Our customers and social media followers often ask us how we decide on names for our trucks. Sometimes there’s no real story behind the name but, in one instance, not only was there a story but there was a personal connection to the name. Here is the story of how we named one of our best known trucks – Findo Gask.
Some time ago, we put out an appeal via our Facebook page for Scottish place names to adorn our new fleet arrivals. Having just acquired five new Mercedes-Benz Actros 2551 tractor units, I was left with with some gaps in the suggestion book. Previously, we had used a mixture of place names from Scotland and Zimbabwe, because my wife Candie hails from the landlocked African country, which is home to the world famous Victoria Falls.
We received an interesting approach from one of our followers, that we thought merited some attention. I’ll now let John take up the story.
My brother David and I have been interested in trucks since an early age and this focus started off around the early 1970s. Our late Dad, Archie Henderson was always totally supportive and involved with our hobby, while back in those days, noting or photographing named trucks was our main passion. With Pollock’s depot on our doorstep and the main A1 then passing through the heart of Musselburgh, we were spoiled for choice.
Spotting the like of a Gibbs of Fraserburgh or a Robsons of Carlisle was always a significant event.
Dad would also happily drive us to haulage depots further afield or take us to the Scottish Motor Show at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall, held biannually on odd number years. That key event was always crammed with fully liveried commercials, varnished and sign written in fine Scottish liveries.
Today’s show is a far cry from those displays, as it seems every manufacturer has its own somewhat bland, cab colour. In the time since Dad’s death, I’ve often thought that it would be a fitting tribute to have a truck named with a personal connection to him.
Archie Henderson was born on December 6th 1930 at North Lodge, Findo Gask. The only son of James and Elizabeth Henderson, he was christened at Findo Gask church on March 14th 1931.
Dad died in East Lothian exactly 80 years later on the same day.
The small village of Findo Gask lies between Perth and Auchterarder on agriculturally rich, south facing slopes above Strathearn. In those days my Grandfather was Head Gamekeeper on the Gask Estate, famous for its former resident Lady Nairne (Mrs Carolina Oliphant 1766-1845) who penned ‘The Rowan Tree’ and ‘The Auld Hoose,’ amongst many other traditional songs of Scotland.
Morris Young, the haulage contractor based nearby at Perth, rented a farm on the Gask Estate and he knew my Grandfather well.
North Lodge and Findo Gask village lie on an old Roman Road that traverses northeast towards Perth, or Bertha as the Romans called it. Around two thousand years ago this was the main route from Stirling towards Aberdeen, as there were of course, no bridges at Kincardine or South Queensferry then!
Today in Perthshire, large sections of that Roman Road are still used by unclassified or B roads. The Gask Ridge was notable for its Roman Signal Stations, each placed around a mile apart. These towers kept watch in case of attack from Highland tribes further north. The timber built structures are now long gone, but their surrounding circular earthworks are still visible at several sites.
In the early 20th century, the main A9 trunk road was re-routed slightly further south of Findo Gask. Dad used to recall summer evenings spent down at Dalreoch Bridge, a viaduct over the River Earn close to a notoriously sharp bend, watching the Leyland fish lorries from Aberdeen heading south in the late 1930s.
Dalreoch Bridge was bypassed in the mid 1970s and today’s dual carriageway passes close by the existing structure.
My quest in having a truck named in connection with Dad started some time ago. The idea remained stored at the back of my mind and was instantly reignited after reading the Facebook request from Dyce Carriers. A swift email to Jason Moir followed, and he was kind enough to agree. “We’re always looking for place names with a story and meaning behind them,” he replied.
David and I were extremely grateful to Jason for naming one of his new Mercedes’ ‘Findo Gask.’ On a rainy day last December we drove to Dyce to photograph ‘Dad’s truck’ alongside its four other stable mates. It was great to see SV63 OKA carrying a name that means a great deal to our family, as despite moving away from the area during the 1940s, Dad always considered himself as a Perthshire lad and son of Findo Gask.
The story of Findo Gask is far more than the naming of a truck — it’s a celebration of heritage, family, and the lasting bonds that connect past and present. For us at Dyce Carriers, it’s a privilege to know that one of our fleet carries not just a name from the Scottish map, but a living memory of Archie Henderson and his Perthshire roots. Every time Findo Gask takes to the road, it reminds us that behind every journey lies a story worth sharing.
