Short Version: Tomatoes, Potatoes, Guinness and Milk
Road Haulage Memories of Rufford and Holmeswood.
Potatoes, Tomatoes, Guinness & Milk
Growing Up in Rufford, 1966–1980
Growing up in Rufford, Lancashire between 1966 and 1979 was a time of fields full of potatoes and tomatoes, the clatter of Guinness tanks on Southworth lorries, and the daily rhythm of milk churns being lifted onto Caunce wagons.
This is my story of life in the village, a journey through farms, lorries, cricket fields, and dockyards.
It’s about family, friends, and a time when everything revolved around potatoes, tomatoes, Guinness & milk.
1950’s – Holmeswood & Sandy Lane
Dave McGill travelled with Tunks, hauling potatoes and tomatoes. Evan Rimmer, whose family played a big part in my childhood, worked with Dave on Bill Allen’s farm.
Sandy Lane was a place I visited often—Mrs. Rimmer ran a tight ship!
1962 – Home on Holly Lane
“Wangers with Big Weekles.” That’s how I described lorries when I was little. Mum reminded me for years. These days I call them trucks—maybe it’s Australia’s influence—but back then, they were lorries, and they were everywhere.
1966 – Southworths Yard, Mill Hey / Liverpool Road
(Caption: Walter Southworth’s, hauling Guinness tanks to Preston bottlers.)
Mill Hey wasn’t a walkway back then—it was a busy yard full of lorries. The Guinness tanks were iconic, grey steel glinting under Lancashire skies.
1968 – Caunce Yard, Cousins Lane (Croft Hey)
(Caption: Caunce of Rufford AEC lorries parked at the yard)
Dad worked for Caunce, along with my uncles Linton and Albert. I’d go along on runs during school holidays, watching them haul milk to Hanson’s Dairy in Liverpool.
1972 – Liverpool Docks & Fruit Exchange
Dad parked on double yellows outside the Liverpool Fruit Exchange to get his delivery notes while I sat in the cab, convinced he was about to be arrested.
The docks were alive with movement—fruit from Africa, bananas from the Caribbean, and Guinness heading out across the sea.
1980 – Second-man at Caunce
I worked as a second-man for Caunce, delivering 25kg bags of flour from Ainscough’s Mill in Burscough to bakeries across the Northwest.
Closing Thoughts
Rufford has changed since the days of clogs on Cousins Lane and Guinness tanks on Liverpool Road, but those memories will always be part of me.