Trucking Hell: Norwood sawmill makes one TV star’s dream job a reality

After leaving school, he started as a farm worker with the Youth Training Scheme, which led him to take part in a New Zealand exchange scheme in 1987. While over there, one of the farms he was working on had a little block of forestry with contractors working on the land.

Seeing old Timberjack skidders working, saws on the back of tractors and timber being cut fascinated Rory and ignited a lifelong passion for forestry. After returning back to England, Rory spent a winter in 1989 working for a timber man on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border. Although he absolutely loved the work, he didn’t find it financially supportive enough and this led to a career change into plant, which then took him into lorry driving and eventually to Crouch Recovery, where he stayed for over nine years. 

Rory was using his mill just minutes after its arrival. (Image: PR)

It was while working there he made his debut on TV in Channel 5’s documentary series Trucking Hell, following men and women working in the heavy recovery business as they tackled jack-knifed lorries, crashed HGVs and roadside breakdowns.

However, throughout his road-based career and flirtation with stardom, Rory never gave up on his dream of working outside with timber and milling. And in 2021, he decided he was nearing a position in life that would finally see that dream realised.

Rory said: “Some years ago I was working for a powered access hire firm and had to deliver a MEWP to some tree surgeons. When I returned to collect it, I saw they had cut the stem of the tree they were working on into rings for firewood. It was a beautiful walnut and I could have cried at the waste.

READ MORE: H&W Training: There’s never been a better time to get into forestry

“I never forgot it and thought there really should be a way to make sawmilling available to tree surgeons, farmers and landowners without them having to invest large sums in machinery.”

Rory had looked at various types of ‘Alaskan mill’ over the years and, although economical, it appeared they were more suited to the hobbyist. They all seemed too slow for professional work on site or production work.

Having previously collected machinery some years earlier from Global Machinery Solutions (then Global Recycling Solutions) while working as a recovery driver, Rory remembered seeing some forestry winches at the depot and thought to look the company up regarding sawmills. He got in touch with Andy Dudley, sales consultant, who helped advise him on a Norwood Sawmills mill that would not only suit his needs now but could also grow as his business did, with hydraulic options that could be added along the way.

As it is road legal, Rory's HD36v2 can easily be transported to sites all over the country. (Image: PR)

Andy said: “Customers have been impressed with the Norwood Sawmills LumberPro HD36V2 due to not only the milling accuracy but also the ability to add hydraulics.

"Although the mills come in kit form, we also offer the option of them being built by our workshop and being made road legal, meaning the mill is delivered with an IVA certificate.

“This is the option that suited Rory’s needs best and we delivered his mill in January last year, milling on it just minutes after delivery.”

The HD36V2 delivers high performance and high output for those looking to mill logs up to 36” in diameter, with a wider throat allowing you to make a 30” cut.

Norwood Sawmills was the very first company to develop affordable personal band sawmills and is the only company to focus entirely on this class of sawmills. Since Norwood launched the first LumberMate, other companies followed suit, selling their own lines of personal band sawmills, but only as an afterthought to their main focus of super-sized, and super-expensive, hydraulic mills.

Rory said: “I liked that Andy really believed in the product he was selling and took my needs seriously. He explained everything and it gave me confidence to invest in the model. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Whenever I’ve needed anything, even on a Sunday, Andy has picked up the phone. 

A small sample of what the new mill is capable of producing. (Image: PR)

“The aftersales service has been outstanding. Anytime I’ve needed any parts, I’ve called in at the Global office by chance and the parts have been there on the shelf.”

2022 saw Rory leaving Crouch Recovery to start up his own milling business, Boundary Mobile Milling, using the HD36V2 full time.

Rory is interested in not only extending his own customer base, but also helping other millers outside of his radius by setting up a network, where potential job information in a different demographic can be passed to another miller who can fulfil the job. This way he hopes to create a community of millers that support the needs of customers around the UK.

In 2022, Rory set up his own milling business Boundary Mobile Milling. (Image: PR)

He said: “When I was a digger driver and my boss had a job in Mansfield, he’d ring up and say to a firm in Mansfield ‘can you cover this’ and likewise, if they had a job in Leicester, they’d ring up and say ‘can you cover that’. It’s all about supporting each other as the killer on any job when your business is busy is always the travel.”

Louise Bradshaw-Black, marketing manager at Global Machinery Solutions, added: “Rory is a pleasure to help whenever he has needed any support and we wish him all the very best with Boundary Mobile Milling. It’s wonderful to see one of our mills not only help a business but also allow Rory the opportunity to get back to working outside, which is something he’s been wanting to do for 30 years.”

To learn more about any of the Norwood Sawmills range, contact the Global sales office on 01476 568384, option 1, or visit the website at www.globalmachinerysolutions.co.uk.