William Ivens and Sons 1949 Crossley SD42/7 Yeates C35F
William Ivens and Sons (Timber Merchants) Limited of Rugby had in 1961 a works service from the Long Buckby, Northampton direction into Rugby and the bus was usually was parked up nightly in the Corporation Street car park. The two shades of blue Crossley SD42/7 with Yeates C35F body had been new to Hirst & Sweeting of Sheffield in 1949 (who were to sell out to Sheffield United Tours in 1967). LWE 669 also so spent some time with KW of Daventry after it left Sheffield; other than this, little else is known?
Photograph and Copy contributed by Stuart Emmett
09/10/17 – 07:31
LWE 669 was new in 06/1949. It was sold in 04/1954 to Oliver Luxicoaches Ltd of Loughborough. It then passed to KW Coaches Ltd of Daventry as number A4 in 01/1957. It was withdrawn in 06/1959 and sold to Ivens & Sons of Rugby. Last licensed 12/1962. Details from PSV Circlr publication PB27 Fleet History of S.U.T.
Dave Farrier
10/10/17 – 06:09
Thanks Dave I was sure someone somewhere would know its history.
Taken on Sunday April 21st 1963 at a somewhat wet Brighton coach rally this photo shows a Bedford VAL 14 with a Yeates Fiesta C52F body of Whippet Coaches from Hilton in Cambridgeshire Registration No 390 GEW. This was one of only eleven VAL’s bodied by Yeates at least six of which went to Barton Transport and were all fitted with dual doors with either 50 or 56 seats which would seem to make them D/P’s, that of course is open to question. Whatever your view the Yeates bodied Bedford VAL was a fairly unusual combination and was in my view an attractive vehicle which would have benefited from a more restrained paint job.
Photograph and Copy contributed by Diesel Dave
03/11/14 – 06:36
This is a Fiesta body; the Barton ones were based on the earlier Europa styling. Possibly the siting of an exit door amid sloping window pillars may have been considered unsatisfactory.
Peter Williamson
04/11/14 – 06:47
If Dave is correct about Yeates bodying only eleven VALs and seven are accounted for here, could we possibly have details of who had the others?
Chris Barker
04/11/14 – 07:00
Charles Rickards of Brentford had AYV 92B, a Yeates bodied VAL.
These were the only Bedford VAL with Yeates bodywork.
Ron Mesure
05/11/14 – 11:38
This may be a trick of the camera, but the odd thing about this body seems to be the high ground clearance which gives it a rather primitive lorry-look: this and as Dave says the (typical?) Yeates paint job is bucking the trend towards smoother, unfussy lines eg the Harrington Bartons…. and by-the-by why Whippet?- in northern climes, it is a poor man’s Greyhound (delightful though they are, he adds hastily) and “Whippet Quick” is not a phrase you want attached to your business.
Joe
05/11/14 – 15:40
I think it’s inherent in the design, it looks high. The Duple Vega Major looks low, sleek and right. To a lesser extent, so does the Plaxton Val. The other mainstream coach on the VAL, the Legionnaire, looked higher – as did the other minority body, the MCW Topaz II.
David Oldfield
09/11/14 – 06:51
To not answer Joe’s question about the name “Whippet”, unfortunately the book issued to mark the operators 90th anniversary says that the “the origins of the name are obscure” so presumably the present owners never asked their grandfather where he got the name from. They also own a non trading company called Bloodhound Bus Lines!
Nigel Turner
10/11/14 – 06:56
If Paul Carter, the author of the “Whippet” book, and of several other comprehensive East Anglian transport volumes, cannot positively elicit the origins of the name, then I doubt that anyone ever will. It has been suggested, however, that the name was adopted to give an indication of speed, and “Greyhound” had already been (over)used elsewhere to such an extent that the name was becoming rather a cliche, hence “Whippet”. Originally, it was “The Whippet”, but in more recent times, presumably inspired(!) by the Go Northern, Go Ahead, Go Whittle etc Academy For The Misuse Of The English Language, it has traded as “Go Whippet”. As one living locally to this operator, I continue to be bemused by its radical changes of livery every few years. The only constant factor is the inclusion of blue in some form. Latterly this has become a rather unexciting shade that covers almost the entire vehicle, but individual buses have differing applications of the relief colour – this is just a simple yellow stripe on the latest acquisitions. All the Busway vehicles, Whippet and Stagecoach, wear the same livery, which is rather confusing to the public as the tickets of the two operators are emphatically not inter-available. The County Council did attempt to introduce a common ticket along the Busway, but this fell foul of rejection through inter operator rivalry, and has been abandoned. Another characteristic of the company is the policy of allocating individual buses to individual drivers – each driver keeps the bus for the entire working day. This may be a sound policy for coach work, but it mitigates against efficient bus utilisation. At certain times of the day, the bus stations at St Ives and Huntingdon are full of Whippet buses on layover.
Roger Cox
17/11/14 – 06:44
Whippet has been sold to Tower Transit – an Australian company.
Mark Smith
17/11/14 – 17:21
Back in 1952, Mr Lee was in talks with Eastern National about selling the business however nothing came of it. According to the EN records Mr Lee wished to retire but did not think his sons were capable of running it.
Nigel Turner
18/11/14 – 06:13
Even before that, in May 1947, and again in early 1951, Mr Henry Lee entered into talks with Mr Arthur Lainson with a view to selling out to Premier Travel. Now, nearly 27 years since the demise of the Lainson era Premier Travel, Whippet is still around, though I foresee some significant changes on the horizon once a financially hard nosed new owner takes charge.
Roger Cox
19/11/14 – 15:17
I think a sell off by Whippet has been on the cards for some time, Stagecoach would probably have bought them if it was not for the monopolies commission. At least it should now put Whippet in a stronger position in the Cambridgeshire bus scene & provide some competition to Stagecoach. On a lighter note, I wonder if they will replace the Whippet with a Kangaroo!!
John Wakefield
10/01/16 – 05:52
A year or so on & Tower Transit have not made significant changes to Whippet, they are still only operating around the same amount of services, many tendered rural route supported by Cambridgeshire County Council. No new buses have been acquired although some ex London ones have cascaded down but these are ‘old’ vehicles including some short Dennis Darts on 03 plates. But they also have three 12 plate ADL Enviro 200’s branded ‘Puppy’s for use on rural routes. As at present they are no threat to Stagecoach. They have though produced a useful fold up timetable covering all bus routes.
John Wakefield
10/01/16 – 10:50
I like John’s comments about Whippet and the name for the ADL Enviro 200. Among my traffic duties with Southampton City Council was visiting applicants for disabled parking bays. On one occasion, I was ushered in and I saw the back end of a dog disappearing through a doorway. A few minutes later, one of the household asked, “Where’s Tyson?” “He’s in the back garden,” was the reply. Now, Tyson, in the canine context, projects an image of some of the more vicious breeds. Eventually, Tyson condescended to return indoors. I saw a whippet. Clearly, the owner had a good sense of humour!
Pete Davies
27/01/18 – 07:05
Whippet have recently terminated a number of subsidised routes around Huntingdon and St Ives which have now been taken by Stagecoach Busway and Dews.
David Ormerod
12/06/19 – 06:29
Whippet are hoping to celebrate in some way or another, it’s 100 year anniversary (sometime in 2019 but no one knows when!). I would love to hear from anyone with ideas how best we could celebrate this event(we will most likely pick a date in Aug 19 for our celebration). I don’t believe we will wish to go too over the top and the budget will be limited.
Pauline
13/06/19 – 06:29
Pauline (I assume you are in some way connected with Whippet) The event that you could have chosen for the 100 year celebration was Bus Fest at Whittlesey in May, but that event is now past. You really should have arranged a date at the beginning of the year and ahead of the rally season. Most events have now been advertised in the various bus enthusiast publications and calendars. I do wonder if there is much interest in the company now since the take over by Tower Transit and more recently Ascendal. Sad that this old & respected established company was sold out of the Lee family ownership.
John Wakefield
14/06/19 – 06:30
Hi John Yes, I am Office Manager at Whippet Coaches and (last week) was given the enviable task of organising an event to celebrate the 100 year anniversary.
Mid-Wales Motorways was a medium sized independent operator working in the Welsh Marches. Based at Newtown, the fleet operated some lengthy routes, some of which crossed the border into England. Here we see RCT 2, a Bedford SB3 with Yeates bodywork, which was new to Delaine, Bourne, but spent most of it’s life with Mid Wales. A similar vehicle from the fleet of Worthen Motors is seen in the background, and between them is another Mid Wales Bedford, a VAS5/Duple Vista 25 which is slightly too modern for this site!
Photograph and Copy contributed by Don McKeown
08/06/14 – 09:55
Photographed in Montgomery; the view virtually unchanged from this picture last time I was there (2010)
Michael Keeley
09/06/14 – 11:13
My book on North Wales independents was originally supposed to include Montgomeryshire, but I seriously over-ran on the page count and so had to leave it for another day. However, I’d already collected a lot of pictures from the area, many of them taken in Montgomery itself. One thing I noticed is that the chimneys in the photographs were always smoking away merrily regardless of the levels of sunlight! Is Montgomery known for being a particularly cold place as well as an undeniably scenic one? The Worthen Motorways SB/Yeates in the background appears “full frame” in my book on Shropshire independents, but I’ve never been sure whose colour scheme it wears. Worthen didn’t really have one at this point in its existence – the vehicles inherited from MWM at the beginning merely had their cream areas overpainted in red.
Neville Mercer
10/06/14 – 08:06
When the gentleman who took the photo says it was 1960 I have to believe him but what is that green car to the left of the picture. At first I thought Humber Sceptre but the Arrow version didn’t appear until 1967, then I thought HB Viva but they too didn’t fall off the Vauxhall lines until about 67/8 so it can’t be one of them?
Orla Nutting
10/06/14 – 08:11
If it helps.
Peter
10/06/14 – 16:00
Yes it did, thanks. It’s a ‘mark 2’ (i.e. Rootes Arrow design) Humber Sceptre so the picture dates from 1967 or later.
Orla Nutting
10/06/14 – 16:00
I think “1960” relates to the year of the vehicle, not when it was photographed, Orla. Certainly, RCT3, the preserved Delaine Titan, is listed as a 1960 vehicle. (No Delaine vehicles in the list on the left – I’ll have to dig out some of mine, unless one or other among the readership gets in first!) It looks to me as if the offending car’s registration plate is black on yellow, so the view must have been captured in or after 1967.
Pete Davies
10/06/14 – 16:01
It’s definitely a Humber Sceptre, with its silver plate at the back and vinyl roof. My next-door neighbour had one, even in this colour! Mmm, stylish!
Chris Hebbron
10/06/14 – 16:02
Yet another misinterpretation of a photo heading, the second within 2 days. Orla, I fear the 1960 refers to the build date of the Bedford, not the date of the photo. Perhaps Peter might wish to consider altering the layout of the heading for future photos?
Eric Bawden
10/06/14 – 16:02
It appears to be a “yellow” rear number plate. As far as I know this type of plate wasn’t issued on new cars until 1968 / 1969.
David R
10/06/14 – 16:03
I have to concur with Orla, the Mk II Sceptre (which this is) with 1725cc engine, first appeared in 1965.I had this exact colour MkII Sceptre as a Company car in 1971/2. Further identification is the ‘Scepre’ motif on the lower near-side vynl roof.
