Plenty left in the tank for 78-year-old Highland Trucker of the Year
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Ardersier trucker Willie Hay is not quite ready to call it quits after over fifty years in the haulage industry.
There were tears aplenty at TruckNess on Saturday as the 78-year-old was presented with this year's Highland Trucker of the Year award.
A stalwart of the haulage industry, Willie has retired three times from his employment with Seafield Park Transport. His most recent attempt, in March 2022, lasted just one month before he was back in full swing.
During a touching speech in front of a big crowd in Muir of Ord, he stated: "I've tried to retire, but I couldn’t stand it!"
Born in 1945, Willie's interest in lorries was sparked when he was a boy. His father was a showman and he loved to move around the vehicles and couple and uncouple the trailers.
Having left school at the age of 15 to take up an apprenticeship as a panel beater, Willie's first lorry driving job was on a four-wheel Thames Trader tipper with Bill MacQueen before moving on to a Bedford TK, followed by an Albion Reiver.
He later moved to Tulloch Timber of Nairn, where he spent the next 20 years doing artic work. There he drove an ERF, a Foden and an Atkinson Venturer double drive tractor unit.
The Atkinson didn't have a bed in the cab, so Willie built a frame and made the cab bigger to create his very own sleeper cab.
He then went on to work with Highland Haulage when Tulloch Timber and Scotline merged.
In 2003, Willie took up a position with Highland Car Crushers, that of Hunter Fraser, which grew into a life-long friendship which continues to this day.
Lucy Barclay, general manager of Seafield Park Transport, said: "Willie has a way of becoming part of the family with everyone he works with. When Willie came to work with us back in 2013, it was on the basis of two-week holiday cover – and he has been there ever since!
"Haulage has been Willie's life and always will be. He truly is one of a kind. He is always there to share his varied knowledge of the industry, with the motive that you cant expect the younger generation to learn if no one is willing to teach."
A family man, Willie has two children, Gary and Yvonne, who have made him a grandfather – something which brings him "so much joy".
When he isn't working, he likes to go away for weekends with his camper van and thoroughly enjoys the socialising involved at local truck shows.
He said: “It’s lovely to speak to young drivers who are interested. Please don’t forget what I’ve told you before – speak to a man of 78 years and I’ll give you all the information that you need!”
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