P C Howard Ltd

MODEL MAN FOR P C HOWARD!

MAN TGX XLX (6×2) tractor unit with 3 axle, curtainside trailer, customised in the livery of long established, east of England based haulier, PC Howard Ltd. The models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles as certificated Limited Edition (155 pieces).

P C Howard was founded in 1939 by Percival Charles Howard, a farmer by trade. As the outbreak of the Second World War came ever closer, a visit to the farm by Air Ministry officials saw much of Percy’s farmland requisitioned for the construction of a new airfield. Turning what many may have seen as a major setback into an opportunity, Percy and his wife Connie purchased a truck and offered to help build the airfield – and so began the move into the business of transport.

The newly founded transport business continued to develop slowly over the five difficult years of war and then at a somewhat faster rate during the boom years of reconstruction which followed the end of the War. The 1950’s also saw a diversification of the business when it became involved in running buses. In the 1960’s, however, Percy’s three oldest sons (Roy, Bernard and Bill) joined the Company and decided to invest in more trucks – including, in 1966, P C Howard’s first artic (such a truck being seen as a great novelty at that time). The artic and a number of the other lorries were soon gainfully employed working with London Brick at Peterborough.

Sadly, in 1968, Percy Howard passed away and his wife Connie continued to manage the business, ably assisted by her sons, until her death in 1975. At this point, Bernard stepped into the role and began to drive the business forward. Significant volumes of transport work was undertaken for British Steel at nearby Corby and in the 1980’s a decision was made to purchase a depot in Corby and move into warehousing. In the late 1980’s, the Company relocated its main depot from within the village of Kings Cliffe to a new purpose built depot two miles from the village, adjacent the A47(near Peterborough).

The number of trucks in the fleet was increasing each year and the growing customer base saw the balance of work begin to move away from the heavy industries and more towards the distribution of smaller items and light industrial goods and in particular, palletised goods.

By the mid 1990’s, Bernard decided it was time to retire and so the reins were handed to third generation and present day Managing Director, Andrew Howard. This move led to a fundamental review of the business and a decision to specialise in warehousing and the distribution of palletised goods, the service for which the Company is, perhaps, best now known. With a present day fleet of around 100 vehicles, 180 employees and 250,000 sq ft of warehousing, today’s operation is a far cry from the farm, a truck and an airfield!

Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £136 each (including UK delivery & VAT).

For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call on 01332 873555.