Nigel Edwards
11/06/14 – 07:53
I think it means the RCT2 dates from 1960 – the VAS behind is obviously much newer than that, I think that Duple body design came out about 1967 or 8
Michael Keeley
11/06/14 – 07:54
The historical Delaine fleet list may be found here:- www.delainebuses.co.uk/Fleet/Fleet%20List%201919-2014.pdf This vehicle is listed as fleet no.49, registration No. RCT 2, a Bedford SB3, chassis no.78234 with Yeates Europa C41F body, new 05/1960, sold 06/1966 to Price of Wrockwardine Wood, Telford. Insofar as Peter’s headings are concerned, in response to Eric’s suggestion, I have always taken the date quoted to be that of the depicted vehicle when new, not the date of the photograph. This is surely fundamental to the substance of each picture submitted, and I, personally, would not wish that to change. The photograph date can always be stated in the accompanying text if this is deemed vital.
Roger Cox
11/06/14 – 07:55
The coach would be from around 1960. I drove for A L Moore of Sleaford whose premises were only around 20 miles from Delaine and we had a very similar coach registered MCT 440 which dated from 1957. Both were registered in Sleaford, Lincs. We also had a later style Europa, PTL 850 which was new in 1961. Both were SB3 petrol engine and very smooth, superb vehicles to drive. Yeates were different, but I preferred them to mainstream body styles (except early Panoramas, perhaps).
Richard Hill
11/06/14 – 07:56
I am surprised at the direction this discussion has taken. I did not specify when the photo was taken, but it was actually around 1969 or 1970.
Don McKeown
11/06/14 – 09:18
Don may well be surprised at the direction this discussion has taken, but for an OBP discussion to go off at a tangent is completely normal! I’m taking a bit of a risk here, trying to tell someone when they took their photo, but here goes. Don himself reckons that the Bedford VAS visible in the shot is too modern for this site, so that implies a 1970+ vehicle, with photograph date to match. The said vehicle actually looks to be one of MEP889/90K, new to Mid-Wales in 7/72 – so there’s an earliest date for the shot.
David Call
11/06/14 – 11:30
David is quite correct. That is a 1972 Duple front. Is the main player an SB1 or an SB3 though? (see above/Roger’s post)
David Oldfield
11/06/14 – 11:31
Roger, can I clarify my suggestion about photo headings. I agree entirely with you about the build date of the subject vehicle being fundamental, and like yourself I have always taken the date to refer to when the vehicle was new, but we have the situation where comments have been generated within a couple of days of one another on two photos because the commentators have misinterpreted the build date as the photo date. My suggestion was merely to re-arrange the layout of the photo heading so it becomes less likely that the date is taken in the wrong text. Can I also make a correction to Nigel’s comment about the Humber Sceptre in the photo. It is actually a Mk. III model produced between 1967 and 1976. The Mk II was an upgrade of the Mk I and was produced between 1965-7.
Eric Bawden
11/06/14 – 15:02
…..but like many cars of that era, the Sceptre was a downgrade of the traditional cars of that marque which came before it!
David Oldfield
12/06/14 – 08:28
The other cars are a Series V Humber Super Snipe upper side veiw and the rear window of a Rover P6.
Roger Broughton
12/06/14 – 08:29
Off-topic: this was a version, I think of the Hillman Hunter, produced at the same time as the Super Minx family as a more lightweight alternative to that rather underpowered but much liked tank. On-topic: As with buses, when you start to cut down on the weight, other things go as well. Off-topic Eventually the Hunter was badge engineered: the Sunbeam Rapier for example was a giant coupe of rather bizarre appearance. On-topic: were petrol engines at all in demand for coaches, post Suez?
Joe
12/06/14 – 08:31
Puthering – that’s what the chimneys are doing, Neville. I think its an East Midlands dialect word for when chimneys are throwing-out smoke before the fire gets going. Well, I know what it means – I’m just not that certain its an East Midlands word. And – sorry to drift off thread here – David R (10/6) mentions the yellow rear number plate. Are the old white/silver-on-black plates now illegal for new vehicles – LT continued with them into the TH/B15 era, well after everybody else had moved over (did they get special dispensation?).
Philip Rushworth
12/06/14 – 10:06
The petrol Bedford SB3 was very popular until about 1962. From then on, the diesel gradually took over and was universal by 1967. Salopia continued against the trend to buy SB3s but were also alone in buying the VAM3 where everyone else bought the VAM5 with Bedford 330 diesel or VAM14 with Leyland O.400. As far as I know, Bedford were the last manufacturer to offer petrol. Ford had offered petrol but had more or less standardised on diesel long before Bedford.
David Oldfield
12/06/14 – 10:07
Old-style plates can only legally be carried by vehicles registered before 1st January 1973. Love the word ‘puthering’, wherever it came from.
Chris Hebbron
12/06/14 – 14:18
OK, so it should be apparent by now that I spent more time in the ’60’s looking at cars rather than coaches (in fact I never did, being much more a Corporation bus follower). I loosely termed the Humber Sceptre a ‘mark 2’ because the I wasn’t sure if the 1965 facelift and the then introduction of the 1725cc 5 bearing crankshaft engine represented a formal change of mark on the Sceptre (though it did on the contemporary Hillman Minx and perhaps the Super Minx on which the Sceptre was based, all having previously had a 3 bearing crankshaft in their 1600cc (approx) engines). The Hillman Hunter replaced the Super Minx in 1966. The Singer Vogue took the new Arrow design at the same time whilst the Sceptre based on the Hunter shell was introduced early in 1967 along with a Minx and Singer Gazelle bearing a 1500cc (approx) engine. The fastback Rapier followed shortly after this. Yes it illegal to have black and white plates on a new car. Until recently it was only permitted on vehicles regd before 1 Jan 73 but that may have moved on a year now with the change in tax exempt deadline. I too don’t know how LT managed to keep black and white plates on new vehicles well in the ’70’s. Back to the coaches, for what it’s worth, if there is a date in a picture heading heading I prefer it to apply to the date it portrays rather than than of the vehicle(s).
Orla Nutting
12/06/14 – 14:19
Almost all Ripponden & District wagons carried silver on black number plates until the company ceased trading – only a few years ago. I seem to recall once reading somewhere that the requirement for reflective plates did not apply to certain heavy vehicle classes, but that it was not a well published fact and that most operators who were not in the know just assumed they had to fit them. However, try as I might,I can’t find any reference to this anywhere now. Surely the mighty LT wouldn’t do anything illegal would they?
John Stringer
12/06/14 – 14:19
The legislation regarding compulsory reflective plates after 1st January 1973 only applied to cars and not buses/lorries. That’s how LT got round it. Parcel carrier (and form PSV operator) Ripponden and District continued to use black & white plates on their lorries for years after the 1st Jan regs. came in. I’ll stick my neck out here and go so far as to say black & white plates on lorries and buses was still legal till the change to the current format (51) in 2001, though I stand to be corrected on that point.
Eric Bawden
12/06/14 – 14:20
It is my recollection that, initially at least, the requirement to display reflective number plates did not apply to heavier vehicles – perhaps the logic was that they were big enough for people to see them anyway! After trawling the net for a while I have managed to unearth the following, which appeared in ‘Commercial Motor’ dated 13 December 1980. ‘Reflective number plates must be fitted to vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 1973, except vehicles over three tons unladen, which are fitted with reflective rear markings, stage carriages, pedestrian controlled vehicles, work trucks, agricultural machines and trailers’. I haven’t been able to find any reference to any changes in the legislation since 1980.
David Call
12/06/14 – 17:32
I absolutely cannot agree with Orla re the nature of the date in the picture heading. Surely it is the vehicle itself that we are primarily discussing in each OBP entry, however interesting the surroundings or background story. The picture date and other details can always be stated in the accompanying text if required. The adoption of the photo date in each title rather than the vehicle construction date is going to lead to some significant misunderstandings and inconsistencies. In any case, what date would one show if the picture date were unknown?
Roger Cox
13/06/14 – 11:31
I see pictures like this as a tableau of days gone within which setting the passenger vehicle(s) hold the most interest but form only a part of the historical record. It is as such that I give pre-eminence to the importance of the date of the picture and then within that the age of the buildings, the vehicles, the fashions etc. I’m not hung up on it and of course there are times when no date is known and there is pleasure into trying to establish that point in history by reference to the content.
Orla Nutting
14/06/14 – 08:18
To posters concerned, thanks for the clarification re. number-plates. And thanks, Orla, for sorting-out some Rootes Group badge engineering which has troubled me for some time – I assume that in due course the Arrow Hillman Minx became a 1500cc Hunter. And (sorry to drift off again): does anybody know why yellow was chosen as the colour for the rear plate? red would have seemed to be more logical – unless, I suppose, if the letters had to be black, they wouldn’t show up well on red in day-time . . .
Philip Rushworth
15/06/14 – 08:02
Many thanks Don for this wonderful image, I still visit Mongomery on a regular basis and as mentioned this view has not changed it is well worth a visit, RCT 2 can be seen outside the Chequers public house (sadly now converted into a French themed overpriced restaurant) at the side of the town hall in the rear of the photo is Bonner and son a time warp hardware store where “four candles” can be purchased, at the top of the square can be found Castle street garage D R Pugh and Son a typical rural garage, Ron Pugh (the proprietor) my cousin was a well known local character who drove part time for Mid Wales Motorways he was also a volunteer fireman in the village I remember him whizzing past in one of Mid Wales many Bedford OBs sounding the horn on an afternoon school run, he also drove a Morris J type van based mini bus I am unable to locate a photo of this vehicle, and of all the vehicles mentioned in the comments, these and more could be found behind the garage and in a field further down the road, a huge array of stored cars some of which ended up restored this image brings back many happy visits to Montgomery and of course watching Mid Wales vehicles at work.
Mark Mc Alister
15/06/14 – 11:19
Philip, black letters on red plates were tried in Ireland in, if I remember correctly, the late 1970s. A very few survive on preserved vehicles but, considering there are still plenty of original style plates around on older vehicles and agricultural machinery, the experiment was not a success and was eventually terminated when the British style system was abandoned in favour of the year and county mark system.
Phil Blinkhorn
27/06/14 – 06:59
Wow, reading the above comments reminds me of Home. Ron Pugh as mentioned above also drove for my father who was Montgomerys own coach operator, County Garage later Trefaldwyn Motors. Does anyone have any photos of our motors??
Russell Price
27/06/14 – 08:46
Russell – many of the photos on this link are of Trefaldwyn Motors’ buses – enjoy! //tinyurl.com/otn4ed7
Chris Hebbron
Vehicle reminder shot for this posting
08/07/14 – 14:51
Many thanks for mentioning Ron Pugh, indeed he did drive for your fathers company and I should have mentioned Trefaldwyh Motors, a much respected company in Mongomery, of course Trefaldwyn being the Welsh language for Montgomery, a really interesting book to read is Montgomery’e Buses an empire of independents by Brian Poole (Oakwood press) Trefaldwyn does get a mention along with two photos. I too would welcome more views of Trefaldwyn vehicles, sadly Ron Pugh passed away just over 3 years ago following a battle with cancer. However Joan Pugh now lives in Newtown.
NKY 161 started life with Fairways of Bradford in 1957. It is a Bedford SBG with Yeates C41F body. By the time of this view, at Duxford on 24th September 1995, It was with Don’s Coaches Great Dunmow Essex. Great Dunmow is one of the once-delightful villages near Stansted Airport, where many of the residents didn’t want the facility extended. They were ignored, as indeed were the folk twenty or so miles up the road at Lakenheath and Mildenhall who did want to host the third London Airport. Ah, well. It’s called democracy!
