In 1971 my husband and I started up a furniture moving business after David Phillips had complained that he had trouble getting stuff moved from the saleroom. David said that if we bought a van we would get the (shake hands) contract for delivering sold furniture and effects from the saleroom.
So we traded in our old car for a white Ford Transit which we could use for moving furniture and also for camping in with the kids at weekends.  My husband was working for Clarks at the time but we took the gamble. He left Clarks and they gave him a contract to deliver to their other factorys  in Worcester, Derby, Northampton and London. We also got the contract to deliver the Free Press from Cox’s in Williton to local shops and the Taunton distribution centre.
So, we thought of a name for the business – and called it – MACS REMOVALS & LIGHT HAULAGE (original first advert right hand side) This venture went from strength to strength until we had to employ a man to help full time. Ians friend, Richard Bastable was interested in the job and subsequently worked for us for many years.
We soon discovered that this little van was too small for the work we were being asked to do. So, in 1973 we bought a new lorry. A 1000 cu.ft. Leyland Terrier. PYC 820L
We became, MACS REMOVALS AND TRANSPORT. We then gained a contract from Sears and Roberts, the pinewood furniture factory to deliver weekly to Chelmsford and Ireland a couple of times.

In 1974, Ted Prescott (E.W.Prescott) of Bossington decided to give up his removal business due to ill health, and he offered it to us.
We managed to buy him out and took on his lorry (a 1200cu.ft. Bedford TK) and also his rented storage area’s.  His job of collecting
for Phillips and Chanin and Thomas'a salerooms also came with this purchase. The completion date January 1st 1975.
We became very well known, moving people in and out of the town and doing lots of work for the local estate agents. 
The name became 'MACS REMOVALS & STORAGE'.

When Henry Woods closed we bought, and still own, the name of:-
HENRY WOODS FURNITURE REMOVALS AND STORAGE'. We also bought their stores in Alexandra Road and the lease for the rented store in Irnham road. The purchase also included their lorries (a 1250cu.ft. Ford D600 and a 600cu.ft. Ford D400) which enabled some of Woods workers to keep their jobs. Derek Stevens, Bill Webber and Pete Broom came
to work for us. We also bought a new small VW lorry in 1977 to replace the original transit and bought a 1500cu.ft. Bedford TK. We have now transformed into a large business owning five vehicles and employing 6 full time workers and several part-time ones; we now have TWO phone numbers: 0643 3048 & 0643 2396 being Henry Woods number.
When we started there were 4 other large removal businesses working in the town (see long advert on right) but by 1980 we had become the only Removal and Storage business in the town and were the biggest until we sold.
. I would say we became a household name in the removal and storage business, we were members of the BAR (British association of Removers) and moved many people all over the UK and Ireland, and to France, Germany, Spain and most of Europe, we also did shipping to other parts of the world during our 25yrs in the business.

We became ‘MACS REMOVALS AND STORAGE INTERNATIONAL ’!
When Julian Luttrell moved from Dunster Castle, he requested that we move him, no estimate required!

We had a contract with Clarks shoe factory to deliver to their other factories and provide storage for excess stock. When Clarks factory closed, a group of workers formed the
SHOE COOPERATIVE and set up business in part of our building in Alexandra road . They kept going there for several years before buying their own property in North Rd
(formally Mrs Webbers stables).

The business was eventually sold to WESTON AND EDWARDS on 4th April 1994 but the buildings continued use as
ANDYS SECONHAND SHOP until it was sold on 19th Dec 1999 with planning permission to Mr.Gareth Bentley and was subsiquently turned into flats.
Interesting fact:-

I am reliable informed that this building was once used for stabling the Indian Rajah’s polo ponies, whilst Rajah Hamet Sigh and his entourage stayed at the Metropole Hotel.