Yard days from long ago seem like yesterday for driver Noel

IT is more than 30 years since the well-known builders' merchants Louis G Ford moved out of East Grinstead and the Brooklands Way site became a supermarket.

But for Noel Sargent, who spent 10 years with the company as a lorry driver, it seems like just yesterday.

"I can picture everything as it was," he said. "I know it is progress but it is heartbreaking to see so many of the old places go."

Noel, who will soon be 80 and now lives in Ardingly, found our old picture of the lorry drivers and yardmen line-up among his souvenirs. He is third from the left.

Noel's childhood was spent in Crawley Down where he attended the old primary school on the Turners Hill Road – long since converted to housing.

After completing his National Service, he was set for a career in farming.

But an accident with a combine harvester, when his left leg became caught in the power drive, forced a change of plan and he joined Louis G Ford as a lorry driver in 1958.

The starting wage was just £7 10s (50p) a week, but by the time he left, he was earning £17 10s.

Noel became transport manager before going into the plumbers' brass foundry in the shop.

"We supplied all the local builders," he said. "The firm even had its own railway siding where the fibreglass insulation was delivered by rail."

On Saturdays he helped out in the main shop and among his customers was Dr Beeching, who was to change the face of the rail network a few years later.

Former mayor

The manager at the time was Joe Dakin and in Ford Wholesale Electric next door, the late Alan Lord, a former town mayor, was in charge.

Louis G Ford had several branches in Kent and Sussex and Noel remembers with affection the big boss "Mr Louis G" when he visited East Grinstead.

"He was a marvellous man," he said.

"He started his business with a handcart selling paraffin door to door.

"He came every year to our Christmas party at the Whitehall with his wife who was a very gracious lady. They were good, happy days."