Photograph and Copy contributed by Pete Davies
22/12/16 – 09:27
Dons acquired this from Fairway when it was only two or three years old. Dons sold it for preservation (in the 1970s?) but later reacquired it. I only met Don Hale once but I would agree with the comment on the company website that he was a true gentleman. The business continues, now in the hands of Steve Harvey whose family had been associated with the business for many years.
Nigel Turner
22/12/16 – 10:02
It may be the camera angle, or perhaps its the body style, but compared to say a Duple or Plaxton from the same era, it looks very narrow, is it a 7’6″ chassis? A handsome beast none the less.
Ronnie Hoye
22/12/16 – 10:46
Thanks for your thoughts, Nigel and Ronnie. I’m not sure if it is a narrow chassis, but I am sure that someone among the readership will complete our education in this matter. Certainly, there have been comments in the past about the features of a Yeates body and I wonder if it’s just a bit taller than Duple or Plaxton to accommodate all that brightwork!
Pete Davies
25/12/16 – 06:24
The SB chassis were all the same size, the distance across the rear (double) wheels being 7ft 3 7/16″ It was the bodies that were different widths. In the case of NKY 161 it is an 8ft wide body. Its the height that makes it look narrow. Incidentally this is one of only 5 Yeates Europa’s known by me to survive on a Bedford SB chassis. The others are: 5200 AH part restored with Kenzie, Shepreth WWX 48 derelict with Kenzie for spares 618 KRA under restoration with Chambers, Derbyshire JEP 861 a caravan with Cook, Corton, Suffolk
Here is another photo taken with parents 127 Kodak at Scarborough coach station in the summer of 1965 I am afraid it is a little out of focus. Each of this pair of AEC Reliances according to what I can find out were owned by separate companies but garaged under the same roof I strongly suspect. KBV 251 was purchased new by Batty Holt, Blackburn Lancashire whilst KBV 252 was purchased by Ribblesdale, Blackburn Lancashire and apparently had a fleet number of 41 in their fleet. The company name of Batty Holt seems to have disappeared but Ribblesdale Coachways Ltd is still registered as a non trading company in Halifax Yorkshire. These Yeates bodied coaches were probable top of the line in luxury coaches when new in 1958 and the amount of flashing if that is the correct word for it certainly makes them stand out in a coach park. The running gear on these two was either the AEC 6.75 or 7.7 litre diesel engine I would of thought the later with a coach body, through a five speed synchromesh gearbox and vacuum assisted braking.
One of the best journeys of my life was an overnight on the Ribble Glasgow to Manchester service, as a student, in 1974. There was a duplicate on the 22:30 August departure – a Ribblesdale 4MU3RA Plaxton Panorama. I’m known for my preference for heavyweight, long Reliances but this was a beautiful, smooth and sprightly ride. Two other things stick in the memory. As a driver for an independent, he seemed friendlier than the regular service drivers but he didn’t know where he was going and hadn’t been briefed properly. We initially got lost in a large housing estate in the suburbs of Glasgow. A superb coach, well driven, made up for it.
David Oldfield
04/02/11 – 06:57
Ribblesdale Batty Holt were indeed one and the same. The company was actually owned by O & C Holdsworth of Halifax, being part of their transport empire. One of the items common to all O & C companies was the use of Gothic script initials in stainless steel on the side of the coach, in this case BRH with a large R flanked by a small B and small H. The same applied to OCH, W & H (Walton and Hellewell) and WRS, (W Robinson and Sons, who are still owned by O & C). I would be pleased to hear from anyone with photos from any of these operators, particularly form the pre underfloor era.
David Hudson
05/02/11 – 05:44
I was never the greatest fan of Yeates bodies, but this model, which I’ve never seen before, is very attractive. despite the amount of what we could nowadays call ‘bling’!
Chris Hebbron
28/02/21 – 06:24
Batty Holt held the extended tours licences. It was sold to Shearings in 1971. The remaining business was operated by Ribblesdale until 1983 when the owners retired and sold to Robinsons. I don’t know where the idea that Ribblesdale belonged to Holdsworths came from. It was a family business owned by the Boltons until they retired – that’s when it became part of the Holdsworth empire. Robinsons was itself sold to Daish’s in 2020. Ribblesdale remains as a dormant company with Holdsworths.
This photograph was taken on 26 June 1958 at North Landing, Flamborough, adjacent to the terminus of the East Yorkshire route from Bridlington. It is one of my very first transport photographs, taken during a family holiday at Flamborough. One attraction would no doubt have been the nice shiny coach on the right, new that year to Boddys. They had two other Yeates bodied Reliances that year, VBT 191 and VBT 192, of which VBT 191 is currently preserved with Fowler of Holbeach Drove. The other coach MWB 531 belonged to H. G. Anfield (also of Bridlington?) this is a Commer Avenger I with a Plaxton C33F body, and was new to Sellers of Sheffield, and it was number 7 in their fleet. I presume these would have been on half day tours from Bridlington?
A most interesting picture from a very well loved area. Firstly, yes, Anfields were from Bridlington, and operated from very basic premises behind the Gas Showrooms adjacent to the railway level crossing in Quay Road. The question as to whether the two coaches were on any kind of excursion from Bridlington is intriguing as the journey is only about four miles or so each way and could be accomplished by frequent service buses – perhaps the ultimate destination was Flamborough after a longer scenic ride beforehand ?? Another thought arises too – I wonder if the Anfield operation and vehicles had recently been taken over by the much more prosperous and presentable Boddy’s ??
Chris Youhill
That`s another old Bridlington independent. I remember it from earlier days, about 1946. Did they not have a stage service about that time from Filey to Flamborough? A Bradford neighbour had a PLSC Lion bungalow just under the old lighthouse, about 100 yards from where the photo was taken. I remember Mr Brock, the owner, telling me it was purchased from Boddys, but I also remember him telling me it was purchased from a Bradford yard in 1946, so not sure whose it was. Did Boddys also have an ex YWD or West Riding centre entrance Roe TD2, or am I mixing memories with Williamson??!!
John Whitaker
John, I don’t remember any independents having a service from Filey to Flamborough to be honest. Similarly I can’t recall Boddy’s having double deckers, but there WERE no less than seven ex YWD centre entrance Leyland TD2s in Bridlington. White Bus Service had HD 4625 and 4631. Williamsons had HD 4629/4630/4801/4803/4810. The latter was an incredible fleet considering that only two vehicles were needed to operate the town services to Old Town or Queensgate – and there were always a few interesting single deckers in stock as well.
Chris Youhill
Thanks Chris for the Williamson/WBS detail. My memory is very blurred, but I remember the centre entrances so well, and have this vague recollection of riding on one well outside Brid, the other side of Flamborough. Did WBS run past Flamborough? My main memory of Boddys is as you say, a coach company. I intend checking the OS archive regarding these 2 fleets Chris, but I think this may not be necessary as you are a mine of information here. Very grateful for it all.
John Whitaker
Many thanks John for your kind appreciation, but do please make whatever further checks you can – I’m afraid that advancing years mean that output from the “mine of information” reduces from time to time and sometimes contains samples of “nutty slack.” !! Your journey with WBS will no doubt have been on either HD 4625 or 4631 and the WBS service to Flamborough did have two distinct branches at the outer end – one to North Landing and the other to Lighthouse – which may have given the impression of further territory although I am not aware of the Firm ever having ventured further.
Chris Youhill
O frabjous day, etc, etc. What a joy to see actual photos of John Boddy’s fleet. One of my favourite fleets of my younger days. I well remember, staying in Brid in a flat in West Street, overlooking his Garage on the corner of New Burlington Road. Every morning at 8am the doors would be opened to reveal a wealth of red and cream vehicles. He also has another garage down Horsforth Avenue and one in Hull, at Morrill Street, off Holderness Road. As far as I am aware he never operated any stage services, but many trips to the local area. Mr Boddy also operated a fleet of taxis, as he would personally collect my late grandma, from Brid station to where she stayed for 3 or 4 months each year. Just as an afterthought I am trying to compile a complete fleet list for Boddy’s, but I believe there are a lot of vehicles which were purchased for spares or rebuilding, I’d love to hear from anyone who has a complete list.
Keith Easton
I can give Keith just two snippets of information which may be of interest. Boddy’s also had a very tiny garage for two or three vehicles at the Town end of Hilderthorpe Road – it is still there I think, but I can’t remember just which business occupies it now. Also , unknown to me at the time and I could kick myself, Boddy’s had an ex Samuel Ledgard Leyland KP3 Cub with Ledgard B20F bodywork, one of a batch of four built in the famous Armley workshops. It was UG 521 of 1932 and was sold to Boddy’s in 4/46 and then sold to Freeman of Brough in 11/46 who sold it to Thompson of North Newbald in 6/54.
Chris Youhill
Chris (Y), thanks for those two items. Boddy actually had both UG 521 and UG 522, both acquired august, 1946 (before my time) 521 was withdrawn May, 1950, and 522 by November, 1948, this one is listed as going to Bailey of Fangfoss. I’m not certain, but I think the garage in Hildethorpe Road, is now owned by a small local car dealer, whose name escapes me at the moment, was it opposite the end of Station Approach (now the entrance to Tesco’s)?
Keith Easton
Interesting views indeed Keith and, as sometimes happens, both conflict with PSV Circle records which show 521 as I mentioned above, and 522 as sold to Bailey of Fangfoss by 5/47?? The little garage in Hilderthorpe Road must be yet another premises, as it is on the same side as Station Approach but much nearer the town centre, in a very small yard, just before the road turns sharp left into Bridge Street (I think it is) to join up with Queen Street near the Brunswick pub. If only we could turn the clock back and finalise these things it would be so very satisfying. I am very long overdue for a visit to friends in Bridlington and must put this right as soon as the daylight prolongs and the weather improves.
Chris Youhill
Thanks Chris, I Know exactly where you mean now, but what it is now, I’m not really sure, it’s in what is now the tattier end of Hilderthorpe Road. UGH 522 date may be a bad transcription on my part, as I took the details down in a rush. Incidentally I still remember the White Bus stand in Queen Street, Ah happy days! If only I’d been a little bit older at the time I’d remember more of what is now gone for ever. Brid was a beautiful town in those days.
Speaking of White Bus, did Boddy’s take over the WBC office in Queen Street? As I recall, when I moved to Brid in 1990, it was in use by Appleby’s (as successor to Boddy?)
Regarding Anfield, I don’t really know what happened to him, as far as I am aware, he was not acquired by Boddy’s. Obviously he was still operating in 1958, when the photo was taken, but I have no recollection of Anfield vehicles in the late 50’s.
Keith Easton
05/02/11 – 05:56
John Boddy in the 1950s I had little interest in buses – So annoying as my Godfather was a relative of some sort – However in the 60s he told me that John had made a gents agreement to buy Williamsons out when the time came. However EYMS and the Traffic Commissioners had other ideas – Commissioners said that it would be preferable for a BET concern to operate local Stage Carriage services. I am sure Boddy had to be compensated. As for Anfields I believe they just folded. I have an old picture of their motor garage on quay road which I will send to Peter
Ian Gibbs
05/02/11 – 09:37
Keith and Ian – Thank you for further most interesting reminiscences of the Good Old Days in Bridlington. I’m not sure if Appleby’s took over the Queen Street office of WBS direct but it seems most likely as I believe they did take over Boddy’s operation in the town. Boddy’s also had a booking kiosk in the Promenade somewhere nearly opposite the Grand Pavilion Theatre.
