Final journeys

David Hall has recently retired his Vintage Lorry Funerals business. He looks back on his memories, taking drivers on their final journey with his 1950 Leyland Beaver

- David Hall

The area I covered is as far as Stranraer to St. Austell and beyond. I met some interesting people on my travels, and I have had some amazing experiences. In general I used to love driving at night as I mainly had the road to myself. It is much easier to tell if the road ahead is clear and let vehicles past as I trundle along at 30mph.

On 28 October 2005, coming over Salisbury Plain at 9pm it was pitch black and the only lights were my head lights and the three dashboard lights from the oil pressure, vacuum pressure and speedometer gauges.

In my mirror I spotted a car approaching, however, it was not travelling much faster than the Leyland Beaver. As it got near the lorry I used my left indicator to advise that the road ahead was clear but nothing happened. I wound down the window and waved the car on but again nothing happened.

More worrying was the fact that the car was travelling too close and an accident would result if I had to brake suddenly. Just before Devizes there is a layby so I pulled into it and thought that would sort the problem, however, the car followed me in.

I wasn’t best pleased. I got out of the cab and approached, thinking it must have been some young driver who had never driven in the dark. But I was wrong, the driver was an old lady who could hardly see over the steering wheel.

Before I could speak she said, “I know that you want me to come past you, but the A342 is a lonely old road and I’m more comfortable behind you.” I asked her where she lived and I said that I would guide her home, if she dropped back 10 yards so I could see her in my mirrors!

Calling card