Tales from Dorchester Loder's storeman Ron Beasley (From Dorset Echo)

Tales from Dorchester Loder's storeman Ron Beasley

2:05pm Tuesday 17th January 2012 in Looking Back

LAST week Ron Beasley regaled us with tales of the seven years he spent working at Loders garage in Dorchester and this week we are coming to the end of his recollections.

He joined the garage in 1947 after being demobbed from the RAF and worked for Claud Loder as a store manager.

Ron said: “My job as storeman was to arrange the store and make sure all the spares including pistons, gaskets and everything for overhauls, were available for when the vehicles were booked in.

“This also required keeping a variety of general spares – gaskets, plugs, bulbs, fan belts, bearings, brakeshoes and linings, exhaust systems, a whole range of ignition spares, coils, caps, contact sets, condensers, tyres, tubes, a full range of engine oils at various viscosities for cars, commercial vehicles and forecourt sales.

“In those days the vehicles included Hillman, Austins, the Morris range and various others. At this time we were Citroen agents so a range of spares had to be kept in stock.

“After Claud died it also meant writing up cards to be typed up for the customers’ accounts. During my time, the garage supplied Regent petrol at the pumps, and also Regent grease and oils, but we also carried products from other companies.

“The Regent oil reps were John Perry and Stan Bolson. Alf Atkinson and Richard Hill were from Shell, Jack Bartlett ready from Esso, Tony James from Cleveland, Mr Walters from Mobil and Mr Masters was the Kylwear rep.”

Other people and companies associated with Loders were Autofactors, Brown Brothers, Harry Varello, Marshalls, Dick King, Erridges (Jack Erridge), Mr Knight, Charlie Dye and Vince Hawkins from Cox/Lucas Electrical and Mr Turner the Champion Plug rep.

Ron said: “I really enjoyed my time at Loders and Claud was a fantastic bloke. But after seven years I felt the time was right for me to leave so I went to Lucas Electrical.

“My years at Loders were an excellent training for my work at Lucas. I started as car electrical spares salesperson and progressed through the field to area sales representative and finally Dorchester branch manager.

“During this time I was fortunate enough to be able to keep in touch with Loders garage and hear of its progress and expansion.

“Most of all, I enjoyed my continued relationship with the Loders family and maintained a high regard for them, especially Mrs Loder who, after the sudden and tragic death of Claud, had the mammoth job of running the garage and bringing up a family of three children.”