Here is one of my own amateur teenage snapshots of Anfield’s Quay Road premises, around 1951/2, with some fascinating gems to be seen.
Chris Youhill
05/02/11 – 16:22
Chris and Keith- Boddy’s had the small end building on the promenade close to and almost opposite York Road which was the same side as Pavilion I recollect Appleby’s using this for visitors trip bookings with boards standing under a window for York City Various Abbeys etc. The adjacent open area allowed coaches to pull on and park up to load. Boddys often had that lovely ex West Riding coach on there I think it is preserved. Behind this open area was a high wall where a side lane ran down to the Thorn Road Coach Park for out of town coach parking. Incidentally York Road opposite side of Promenade had a huge premises of Garage and Ice Rink above. It was never a rink when I knew it but it had been the premises of a 1920s Bus Firm Called Tooth & Waddington (They had 3 different owners but no space here for all that saga.) T&W ran 6d circular tours around the area for visitors and locals. One route ran up to Flamborough via Sands Lane, Limekiln Lane, Sewerby, 1921-ish. This route was one that Reuben Williamson was trying out (Stage Carriage)with a Double Deck Motorbus, However Charles Williamson, Reubens Son, (aged over 80 when I met him) told me that due to the competition of T&W (who were basically Pirates-well it is near the Sea!) Reuben’s revenues were poor that Williamsons gave it up, returning to the two routes of Old Town-Quay and Queensgate – to Town. T&W got their reward when as they overstretched the finances owing for petrol and had to sell out to Archer Robinson in 1924 (Robinson’s story is quite interesting he never worked his staff on Sundays-but if you lost a spanner from the set of tools he provided for Roadside repairs he stopped 6d a week from your pay to pay for another one) This in turn let Blue Bus in as they had no qualms about Sunday Ops. So I will let you digest this.
Ian Gibbs
05/02/11 – 19:23
Hi Chris & Ian, what a wonderful “can of worms” this topic has unearthed. With regard to Boddy’s Hilderthorpe Road garage, I believe it is the one which is set back behind a shop which is now called “Bygones”, as I had a drive-by last week, but couldn’t stop as I had Mrs E. on board and she was keen to get on, but if I’m correct, it has been used by, if not still by, a limo hire company. I like the picture of Anfield’s garage and vehicles, but I still have no recollection of him at all. With another query; who owned the enquiry office at the Spa end of West Street, as I recall seeing boards leaning up outside advertising Boddy’s tours and excursions? I believe that a guy called Gibbs related the T&W, Robinson etc, goings-on in a book on EYMS!!! I recall the enquiry office on the Promenade, at least when it was Appleby’s. Boddy sold out to Appleby’s in May, 1983, which gave Appleby’s a foothold in both Hull and Brid, but I’m not sure where their Scarborough ops came from, unless it was post de-reg competition. In the early 1990’s I recall passing the Horsforth Avenue garage, with 3 Appleby coaches inside. Incidentally does anyone have an Anfield fleet list, as I know of only 1 vehicle!
Keith Easton
06/02/11 – 17:09
Here is the shot that I forgot to attach to my last posting.
Ian Gibbs
06/02/11 – 18:29
Thanks a million for that fabulous picture Ian – the garage and yard were behind that imposing building which I’d forgotten all about long ago. I shall treasure the memory I assure you – another important piece in the Bridlington transport jigsaw!!
Chris Youhill
10/02/11 – 05:53
Trying to find the location of Anfiled’s premises on the photo! Where was it Ian? The nearest I can guess is just north of Quay Road crossing north of Moorfield Road, adjacent to what is now Higgs & Barker. Am I close or not?
Keith Easton
11/02/11 – 06:47
Keith and Chris Anfields garage was at the rear of the building on photo it is as you thought Keith Moorfield Road went up the side towards the rear of Moorfield School at the far end was a White Bus Garage which I believe only took single deckers. There were four very dilapidated cottages built adjoining the Anfield Garage all were demolished. I am seeking further advice on the matter and will post any details. One puzzling query for you Keith re EYMS Fleet Listed on it is YX 5215 Dennis E – no further details given – I emailed EY about this bus around 2 years ago but no reply – I offered a possibility for this Dennis B Coach – Hale Garage and Coaches were bought out by EY in 1933 (the date given by Fleet History) so did this vehicle come from Hale? Just a guess but I was sorry that no response came back. Can anyone confirm the source maybe PSVC have some record. Perhaps I should produce some booklet or other on Brids Passenger Pioneers Motor Buses began in 1905 so rival Ezra Laycock. Brid being a Seaside Resort had many Pirates or Entrepreneurs shall I say, One ran a Serpollet Steam Bus in 1910!
Ian Gibbs
12/02/11 – 09:41
Ian & Chris, Hi, thanks for the confirmation on Anfield’s garage & premises. Now for YX 5215; I’m basically responsible for this one, but there is no official confirmation by the company, indeed their historical records commence in 1987 (when privatised), the details on the website prior to this date is basically from my fleet list, as supplied to John Whitaker (see Leyland PD1 JAT 455 – 487). The Dennis did indeed come from Hale Garage, and was East Yorkshire’s share of the vehicles. I came across the details shown some time ago, in Keith Jenkinson’s book on West Yorkshire, or if not there, I cannot recall where it was. I would, of course, welcome confirmation or correction of the matter. I, personally would welcome a book on Brid’s motor-bus heritage, if you could ever get around to it! Ezra Laycock was the first bus in West Yorkshire, and it would be good to know that Brid had the first bus in East Yorkshire!
Keith Easton
12/02/11 – 09:44
Ian, we eagerly await your Bridlington booklet so please begin writing as soon as possible. To those of us with such treasured memories of the Town and its fascinating transport such a work would be very welcome. I think I’ve mentioned this incredible little fact before, but I daresay it stands repeating – as a sign of respect to the Sabbath the Williamson’s bus stop pole in Chapel Street did an astonishing switch on Sundays. On weekdays it was located in a pavement socket right outside the Chapel front doors – but on Sundays it was moved lower down to another socket nearer to the Promenade junction – Mr. Wesley and others would have been very impressed indeed.
Chris Youhill
12/02/11 – 10:51
Keith. First, many thanks for the EYMS list which I am gradually absorbing with glee! Ian. I think a booklet about Bridlington`s bus pioneers would make fascinating reading. From the EYMS list, there were several takeovers in the region, including the post war ones of Williamson, but who were “Blue Bus” and “Bridlington and District”? Its a truly fascinating history, and, for me at any rate, crammed full of nostalgia! Does anyone have a photo to post of the Doncaster “Renown” running for Williamson? I look forward to many more posts on the subject. Just wish I could contribute more, but my memories of Brid are from regular holidays there up to about 1955, and then much less frequently.
John Whitaker
13/02/11 – 06:25
Hi Ian, back to YX 5215; The details quoted are those when owned by West Yorkshire, with the exception of the bodywork. For origins see your book on EYMS, page 28. When it passsed to WYRCC, it was rebodied with a Brush B31C body. It is possible that this was a second-hand body, and as such it may have caried the YX mark, which was, of course, a West Riding mark anyway. If this is the case, the registration when acquired by East Yorkshire, would have been different. Chris, Blue Bus, was Archer Robinson’s company which was acquired by the LNER (indirectly) and passed to United, along with Bridlington & District and Scarborough District. In 1930 these three companies, due to their locations, were split between East Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and United. Thirdly Ian, I think that you are now committed to a “Brid book” or you will have at least two very disappointed enthusiasts!
Keith Easton
p.s. Sorry Chris, I meant John (W). Incidentally Archer Robinson, built a cafe at the terminus of his route to Flamborough, North Landing, I believe that it is still present today, or at least there is a cafe there in use, at the end of a very bumpy ride.
13/02/11 – 06:30
Sorry John, but I don’t know of any photo of the Renown – however I do have a Robert F. Mack picture of the Leyland Titanic from the same town making a spirited turn from the Promenade into Queen Street – with a remarkable display of exhaust fumes to show that it means business !!
Chris Youhill
13/02/11 – 18:39
Do submit it for us to see, Chris Y. You can’t beat a photo with atmosphere, even if the atmosphere is about to choke all around the Titanic!
Chris Hebbron
14/02/11 – 09:22
Yes Chris, please do! I had no idea that there was also a Titanic! When did White Bus start up, and Williamson for that matter, after EY had absorbed (presumably) all the Brid area independents? I remember Doncaster 6 wheelers of both types used as Skipsea bungalows c. 1950. Perhaps these were connected with WBS in some way, or maybe just a coincidence. There were 2, still in Doncaster maroon, lined up on the cliff top minus engines, but otherwise intact, and later they were painted up in their holiday home colours. I cannot remember Anfield at all, but what a collection of delights there were in the photo of their garage on (Hildethorpe Rd.?)
John Whitaker
Chris contributed his shot of the Williamson’s Titanic, but I do not want it to be just lost in a long list of comments so I have uploaded it as a separate posting but it is here as well to keep this thread going.
Peter
14/02/11 – 09:43
Copyright Robert F. Mack
Here is the picture of Williamson’s ex Doncaster Titanic (76 – DT 9643) in action in Queen Street. Unfortunately the destination blind is obscured by the sun but would say either “The Quay and Queensgate” or “Old Town and The Quay”, depending on whether it was quarter to or quarter past the hour, or on the hour or half past. It was a 1938 Titanic TT5c and served only one year in Bridlington, from July 1949 to July 1950. Possibly its Titanic running costs, maybe aggravated by the torque converter, resulted in this short career. In view of the notorious maritime disaster of 1912 I’ve always thought it either brave or cavalier of Leyland to give the model this particular name !!
Chris Youhill
14/02/11 – 13:03
Chris. Thanks indeed are due for this wonderful picture! I wonder if this is the bus, or one of `em which finished up at Skipsea? Like you say, torque converter with 3 axles must have made them expensive to run on such a short urban route, but I suppose they were more modern than most second hand availability at that time? Presumably the TD2s were in stock at the same time, or did they replace the Doncasters, as the TD2s ex YWD survived until the takeover. Absolutely fascinating!
John Whitaker
14/02/11 – 15:09
Several large Sheffield double deckers were on the Caravan site on the Marton Road Camp owned by Mr Mortlock possibly the Titanic went there. Re White Bus Service they began with two Ford Charas according to John Boddy, for visitors in the area. White Bus Service replaced the 2 Fords (TT Baicos?) with 4 Lancia Z types. All were charas named after Musicals of the 20s. Archer Robinson DID have a cafe at Thornwick to provide Patrons refreshments, Incidentally their Lancias had to go in reverse near the cafe as the petrol flowed backwards from the carburettors uphill, whilst the Horse buses passed them!
