National Life Member and am currently National Secretary, a position I have held since 2001.
Over the years I have worked mainly in transport related businesses including workshops, tachograph analysis and Freight Forwarding. I obtained my CPC under Grandfather Rights and my Class 1 licence in 1974. at
I started my working life at the tender age of 15 in 1959 working for a Road Transport Clearing House, mainly working from Manchester Docks. At that time. all the berths were occupied by ships and more were waiting in the canal for a berth.
In 1969 I moved to a Haulage Contractor operating 12 vehicles as a traffic clerk progressing to Manager and later to a co Director of an associated company. During this time I started attending TMC meetings in the early 1970s, having to leave at AGMs until I was made a member in 1978.
I became Treasurer of the Manchester area in 1986, Chairman in 1990/1 and 2009/10. I was appoined National Chairman in 2002, becoming a National Life Member in 2012 and also National Treasurer.
In December 2009, due to the haulier closing down, I started working for a Cheese distributor, driving 3.5 tonne to 7.5 tonne refridgerated vehicles delivering various dairy products across the Midlands and North West of England.
I retred from my working life in August 2009, 3 months short of my 65th birthday.
