In their own words: Phil Hawes, maintenance and former driver

I’ve lost count of how many miles I clocked up between Hull, Newcastle and the North-East generally. It was my route for 25 years and I never wanted to change it. I knew all the roads, all the regular customers and their routines.

I am a bricklayer by trade, but took up driving in 1982 because there was more money in it and I’m grateful for Neill & Brown for giving me the chance. I have my place in history as the firm’s first driver in the first truck after they previously had their own trailers, but outsourced trucking operations.

Naturally, there have been big changes. On the road, we communicated using the nearest telephone box, then came pagers and those big mobile phones. Now we have the latest in transport metrics and the trucks themselves have changed beyond recognition.

I’m sure most will agree, but a driver’s job is more demanding than it used to be because of congestion on the roads, tighter regulation and tight delivery slots.

I’ve now retired from driving and can spend more time with my family in Market Weighton where I’ve lived most of my life.

But I’m very happy to still be an employee for two days a week on maintenance work.