Ian Gibbs
14/02/11 – 16:17
I have found the above Boddy’s letterhead in my “Letters Files”, In the letter John Boddy Jr States that John Boddy & Son agreed to buy Town Licenses from Williamsons, Both EYMS and Bridlington Borough Council objected on the grounds that the service could be more co-ordinated if EYMS bought Williamsons. He also noted that a Leyland Lion was bought in early days of WW2 from Grey-de-Luxe of Hull (Formerly Burn’s Grey Bus Service which EYMS Bought out in 1926)
Following the sale of Burn’s Grey Bus Service to EYMS, the former owners (with £7,100 in hand), being Messrs’, Burn, Tyler and Solly, set up the new business “Grey-de-Luxe Luxury Coaches” (with Eric Russell joining later). The Grey-de Luxe name came about because David Burn bought an ex-Motor Show coach in c1927 it had a Maroon & Grey Livery. Finally in the above letterhead for Grey-de-Luxe mentions objections to Christmas Day Service in Hull 1931, (I believe one of the objectors was ‘Kingston Motors’) who were running up to Hessle, so their Route would suffer losses over Christmas, EYMS bought ‘Kingston Motors’ out as ‘Hull City Motor Works’ in June 1932. If there is interest in Burn’s and Co I have a picture of the new owners with their Coaches.
Ian Gibbs
15/02/11 – 06:18
Chris on my copy of the photo of the Titanic, the display clearly reads “The Quay and” the bottom line appears to be “Queensgate” but it is not very clear. Ian, of course there’s interest! Any local operator (Hull & East Riding) is of interest. On another matter no-one picked me up on this, in my post on the 13th, Archer Robinson traded as Green Bus, which became Bridlington & District, whilst Blue Bus was J Atkin’s company, otherwise the remains of my comment stands. Sorry for the error, but the grey cells are a bit rusty.
Keith Easton
15/02/11 – 06:20
Thx, Chris Y, for posting the Titanic. I see your point about the trail of exhaust smoke, blurring Montague Burton’s establishment in the background! It’s a very modest building, compared with most around. And I like the name of the Gipsy Lee shop, whatever it sold! I fully agree about Leyland’s risky choice of model name for these vehicles. Maybe this is why AEC’s Renown had higher sales!
Chris Hebbron
15/02/11 – 06:52
I have the photos above of BT 9820 which in the PSVC list is quoted as a Dennis ex Enterprise (Fussey) of Cottingham, but the photo here is definitely a Leyland. Any Ideas?
Keith Easton
15/02/11 – 15:22
Keith and all, As for BT 9820 I too noticed this when I compared Fussey’s Dennis and this picture of the sale to EYMS of Burn’s Bus Service. David Burn was in the frame in a suit I recall. I reckoned that someone swopped Plates after the Fussey and Burns sales took place, if the ‘Enterprise’ Dennis was taxed but not a runner and the Leyland was serviceable well save a few bob, We can only guess! My copy of the Fussey’s Dennis is very poor – hint The ‘Enterprise’ name was due to the 1926 Strike! Tom Fussey ferried Naval Personnel to and from the Docks, during the Strike. He befriended the Captain of HMS Enterprise, so applied the ship’s name to two vehicles. The 2 Daimlers EYMS acquired with the Dennis’s may have had Logos, these were Nully Secundus and Non Pareils. Tom Fussey began with Horse Buses taking over from a Publican.
Ian Gibbs
16/02/11 – 05:54
Paul H – I bet her crystal ball needed a good wipe over every time the Titanic passed by!
Chris Hebbron
16/02/11 – 06:00
Ian, and other interested parties, I suspected that this was a Burns bus, by the destination box which reads “Hull & Withernsea” This vehicle is not recorded in the PSVC book PB17, perhaps this remained with Burn along with the Leyland Lion BT 9981. This would make Burns total fleet size 8 vehicles. With regard to Fussey’s Dennis, I very much suspect that I have the same photo as you as mine is identical to the one in your book (page 15), however I did try blowing it up, and whilst not being 100% certain, the registration could possibly have been BT 9520. I did query this with the PSVC and they confirmed the BT 9820 mark, but perhaps this was a bad transcription by the motor taxation office?
Keith Easton
16/02/11 – 16:44
Keith and all, Dennis BT9820 is on page 15 of Dennis Buses in Camera a better picture of this very Bus. My file for BT gives BT9820 Exors E Fussey new 7/26 As you say correctly the Leyland is Burn’s is it carrying this plate in EYMS control 1927? used for Withernsea Services by them? I see that Fussey’s was (officially) bought 24 Nov 1927
Ian Gibbs
17/02/11 – 07:04
Going back to Archer Robinson (Green Bus/Bridlington & District); his garage in Brid at Cliff Street is very much in evidence even today, but is in use as a cafe. It is located on the corner of Cliff Street and Cross Street. Ian, does the photo of the Dennis, in the book, show the registration plate any clearer than my small photo? Also you mention your BT file? this and any other similar files must be very interesing indeed.
Keith Easton
18/02/11 – 07:37
Chris, Keith, John re Anfields The Higgs-Barker Forecourt was built on Quay Rd site, Anfields land had 4 houses, known as Bishops Terrace, next a Cinema, then Anfields garage. Keith Archer Robinson Garage, There was a photo of it in EYMS files! Archers graage photo was by late Geoff Atkins he wrote me that the 1941 Hull Blitz hit EYMS Chambers he supplied them many original prints to make up lost pics. He did not put his name to them he sent me some in 1983 these ones I saw at EY in 1960s they must be at EYMS The Dennis photo in Camera BOOK is a good one. My files are the result of years transcribing data by hand for my Vehicle data and meeting bus men (on my Moped). In 2010 I was told it now costs TEN pounds for a single search per document for photocopy or email! can’t afford it. Incidentally I lost a folder in 1980 It held Licensing data from 1911-1926 for buses drivers conductors in Hull hand copied (Own fault) If anyone’s found it-Likely!! let me know! Too much about me this is a bus site.
Ian Gibbs
18/02/11 – 19:32
Hello all. I have been reading your comments on Bridlington area operators with interest, and yes I would like to see a book about Bridlington operators, that’s about four you have sold now Ian (I did buy both copies of your EYMS book and supplied several pics for the book!) I visited Anfields depot on 16-5-65 looking though the side door of the new garage building and the following coaches were parked in there as well as several cars, LJR 554, 3529 BT, 3205 BT, LNP 892 & RWF 714, but I did not have my camera with me when I went Bridlington old bus garage hunting last year. I have sent the pictures above of Williamson ex depot at 25 Havelock Crescent, 16 Havelock Crescent was also an address of Williamson but is a house now.
Mike Davies
20/02/11 – 06:34
Mike Davies and all, Interesting pictures of Havelock Crescent Mike you have reminded me I might have a photo of the Williamson garage when the GPO rented it. Re Titanic bodies Mortlocks Camps there appears to have been more than one bought for parts cannibalised towed to camp wheels removed taken back to depot. They were popular for camping being large there was room for a better kitchen.
Ian Gibbs
27/02/11 – 16:16
I worked for Boddys coaches for many years and can confirm about 1968/9ish Boddys took over Anfields with 3 coaches ie 4777 VM, 319 FWB & 3529 BT which was always breaking down, also Boddys sold out to Applebys at the Hull depot a year or so before selling the Brid business.
Ken Wragg
03/03/11 – 08:53
Hello Ken, I was talking to Dave Longbottom last summer about Boddy’s Coaches and he mentioned your name, as being someone who had kept a very detailed record of the fleet, including buses acquired for spares or rebuilding. If you still have this information, and it is readily accessible, I would be very interested to see a copy of it, if at all possible. I can be contacted via Peter at the website. Many thanks Keith.
Keith Easton
03/03/11 – 10:44
Yes details of vehicles acquired for spares by Boddys would be very interesting, Ken.
Mike Davies
07/03/11 – 11:32
I can confirm that Boddys and Anfields coaches would both have been operating an afternoon tour to Flambro North Landing and then on to Flambro Lighthouse and back for tea, then maybe a mystery trip in the evening, both companies ran in competition to each other.
Ken Wragg
08/03/11 – 14:32
I am working my way through the comments and can confirm that Boddys ran a service probably starting at Filey via Hunmanby Cortainly Speeton Buckton Bempton to Flambro this info came from John Boddy jnr and older staff members as a result of me finding a stock of bell punch tickets in a cupboard during a clear out. I do not know what buses were used, the service was run by EYMS by 1966 when I did 2 seasons working for them before I started at Boddys, what many folk don,t know is both Boddys and Anfields, bought old buses both d/d & s/d to sell to folk to make holiday homes, that is why there where many on the local camps. However earlier on during shortages of buses in the 2nd world war many of the earlier holiday homes were repurchased and remade into buses I was told of a Anfield one reversing out of the garage with the paint still wet and a chimney still on the roof. Boddys acquired a ex Sheffield Leyland PD2 in the 1970,s purely for the engine to put into EHL 336 it only stayed a few days as we did not have garage clearance for it and DTY 442 towed it away to a scrapyard at Worksop were they were both broke up.
Ken Wragg
09/03/11 – 06:09
Very interesting Ken do you know any registration numbers for the buses turned into holiday homes or the Sheffield decker ? I believe Boddys acquired KHCT’s RH 8473/8475/8476 & 8477f or spares in 11/45 – did these also end up as holiday homes?
Mike Davies
09/03/11 – 12:14
Thanks to Ken, the origin of the Flamborough PLSC Lion bungalow of a Bradford neighbour can be confirmed! I well remember being told it was bought from Boddys, even though I have never seen a PLSC reference in their fleet. Thank You Ken, also, for the confirmation of Boddys Filey to Flamborough service, which I was sure I remembered riding on, and not quite as sure remembering it as a centre entrance bus. Perhaps on its way to Williamsons, as I am talking about 1947. Maybe the fascinating array of old buses at Skipsea in those years came from Boddys. There were certainly 2 Roe 6 wheelers from about 1948/9 Tram bodies galore too!
John Whitaker
09/03/11 – 17:57
There was still a tram body at Skipsea up to recent times, not sure if it is still there, but it did appear in the background of a recent “South Riding”series. There are a lot of old sheds and caravans, but I doubt if there are any buses left.
Mike Davies
10/03/11 – 08:52
Re. Mike’s comment about Skipsea: From 1948 to 1963, we had a Bradford tram body at Skipsea, until the sea eroded our little patch of land! Within 200 yards each way from us were:- N.Western RC TS, West Yorkshire TS B10A, Yorkshire Trac. TD1 (Enclosed), Bradford 6 wheel “Paddler” trolleybus, and the 2 Doncaster 6 wheelers, one of which I think, was an AEC. There were plenty more further away, along with sheds, railway coaches and tram bodies galore! Just wondering how many of these buses were supplied by Boddys??!!
John Whitaker
11/03/11 – 07:39
I would very much like any details of the Anfield-Boddy fleets too Ken, also your input re any notes I submit-thanks in advance.
Ian Gibbs
11/03/11 – 11:10
In my 1951/2 photo of Anfield’s yard, which appears earlier in this topic, there is an ex Doncaster six wheeler against the left wall in the view. The bus was in “as arrived” well worn maroon and I’m sure was never used by Anfield’s, and so I suppose its likely that this was one of the many destined for the coast and for use as a holiday or permanent home.
Chris Youhill
11/03/11 – 16:31
I never noticed the “Doncaster” at the side of your Anfield’s depot view Chris. Brilliant. I bet it was one of the duo which finished up at Skipsea! They would make a very durable holiday home, especially being teak framed!
John Whitaker
11/03/11 – 18:47
This tram body was still at Skipsea and may still be on site.
Mike Davies
13/03/11 – 10:56
I went to Skipsea today (Saturday 12th March) and can confirm the tram body is still there, but no buses!!
Mike Davies.
