Another early start for Coopers driver

Do any readers know the driver shown in this photo of a lorry belonging to A Cooper & Sons of Bedford Road, Sandy? The picture was taken at Covent Garden Market between 1972-74. It is one of many pictures chronicling that time by showing the day-to-day life of people who came and worked at the market, which usually opened for business at around 4.30am.

Firms from Sandy, Biggleswade and the surrounding area would travel down to London in the early hours to sell their locally grown produce. According to Rick, the market had around 300 traders consisting of 200 fruit and vegetable stalls and 100 flower stalls.

“Annie Cooper took over the local family business in around 1930 with the company running for nearly another 50 years” says Rick. “Most of the vehicles were green and black – a popular colour among market gardeners. Coopers were members of the Road Haulage Association and also the Road Transport Clearing Houses with day and night services to London markets and docks.”

Rick believes the lorry in the picture is possibly a Commer 7-ton VC series with a 6-cylinder 5800cc 6.354 Perkins diesel engine first introduced in April 1967.

Covent Garden Market closed on November 11, 1974 and was relocated to Nine Elms. Many photographs like these were exhibited in London the following year.

Do you remember Coopers of Sandy? Can you name the mystery driver? Please contact Memory Lane.