Gloucestershire Echo

Geoff hoping to drive home for Christmas Trucker aiming to make it back from France despite blockade

- Janet HUGHES janet.hughes@reachplc.com

LONG-DISTANCE lorry driver Geoff Moxham could be about to miss his first Christmas at home in 45 years after France closed its borders with Britain.

The Cheltenham grandfathe­r did not realise he was on the last ferry out of Dover until he started talking to a French member of staff who asked him how he was planning to get home.

Now instead of putting his feet up on Christmas Eve, the dad-of-four faces being stuck at the side of the road with thousands of other drivers or driving down the motorway home.

“I was 66 yesterday and spent my birthday on the road, and I’m not planning to do the same at Christmas,” he said.

“I haven’t missed a Christmas at home for 45 years, so I will be there even if I have to get a boat.”

HGV driver Geoff could have officially retired on his birthday on Sunday.

Instead he was delivering heavy machinery to Germany for Charles Russell Transport in Deerhurst and drove on to the ferry to Calais at around 6pm on Sunday.

“I was on the last ferry leaving the UK, but I didn’t know until one of the French crew members I know wished me luck getting home,” he said.

“When I asked what he meant, he said they were all finishing work and there would be no more transport back to the UK. I was completely taken aback.

“I couldn’t believe it. There weren’t any announceme­nts and nobody had said anything until then.”

After reading about the new global lockdown, Geoff said he was surprised nobody stopped him at the borders as he drove through the night to reach Germany via Belgium and Holland.

Now he has to pick up heavy machinery in Hanover before heading home and fears that a backlog of queueing traffic will mean long tailbacks at the border.

However, decades of experience have taught him ways of getting home, so he is hoping to make it.

“I’ve been married for 44 years and have four daughters and 12 grandchild­ren, so we normally have big family Christmase­s,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s happening this year but my wife just called and asked if I can pick up some fresh vegetables on the way back.

“She’s a fantastic cook and is worried that there will be no fresh fruit and veg when she goes to Tesco later today.”

On Monday morning, lorry drivers were warned to stay away from Kent ports. Dover had signs saying ‘French borders closed’. During the afternoon, the Port of Dover said inbound lorries had started coming into the UK, but British drivers heading to the continent would have to prove they had had a negative Covid-19 test.

As well as lorry drivers who face spending the festive season in a foreign layby, Geoff says the roads are busy with families heading home for Christmas.

“Everything is unusually busy at the minute,” he said. “People are trying to get loads of stuff back to the UK before Brexit and exporters are doing the same. A combinatio­n of this and the usual Christmas rush means it could be a bit of a nightmare.”

 ?? Pictures: Submitted ?? Cheltenham grandfathe­r Geoff Moxham
Pictures: Submitted Cheltenham grandfathe­r Geoff Moxham

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