14/03/11 – 07:43
Hi Mike. The tram body photo takes me way way back, and I am amazed that it is still there! This is a Hull car by the look of it, and probably not one that went to Leeds with it being a 3 window car, although I think some 3 windows did get to Leeds. Imagine what Skipsea cliff top was like in the post war years to about 1965, when all the delightful old buses, trams and railway coaches adorned the cliff edge, from the edge of the bombing range towards Atwick, right down past Ulrome, almost to Barmston! I often make the walk in my imagination, to see if I can remember the detail of any others which I have not mentioned, and feel sure I remember this Hull car as being quite near the Atwick end. Maybe wrong, as I can remember other Hulls. Thanks for going, and thanks for reviving all those memories!
John Whitaker
14/03/11 – 08:52
The East Yorkshire area in the 1940s/50s was an absolute Mecca of holiday residences which had once been passenger vehicles. When I was in the RAF at Patrington in 1955/6 the A1033 from the village to Withernsea, and the Spurn peninsula in general hosted some magnificent withdrawn vehicles from the prewar days. A particularly rich site was on a sharp bend known as “Hollym Corner” – why oh why didn’t I take some pictures of PLSC Lions, Gilfords and other gems ??
Chris Youhill
15/03/11 – 14:55
Mention of Hollym Corner by Chris Youhill, reminds me that on Hollym Road Withernsea, was Kemp Brothers Garage I send a copy picture of a 1931 Gilford 1680T, ch 11965 owned by Mainline London, It came to Kemp from Mainline – date not known to me – someone is sure to know the details, if so what is the source please, also I believe it was rebodied by Barnaby’s Hull c1943.
Ian Gibbs
15/03/11 – 16:28
just to clarify, Boddys when I joined them in 1967 had 3 garages, Horsforth Ave were the repairs etc were done West St was a storage garage, and Hilderthorpe Rd was also the registered office the garage at the rear held only 3 coaches, if you were to take up the foundations there you will find various chassis holding up the floor as there is a river behind it. Also there was a booking office at the front, and one at the harbour end of West St and the promenade were there was a large car park/coach loading point. Excursions were also run from Filey bus station booking at a hut on site that was made by Boddys and can be seen in a few old EYMS photos at Filey bus station, these excursions passed to Primrose Valley coaches in the 1970s. Another excursion point was Butlins Camp at Filey, this was jointly operated by Boddys, EYMS and United, one year United would operate, then EYMS then Boddys, however in practice EYMS and Boddys would share operations for two years according to traffic demands. Not forgetting the Hull garage for 3 coaches, many Brid coaches were needed on Sundays to work from Hull. On a none bus side Boddys operated 3 fleets of limousine for hire to funeral directors, there were Rolls Royce, Humbers and Austin Princesses, they kept us busy in winter, so you can see Boddys were quite a busy company. Boddys did not not have the office in Queen St that was a Appleby office and not the same one as White Bus,
Ken Wragg
16/03/11 – 06:38
Hello Ian. My records for Kemp, show GP 5147 coming from Mainline No24, as you said, date unknown, it later passed to Blue Line, Armthorpe and was rebodied by Barnaby DP26F in 1943, so it must have left Kemp by 1943. There is a photo of it in Prestige Series-Doncaster 1 with its Barnaby body, with Blue Line.
Mike Davies
16/03/11 – 06:44
Just to refer briefly to another fascinating feature of the bus scene in Bridlington – who remembers the UNITED bus station in The Promenade, from where their service 111 used to leave for Scarborough via Speeton and Hunmanby. A bus station it certainly was – for ONE bus !! It is still there and is on a corner roughly opposite Garlands the newsagents. The former United office is now a cafe, and customers in fair weather can dine “alfresco” on the very spot where many a fine Bristol G, K, J, L has rested during layover time.
Chris Youhill
16/03/11 – 10:49
Yes Chris I remember it well a one bus bus station, no room for a dupe!!.
Mike Davies
16/03/11 – 14:24
Regarding the United bus stn I certainly saw two buses on the stand many times not a lota room but only high summer. United also had a garage for two buses in the station yard now demolished to firstly extend the coach park and now were Tescos roadway is
Ken Wragg
Hi Mike Ken Chris. What an interesting set of new notes everyone, Mike I would be interested to compare your fleet notes for Kemp, re Blue Line I have the same book, is there a psvc publication for Blue line? Roger Holmes and I corresponded 1985-2003 about Barnabys and South Yorks firms who bought Barnaby products. Fascinating stuff this Ken Boddy’s Filey operations and excursions, far more than I realised. Kemps had cars for Funerals. Fred Barnaby rebuilt Limos into Hearses on the side carried out by a specialist who worked on Rolls and Austin V-Plas. They made a replica Jowett Jupiter body for 1952 Rally, chassis from Armstrong’s Beverley. I did a short piece on it for Jowett Club. Chris I remember the United ‘Bus Station’ somewhere I have a copy of a picture when People’s Bus of Scarborough used it, if I can find it I’ll put it on site.
Ian Gibbs
16/03/11 – 15:18
Gentlemen : please may a newcomer join in your fascinating discussions? Because this newcomer, having stumbled upon your website accidentally while looking for something else, has clear memories of most of your topics, having been born and bred in Bridlington (1938 – 1955)! And I can probably fill in a few gaps in your joint knowledge. Starting with the most recent topic, the United bus station in the Promenade, actually it could just hold 2 buses when necessary (I remember it doing so on a few Summer Saturdays, including the once-daily Summer service 20 to Newcastle which ran for several years in the late ’40s and ’50s). Service 111 actually had 3 variations : via Speeton and Hunmanby, and via Burton Fleming and Hunmanby, both running all year round, and via Reighton which ran in the Summer only. And did you know that United had a dormy shed for 1 bus, at the back of the Railway Station? (Not a lot of people know that!) Switching topics, ah, those ex-Doncaster double-deckers: 5 of them passed through Anfields’ yard; the 2 which went to Williamsons (DT 9643 and DT 5332? or 5337?), plus DT 7812 (Leyland, DT 9857 and 9859 (AEC) although a Doncaster Corp. fleet list I’ve seen gives the latter 2 as 9757/9. And that wonderful photograph of Anfields’ yard! That’s DT 9857 or 9859 on the left, then HL 5814 (a former Bullocks (156) Leyland Lion LT5 chassis re-bodied (make unknown), the old body (complete with Bullocks destination blind (why didn’t I have the foresight to “borrow” it) stood around in the yard for some months, suggesting that Anfields must have removed the body before sending the chassis for rebodying; then CWF 490 (one of 5 Bedford OWBs to be seen in Brid., the others being with White Bus (2), Boddys (1) and Everingham Bros.), then VN 5692 (a Commer B40 with canvas roof), and I’m not sure about the one on the right but I suspect it’s JV 6964 (Dennis Lancet2). I’ve got a similar photograph from around the same period (sadly of inferior quality, black&white taken on a box brownie) showing a TSM HSLA4(GLY446), a Leyland Cheetah LZ (DOR 57) and a Leyland Tiger TS2 with a weird Mulliner body. Re Boddys’ Filey Flamborough service, yes, I can confirm that this did exist, I remember my Mother reading out to me the notice in the Bridlington Free Press about it’s being started, I would guess that would have been around 1947. For how long it operated I don’t know; my impression was that it folded eventually. Re the ex-Yorks. Woollen centre-entrance Titans, yes, Williamsons operated the 5 you mention, and White Bus had 2 but only operated HD 4625, not HD 4631 which I imagine they used for spares, because it disappeared without trace. Incidentally, in addition to the Moorfield Road garage, which as you rightly say could only take single-deckers, and only 2 at a time at that, they had a bigger garage in the Old Town which housed about 6 buses including double-deckers. And I confirm that the Queen Street offices were not taken over by Boddys, but sold off and I think became a shop. I reckon that’ll do for now; but there’s plenty more I can tell you.
Patrick Hooper
17/03/11 – 06:31
I’m sure that everyone joins me in welcoming Patrick to the website and in particular to this utterly fascinating Bridlington topic, which is quite rapidly approaching the status of a book !! On my old snapshot of Anfield’s yard – Patrick mentions two possible numbers – the ex Doncaster six wheeler was AEC Renown DT 5337. Eagerly awaiting the next instalments from everyone – I wonder if arrangements could ultimately be made for some kind of a gathering of those of us interested in the erstwhile Bridlington district independent operators to discuss the history and to assemble an archive of photographs. Many years ago I did put an appeal in the “Free Press” for any pertinent photographs – there must surely be many in the Town’s attics somewhere – but sadly and perhaps understandably there were no replies. I was contacted , however, by an elderly former Williamson’s driver (one Harold Dowson) and spent the day with him – he managed to introduce me to a lady in Brett Street who was a relative of Tim Williamson but sadly she had no material to show us.
Chris Youhill
17/03/11 – 06:34
Hi All, Yes I do remember the United bus station, but I must admit that I had completely forgotten about it, until I read the post. Ken, did Boddy’s run a taxi business also, as I’m fairly certain that I remember my late grandma, telling me that every year when she arrived in Brid by train from Hull, she was picked up personally by Mr Boddy Sr., or did I imagine this? On page 44 of Ian’s book on EYMS there is a photo of EY PD1 number 452 on the Promenade in Brid, to the left of the PD1 is an United bus situated in the United bus station, showing route number 111. I’m sorry that I don’t have a copy of it.
Keith Easton
17/03/11 – 06:36
Firstly, thanks to all contributors for such a great response to my original photograph – your knowledge is absolutely amazing! Secondly, Ian, Mike, I can add the following information re Gilford GP 5147 – there is a Blue Line fleet list within Circle publication PB29 History of South Yorkshire PTE Part 2 1979-1986. This and 2PB13 Part 1, 1974-8, both published in 1993, contain full fleet lists of all independents acquired by the PTE in that period. Both Parts 1 and 2 are still available from the Circle. GP 5147 is given as new 7/31 to Main Lines Ltd, London WC1, no 24 with a Wycombe C26F body. Acquired by Blue Line by 1933, rebodied in 1943 with Barnaby d/p body (seating not given). Withdrawn by Blue Line 3/50, then given as scrapped. Looks like the Circle is unaware of it ever running for Kemp!
Bob Gell
17/03/11 – 06:43
Hello all. This site on Bridlington operators is getting bigger and better each day. I have a list of operators in Bridlington with some vehicle details from the 20’s & 30’s does anybody know any more about the following ? J Burrell, (Bridlington Garage Co). no address BT 380/BT 381/BT 1511. F Burrell WF 7184. J Broumpton, Beverley House, Pinfold St, BT 2816/BT 2878/BE 9189. S G Day, Brunswick Garage, Bridge St. C 2930/BT 1948/BT 2743/BT 2321/ BT 2807/BT 9952/AT 7417/BT 3304 WY 6253/NW 1759. E & T from Brunswick Garage D Day, Danescliffe, Thirsk Av. H Dixon, no address BT 5713/BT 5743/PY 756 C Hattersley t/a Blue Charas, 6 Somerset St. AT 2004/AT 8321/AT 7219 H H Knaggs, 30-32 Promenade. BT 382 H H Mudford, Central Garage, 7 Prospect St. BT 2323 H Ripley, 35 Promanade. BT 4227/BT 5880/AJ 4779. I know not all of the above numbers are PSV’s and some operators listed may be dealers or NPSV.
