Organised by Drivers for Drivers Run by Family and Friends for Families and Friends!

Roy Gill has been in the haulage industry since 1975 based from the homestead of Crossgates Farm, Tideswell.  He began originally running livestock lorries with removable bodies which could also cart hay and straw.  He then progressed into General Haulage, dropping the livestock side of the business but still dealing in, and delivering, hay and straw.

Roy became better known when he started to customise his trucks from the original livery of light blue with red and white lines to the now recognisable, well known dark blue and silver with smoke and of course the murals!  The most famous “Queen of Hearts” was done in 1998 as a commemoration to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.  At the height of his “showing days” there were 7 trucks all customised and they won 8 trophies at one show.  All these trucks past and present have been show pieces. They have all been hard working, pulling out of or into quarries, building sites, farmyards, etc. not just run of the mill, up and down motorways and on and off loading bays.

Two of Roy’s sons, Cameron and Nathan help out with the haulage business and also on the farm, which has mainly suckler cows.  The farm is 1100ft above sea level, the only crop that will grow well is grass and this is used to make the hay that is sold.  At hay time it is a case of all hands on deck, approximately 21,000 small conventional bales are made each year.

Sarah McGregor moved to Tideswell in 1996 with her daughter Melissa, from her home village of Gatesgill near Carlisle in Cumbria, in order to help with Roy’s haulage business, driving artics and rigids. When Melissa started school she progressed to running the office and occasional driving, only when necessary. Sarah and Melissa also keep a few “pet” animals on the farm, consisting of a handful of sheep, pigs, two horses and a pony.  As if things aren’t busy enough there are also some horses kept on livery at the farm. 

Roy and Sarah have attended shows together in England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and Denmark accompanied by some of Roy’s drivers and their wives.  This has given them a great insight into the different ways of running events and finding out the things they liked about shows and the things they didn’t!

In late 2001 ideas about truck shows were banded about between Roy, Sarah and close friends as to whether or not they would be able to organise a small show on home turf in the Peak District, They felt it could be worthwhile because nothing really happened truck show wise. This area
is in the heart of the lime quarrying industry and there are many local hauliers working in the vicinity.

The outcome of these ideas was the first Peak Truck Show at Bakewell in 2002 held just down the road from Tideswell. There was an amazing turnout of over 450 trucks, when just over 100 had been expected to enter when the show was first thought of.

In 2003, 2004 & 2005 there were four Peak Truck Shows being held in the summer season, in Cumbria, Staffordshire, Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a customer base of 1300, which is an  increase of 300% in two years, The shows are organised primarily by Sarah throughout the twelve month period, with the help of family and very good friends, who combine their skills and ideas to put on what we regard as some of the best shows around!  No doubt there will be somebody out there to correct us.

“Our main aim is to provide a friendly show for all the family with a good atmosphere for both competitors, trade stands and the visiting public and also to offer good value for money!”

Peak Truck Shows are one of the leading organisers of Truck Shows in the UK.

Peak Truck Poem

This Poem was written by Matthew Stewart, aged 14 the son of an Owner Driver who attends the Peak Truck Show – Northern Ireland and he was chosen with a few others from his school to have the poem published in a book.

Matthew brought a copy of the poem with him to the show last year and it was read out at the end of the presentation and received rapturous applause.

TRUCKSHOW - by Mathew Stewart

The dates have been set
The hard work begins
The name of the game
Is to see who wins

Drivers do their days work
And at night they do more
Inside and out, their lorries they clean
Right from the roof and down to the floor

Polishing and dusting their pride and joy
This is when the man behaves like a boy
Just for the weekend the works left behind
The lorries are on show, that’s all is on their mind

On Saturday morning, Kings Hall is the place
Each driver will drive at a very slow place
The lorries are shining – a sight to behold
For truckers and followers, both young and old

So many categories for the judges to see
Old trucks, new trucks, interiors and livery
The weekend is nearly over, the decisions are made
Whose lorry has won prizes, whose reached the grade?

The truckers and families gather in the great hall
All truckers are waiting for their names to be called
For Ashlea Haulage – that’s my Dad’s firm you see
We got 3 prizes, and I smiled with glee!

Who we are and what we do!

Sarah McGregor: Official Title: Show Organiser Event Duties: Administration of Competitors & Trade Stands Booking Facilities and Services: Venue, Electricity, Toilets, Showers, etc. Organising Sponsorship, Advertising & Design Booking-In Competitors Announcing Results @ Prize Giving Organising and displaying Trophies & Rosettes Setting Up/Taking Down of Office and Show Crying at the end of the Show! Anything else necessary
Roy Gill: Official Title: Co-Organiser Event Duties: Showfield Team Leader  Judge Parking Up organiser  Presenting Trophies @ Prize Giving Setting Up/Taking Down of Show Getting blisters Anything else necessary
Paul Scase Official Title: Co-Organiser Event Duties: Trade Stand Co-Ordinator Judge, Parking Up Handing Trophies to Roy (in the correct order – very important!) Setting Up/Taking Down of Show Anything else necessary
David Scott Official Title: Co-Organiser Event Duties: Judge, Parking Up, Setting Up/Taking Down of Show Getting blisters  Anything else necessary
Gill Scott Official Title:  Co-Organiser Event Duties: Booking-In of Competitors Judge Setting up of Trophies & Rosettes Setting Up/Taking Down of Show. Anything else necessary
Melissa McGregor Official Title: Novelty Judge                                      Other Duties: Mum’s Little Helper Everyone’s Little Helper Setting up of Trophies & Rosettes Baby Sitting Duties Anything else necessary

There are many other important team members without whom the show could not go on. Office Secretaries, Event Judges, Security Officers, Parking Attendants, Gate Supervisors to mention a few. It is very important members of the team are mentioned, we are all grateful for there dedication and hard work at the shows, these are:-
Chris Scott, Kirsty Lindsay, Tony & Sheryl Scott, Pat & Cath Bowker, Tony Higginbottom, Ian Barker, Steve Ball, Marie McGuiness, Ericha & Kate Spiegel and not forgetting Cynthia and Jeff Ebbatson (Sarah’s parents) without whom we would be very hungry, for all of these events Cynthia makes lots of home baking to bring with them to make sure that there is something immediately on hand and then Jeff goes to Tesco’s to fetch more supplies as and when necessary (or when Cynthia tells him too basically).

Without a full team of staff the shows would not happen and it is only possible because of everyone’s long hours, hard work, and lots of effort at each and every show.

Without enthusiastic competitors and attractive, active and vibrant trade stands there wouldn’t be a show for everyone to enjoy.

A big thank you to everyone who attends the Peak Truck Shows .