EVER driven past Chippenham Pit Stop truck stop and wondered what really goes on there?

Now all is revealed as a Wiltshire-based podcast goes behind the scenes of what is one of the UK’s favourite truck stops.

The latest episode of Memories of Kington Langley podcast spends one full day – from dawn till dusk – with the staff and managers of Chippenham Pit Stop, discovering this secret world of trucks and truckers from all over Europe.

The podcast also speaks to the truckers themselves to find out why they come to stay at the Pit Stop close to Junction 17 of the M4 motorway.

The podcast’s creator and host Adrian Beeby, 59, lives in Kington Langley, a mile from Chippenham Pit Stop.

He said: “I’ve been to Chippenham Pit Stop quite a few times but never really understood what goes on at the site.

“There all these huge trucks and lots of people but, frankly, the whole thing was a bit of a mystery. That’s what gave me the idea of making a podcast about the place. I approached Pit Stop’s management with the idea and they agreed.

“It turns out that in the truck-driving community Chippenham Pit Stop is a bit of a legend. Every year, thousands of drivers from the UK and right across Europe stay there.

“It’s a sort-of international community just outside Chippenham. I do think it’s one of Wiltshire’s best-kept secrets.”

Adrian recorded at Pit Stop during a day in early March – from opening at 5.30am to closing at 10.30pm. He also researched the history of the site and the M4 motorway’s construction through Wiltshire, which is close to Pit Stop.

The podcast follows staff through the working day and also explores how criminals target the truckers on the open road.

In 2017, Chippenham Pit Stop was named Truckstop of the Year by Truckstop News and this year, was named Business of the Year in the Wiltshire Life Awards.

Mr Beeby began creating the podcasts in 2019 and generally produces three or four a year. Episodes 13 and 14 will cover farming and ancient field boundaries and field systems.

Many of his earlier podcasts are now archived at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.

Episode 12 of Memories of Kington Langley, The Secret Life of Chippenham Pit Stop, is available for streaming or download from Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or the podcast’s own website: memoriesofkingtonlangley.podbean.com.