Mike Davies
17/03/11 – 10:08
Boddys did run taxi,s latterly this was one car a Ford which Mr Boddy snr ran himself but there was also a 2nd car hardley ever used but as Mr Boddy snr had reached the age where really he should not have been driving, he had a few scrapes, and on Mr Boddy jnrs orders the 2nd car was hidden from view, Mr Boddy snr then took too painting the West St garage until he fell off a ladder. Boddys had horse drawn Carriages/taxis and the stables were at West St, I think this is how the car hire business started, Mr Boddy snr held hackney Carriage/taxi badge no 1, at one stage in the 1970,s we hired a garage in Marshall Ave to house the cars from Mr Naggs another old horse drawn operator, we needed the space in West St to house coaches.
Ken Wragg
18/03/11 – 07:58
WF 7184! “I remember it well”; and I never thought I’d be writing about it 60 years later! When I knew it, it belonged to D.W.Frankish of Brandesburton, and freqently appeared in Brid., painted in colours (navy and primrose)which appeared to me to be identical to those of East Yorkshire, hence I wrongly concluded that it must have originated with one of the numerous fleets taken over by EYMS, and was unbelieving when, after I wrote to them asking about it, they responded that it had never belonged to them. It was a Bedford WLB, and I subsequently discovered that Frankish had acquired it in 7/47 from Clarke, North Frodingham (who perhaps had bought it from F.Burrell if Mike Davies’s info. is correct) and eventually sold it to either Wood or Thompson (no other details known). Now, then, to pick up a few minor points in the foregoing exchanges: John W.- in my living memory (which goes back to 1943) White Bus Service operated only to Lighthouse and North Landing, via Sewerby and Flamborough (with short-workings to both the latter), and hence those are the only places where you could have ridden on the ex-YWD HD 4625 (unless it was used for an excursion, which seems unlikely). But finding WBS Commer MJ55 open and unattended in the Station yard one day, my brother and I daringly ventured inside and turned its destination blind, to find “Scarboro’” included on it; enquiries of my mother elicited the opinion that WBS had indeed operated to Scarborough at one time. Does anyone know any more about that? Ian – there’s no such road as Thorn Road in Brid., the coach park behind the one owned by Boddys belonged to the Thorn Hotel. By the way, there was a third coach park in that vicinity, on the opposite side of the Promenade, owned by Mr.Carvill, and used largely to accommodate Wallace Arnold and Skills’ coaches. The reference to YX being “a West Riding registration” has me perplexed – surely YX was always a London registration!? WX and YG, amongst others, for the West Riding. Ian again – the Grey-de-Luxe Leyland Lion was KH 4071, sold in 12/40 to Boddys, broken up by 02/44 so I never saw it. Mike again – you mention an operator H.H.Knaggs; probably co-incidence but possibly not, WBS had a driver Mr.Knaggs (he always drove HS 8306). Re the Doncaster area independents – there are two marvellous books in the Prestige Series about them, with many superb photographs. Now, a question: EYMS destination blinds always had, in addition to “Bridlington-Lighthouse” and “Bridlington-North Landing” (“via Flamborough, Sewerby” in each case – a rare instance of the intermediate places being in the reverse order) a third provision “Bridlington-Thornwick Bay via Flamborough, Sewerby”. No service to Thornwick Bay ever operated in my lifetime, and indeed the side road to Thornwick Bay was hardly up to bus operation and there was nowhere to turn a bus round when you got there. Did such a service ever operate before the war? Or was one planned but never materialised? “That’s all for now, folks” as the cartoon films used to say; oh, except for one thing – Mike: do you, or did you used to, live in Hessle? If so, I believe we met to exchange EYMS photographs etc. about 25 years ago.
Patrick Hooper
18/03/11 – 15:47
A further comment for Chris: near the top of this site you mentioned that you thought that Boddys had no double-deckers; in my living memory they had 3 at various times – YS 2093, an ex-Glasgow Albion (Around 1945-47 at a guess), HL 4852,an ex-West Riding Leyland TD1 (same period), and HG 2707, ex-Burnley, Colne & Nelson (c1952-54) – both YS and HL were painted in Boddys’ livery, and I remember seeing HL in actual use, but HG remained in BC&N livery. (Information I obtained second-hand is that Boddys also acquired 4 ex-Hull Corporation Daimler CP6s in 1945 and broke them up for spares, which is strange because I’ve no trace of Boddys having ever had any other Daimlers, anyway I never saw them.) Re Boddys’ premises: you’re all more or less right, they had 3 covered depots, the little one in Hilderthorpe Road (more of a yard really, but with offices), the big one on the corner of Richmond Street and New Burlington Road, and a third in Horsforth Avenue (Anfields had the premises next door, by the way); also the coach park with kiosk on the Promenade (opposite York Road) and the booking office at the West Street/South Cliff Road corner. Chris ~ super idea for a gathering of all interested parties; do we all live in different areas, I wonder? (I’m in Middlesex.) Do they still hold the Hull – Brid. vintage bus rally? If so, how about us trying to meet up for that?
Patrick Hooper
18/03/11 – 15:57
Hi All, Ken very interesting about Boddy and horse drawn carridges – he had 2 Austin Taxis I think. Patrick I have a correspondance file on things Bus 1970s onwards I’m sure I had a letter from a Mr Hooper was it yourself? Thanks for correcting Thorn Hotel not T Road. WF 7184- Thurgood C14F – right on all points however was the Clarke of N Frodingham a publican-Harold Hopper of Beeford had a photo of WF 7184 which he indicated he had owned then sold to Frankish, it had come from Thurgoods to him new, so it looks like Hopper-Clarke-Frankish-Burrell (or Burnell), YX Registrations-London CC 1928 Grey De Luxe thanks for this note. EYMS Blinds-I tend to agree no “service down to Thornwick Bay” however Archer Robinson ran small buses (probably the GMC Ks) off the road by the Thornwick Bay Hotel/pub to a refreshment building. Mike the info posted 17th is some of this from the Cards Mike Walker used to fill in for PSVC Mike and I updated cards as info came in. The Burrell brothers were Jobmasters off Promenade when Motors arrived they joined in – another vehicle they owned was a Durham-Churchill from Birmingham. J W Broumpton lived up St Johns St, the family name was spelt Brumpton and Brompton also! BT 2816 – ex Military Thornycroft. Stan Day and partner? Doris Day not the Brid ‘Stage Coach’ she had a 14 seat Fiat chara S/H from Harrrogate Road Car Co same source for WY 6254. BT 1948-Is this a taxi more detail welcome please. H Dixon-one of 3 Dixons Arthur Chas and Walter (problem here) there maybe a Flamboro’ Dixon family some did Haulage. Charles Dixon owned a Chara he may have driven for Mudford-A chara smash in Flamboro’ village late 1920s involved A D Dixon (driver for Chas) with a JB McMaster,(Hessle) Chara they collided with Dixon’s rear end, not known which Dixons branch. though Arthur Dixon had driven Horse Charas since age of 8 years!!! alledgedly. The BTs are correct is the PY 756 PY 754? Charlie Hattersley not Brid but Hull Arthur Knaggs owned BT 382 it came from another Brid owner ended up in Nottingham I believe. Horace Howe Mudford I know of only this vehicle, he came from Sheffield. Ripley was Agent/Dealer, Two of these Vehicles given were Williamson at one time- AJ is ex Robinson Scarboro to Ripley.
Ian Gibbs
19/03/11 – 07:55
Re Boddy double deckers: I also have EN 4741 a TD1/Brush H24/24D from Bury Corporation, May 1948, but listed as scrapped in December, 1948, perhaps the body was in a caravan park somewhere? The Daimler CP6’s are listed in PB22 (Hull Corporation Fleet History) page 20, passing to Boddy in November, 1945, presumably without seats (they were used for reseating trolleybuses) again to a caravan park?
Keith Easton
19/03/11 – 13:17
Thanks Ian for the info on the Brid “operators” I knew you would be able to help, in answer to an earlier question about Kemps have some info on the following vehicles YG 83, GP 5147, VN 2817, VN 7273, EK 2068, WX 3567, WF 7023, WF 9299, YG 5084, BWF 198, BWX 663, AWY 218, DG 7409, EBT 172, AVY 187, GWY 428 & DUA 15. J Kemp, DG 7409, ANU 740. G Kemp, BRN 654. Most of this info will have come from the PSVC, therefore you should have the same. Please send us the pic of the Peoples BS in the United bus station if you get the time. Hello Patrick yes it was me, I thought I remembered the name from the distant passed, how are you OK I hope.
Mike Davies
19/03/11 – 13:19
Hi Ian, Keith Patrick and Chris. I cannot remember any of these buses at Skipsea, or at least not close to us within half a mile each way. This may help in elimination if you are trying to place them, Hull CPs etc. I do remember riding on Boddys Filey-Flamborough service, as I said ages ago. My memory was of a centre entrance bus, and it is re-crystallising (there’s a word!) in my memory so that it COULD have been in BCN livery, about 1947/8 time. Just a thought!
John Whitaker
20/03/11 – 08:20
Hi All, Following the recent comments on the small United bus Station in Bridlington, Here is the picture which shows a United bus (type Bristol ??), in the bus station. The photo is taken around 1960 or so and is extremely nostalgic, not just the buses, but the atmosphere; Pearsons novelty shop, a great delight for a 13 year-old. Hello Mike, following a recent post, are you the same Mike, that I purchased a large quantity of EYMS photos around 1979-80? I was living in Blenheim Street, off Prince’s Avenue, at that time.
Keith Easton
20/03/11 – 10:44
Oh Keith, what I would give to experience Bridlington again in those wonderful days. The evening of their fame was unfortunately looming for the “old order” of vehicles like the beautiful Leyland PD1, and yet the newer types like the United bus still had individuality and character. The Scarborough bound single decker is almost certainly one of the Bristol MW5Gs with ECW bodywork to the usual attractive and immaculate standard of the Lowestoft concern. These semi-integral vehicles, and their LS forbears with separate chassis, had a delightful but harmless little idiosyncrasy – it was occasionally necessary to open the cab gate slightly in order to move the gear lever far enough to the left to engage reverse gear – and I think its fair to say that the comment sums up the total of any adverse remarks that could be made about these tough and appealing and efficient machines. I admit to being biased with admiration, but I can think of absolutely nothing adverse to say about Leyland PD1s – the EYMS Beverley Bar masterpieces in particular. I believe that Pearsons novelty shop is still alive and well too !!
In answer to Patrick’s suggestion about the Hull to Bridlington rally, yes the East Coast Annual Run is on Sunday 12th June this year. The possibility of a meeting at Bridlington of the Devotees of the golden independents is definitely worth some discussion I feel.
Chris Youhill
20/03/11 – 10:48
I just had to comment on Keith`s wonderful photograph showing the Bridlington UNITED bus station! My overriding memory of the EYMS bus station is of an extremely cramped and tightly packed through “street type” bus station, and one where , once loaded, buses had to nudge through nervously to exit. I remember having to walk from the covered area to wherever the (Hornsea) EYMS bus might be parked, and this involved walking in close contact, and in front of parked vehicles, some with engines ticking over. I do not know when United opened their Brid bus station, but I have loads of memories of J and L type single deckers in this station , just over the road, and mostly showing “Scarborough”. In this (later) case, the bus appears to be an MW type saloon. I wonder if the united/EYMS Scarborough service was in any way coordinated, or did they follow different routes? EYMS buses used to show intermediate points of Filey, Cayton Bay, and Butlins Camp. I don’t know why, but all this Bridlington nostalgia seems to be of a particularly powerful variety, and thanks, Keith for a super photograph!
John Whitaker
20/03/11 – 15:45
Hello all, I have a poor photo of Boddys YS 2093 Albion/Cowieson with Filey-Butlins camp on the blinds, which may be of interest (if any body has a better copy of this pic, could they post it) and a pic of FV 971 a still from the film “Holiday Camp” filmed at Butlins Filey.
(Could have a copyright problem with film clip)
Yes Keith, I think that would have been me, I recognized a lot a the photos you sent to the EYMS web site, as supplied by me-I was hoping EY would put some of there own old pics on the web site!
Mike Davies
20/03/11 – 19:20
Hi All re film “Holiday Camp” was it a documentary or a comedy about the Huggits on Holiday the popular Radio family. I’m sure I have seen this years ago, lots of buses queue to drop patrons off at the ‘weeks’ end another queue of buses taking passengers back home definitely remember Albion Radiators (possibly Bullocks) some EY saloons too that Boddys pic is superb also never regret the poor quality pics they’re still a welcome sight till a better one turns up. It would be useful to find out if Holiday camp has been put onto DVD and which film company made it. I heard last week that the preserved Lion from Boynton Hall (Brid) has a new owner in the Keighley area the engine turned over within minutes of some TLC! false number WF 811. Mike re Kemp my info is not as complete as your notes indicate some of mine is from Giles bros fleet. Mr Walker and I lost touch when I moved across counties. The ‘Brid Meet’ in June sounds a good idea to me too, sorry I have not found the United pull-in photo yet still looking.
Ian Gibbs
21/03/11 – 07:59
I remember now been told that boddys ran double deck buses to and from various airfields been built in the 2nd world war and they were kept on airfields away from brid. Maybe this is how the first holiday homes arrived. I cannot remember the no of the Sheffield decker we got for its engine. maybe RWB or RWE I had the front no plate for many years but it is not impressed on my brain.
Ken Wragg
21/03/11 – 08:05
Mike, yes some of the black & white photos on the EY website probably did come from you, please accept this as an acknowledgement! Re EYMS photos, I was lucky enough to see these in the mid 1970’s at Anlaby Road, but I did not have any means of copying them at the time; also I acquired a photocopy of the entire EYMS historical fleet list, and it was from this that the fleet details on the website was compiled, in addition to the one on this website. When I contacted Darren Stockdale at the EY website, he confirmed that the company had neither photographs or fleet list, perhaps they remained with the NBC residuary, somewhere?. With regard to the Lion “WF 811” I’m sure that I read that it had been running on it’s KW registration some time ago, I do have a photo of it at an East Coast Run from several years ago. I shall probably be attending this year’s ECR, but I don’t get too far these days, due to other responsibilities.
Keith Easton
21/03/11 – 12:54
Hello all— Keith, no problem with the photos on the EY web site, I would have sent them if you had not, many years ago, myself and a EY driver went to as many ex/old/deceased! EY staff that we could find, to try and get as many bus photos as possible, we did very well, and passed a lot of them on to EYMS and in return I copied many of EY’s collection (which I would love to go through again). The Holiday Camp DVD is still available and going for about £14 on Amazon not sure it is worth that, as it only gets interesting at the end when they are all going home on EYMS/United/Boddys vehicles.
Mike Davies
22/03/11 – 06:10
Well chaps I guess 12 June at brid is a good place for any interested in meeting and as I will be there with my stall and lots of East Yorkshire area photos for sale why not make my stall a meet point its is the one with the motorhome behind it. Advert now over
Ken Wragg
22/03/11 – 14:52
What a first class idea Ken – your stall sounds like a very convenient and easy place to meet and I, for one, am greatly looking forward to having a good chat with all the folks involved in this topic ……..ermmm book !! When I posted my little Anfields snapshot and the one of the WBS Gilford I never expected such a vast amount of expert archive material to surface – quite incredible, and very rewarding indeed.
Chris Youhill
29/03/11 – 07:43
Just having a cursory look at this excellent site, I was interested to see Anfields Coaches mentioned. I was with West Yorkshire Road Car in the 1950s when Anfields had a ‘base’ in Malton in the charge of a Mr Lamb, and I got involved with them in certain ways, – at least one coach was based there – a Dennis I think, VD 6432. I believe they ran trips for the local York Football Supporters Club for a time out of Malton.
David Allen
29/03/11 – 13:22
David, that is a most interesting fact about Anfield’s connection with Malton. Mr. Lamb of Malton was, I believe, himself a coach proprietor and had a hiring arrangement with Wallace Arnold. Mr. Lamb bought (or hired from dealer Hughes) Sentinel UUB 931, formerly WA, in 1963 and used it for three years.
Chris Youhill
30/03/11 – 06:01
I can confirm that Wilf Lamb did work for Anfields at Malton then set up his own business and on the boot lids of the Anfield Bedford SB3,s it said Bridlington and Malton. Wilf ran a centre entrance AEC ex Wallace Arnold for many years and if my memory is correct he had the Commer TS3 when Anfields closed down. Later Wilf also had a very nice Harrington AEC ex Flights.
Ken Wragg
31/03/11 – 09:21
Here is a photo of the Archer Robinson/East Yorkshire premises which I took while in Bridlington a week last Tuesday. I’m sure that the present day customers of the Sandown Cafe can have absolutely no inkling of the automobile gems which have graced those hallowed walls in times gone by. Personally I would prefer the glorious whiff (and no cholesterol) of a reluctant misfiring PLSC Lion to the “chef’s special” of the present times any day.
Chris Youhill
01/04/11 – 07:23
Nice photo Chris, I think that you’re almost certainly correct about the cafe clientele, but to me it is immediately obvious, especial when compared with the photo in EY days in Ian’s book on EYMS. The trouble is that I’ve seen it so much that I never got around to photographing it (or the ex Boddy’s garages either – must get around to it one day!)
Keith Easton
01/04/11 – 20:20
I know just the feeling Keith, and the same day that I took this picture I drove past the Boddy’s garage in Horsforth Avenue – its only thanks to this invaluable and enjoyable saga that I became aware of such premises. Next time in the resort, which could possibly be next Tuesday very briefly, I shall take a picture of that rather respectable looking building.
Chris Youhill
01/04/11 – 20:24
While we are on Bridlington depots, can anybody tell me which depot this is?.
I was taken to it some years ago, it was then used as a builders yard, so I took this one photo and left, it was used by EYMS (the upside down sign looks to be EY) and came from a Bridlington op, but I cant remember where it was (its an age thing!!) or who it came from. any ideas
Mike Davies
03/04/11 – 09:00
This is in Havelock Place or Cresent not sure which it was used by Corrigans scrap metal merchants then frontage and house knocked down and then another srap man Brunton used it, now a carpet wharehouse. not sure who used it before EYMS, im sure someone will know!
Ken Wragg
04/04/11 – 07:00
Ken, with respect are you sure this is Havelock Crescent as it seems a far more spacious premises than that narrow residential street would accommodate ??
Here is a picture I took a few years ago outside what was Williamson’s depot in Havelock Crescent – the elderly gentleman is one Harold Dowson who had been a driver with the Firm after WW2. This view is similar to the two which Mike Davies submitted recently.
Chris Youhill
04/04/11 – 11:17
The premises in your photo is further up and across the road from the Mike Davies older photo and is really in the next street. I have had this confirmed to me by an ex Corrigan employee who tells me the upside down sign was at one time over the opening to the right of where it is in photo
Ken Wragg
04/04/11 – 17:35
Hello Gents I’ve just caught up with the ‘brid busy bees’ comments, Havelock Cres is the scene with Mr Dowson about one third down the street from the Quay Road entry turn right down to the picture area. This was – I may have noted the GPO vehicle service depot rented from Williamsons. I believe it went through into Quay Road for the Wagonettes to exit into Quay Road remember no Queensgate as houses were demolished to create a road for it.
Here is a picture of Cliff Street showing the length of Bus Queues in the summer season. The tall chap talking to the motorcyclists is Mr Amos Frankish a Driver note his drivers cap. The Bus is a second hand Maudslay the queue is at least 48 persons the Booking Advert states Flamborough Scarborough Hornsea there are six more trips-routes listed on other windows. Chris Y re the query of depth please remember that the Garage depth is equal to the depth of a house as it was built between adjacent houses! to exit onto Quay Rd, I’m puzzled by the B&W photo is this Stepney Grove off Scarborough Rd, there was also a small premises in the left Corner of Havelock Cres possibly backing onto Havelock Place this was a garage-workshop of Mr Dukes he also had Buckrose Garage, Corrigans rings a note in relation to Havelock as they skipped loads of 78s which I missed getting (excuse tears I’m filling up with memories)
Here is a ‘Map’ showing the street area,didn’t WBS have a small unit in Cambridge St down from Havelock St end between houses before Swindon Street end of Cambridge St?
Ian Gibbs
05/04/11 – 05:50
Hi All, just athought to throw into the melting pot! Didn’t EYMS purchase a propery in Havelock Crescent around 1929, prior to the “new” depot in St John’s Street which was opened in 1937? There wasn’t a great deal of services operated by EYMS in Brid’ prior to the purchase of Archer Robinson and Blue Bus companies in 1930. As Mike says, the Bookong Office sign does seem to be in the EYMS 30’s style, and I beleive that Williamson’s property never went into EYMS ownership at all, (neither did his buses for that matter)!
Keith Easton
Thanks to Ken and Ian for this further information on this really intriguing topic. I visited the location yesterday and took three pictures.
The first two are, I’m sure, of the strange premises in Havelock Crescent – the ones in Mike Davies’ picture – so these buildings are still in existence and largely unaltered. A good view (over a wall) can be had from Queensgate and this suggests indeed that it goes back almost to Queensgate Square. The other view is taken looking into the corner of Havelock Crescent, and shows that this little building (which was securely locked) is now in the ownership of the Bosch car electrics agency who have Williamson’s premises shown in my picture. Incidentally I now appreciate for the very first time that the latter building is far larger and deeper than I’d previously realised, and was obviously capable of holding most if not all of Williamson’s fleet at any one time. I had a barmy moment in which I was sure that I could hear HD 4803 (ex Yorkshire Woollen Titan TD/Roe H24/24C) pursuing me up Havelock Crescent with asthmatic petrol engine – after I made a public fool of myself leaping out of the way onto the pavement I realised that it was only wishful thinking from a very very happy time long ago.
The third picture is of the Boddy’s depot in Horsforth Avenue which in now, I’m told by a local, Council owned and houses amongst other things the pseudo “trains” which run along the Sea Front.
Chris Youhill
10/04/11 – 05:00
Wilf and Harold Lamb commenced coach operations in September 1959 with Commer Commando BJR325. The AEC Reliance was 8314U which they ran from12/68 to October 1973.
David Hick
Hallo again. 3 comments on your recent items: (1) There was definitely no access from Williamsons’ garage (in Havelock Crescent) direct to Quay Road in my time, nor ever so far as I know – my father’s shop was at 250/252 Quay Road, located roughly where the non-existent exit is marked! (2) Nor am I aware of any “WBS unit” in Cambridge Street, which I cycled along on my way to Moorfields School. (3) The one-time EYMS premises in this vicinity were at the corner of Havelock Place and Havelock Street, with a rear access from Havelock Crescent. The building was a timber-merchants throughout my childhood, and I’m ashamed to say that I knew nothing of its bus history until long after I’d left Brid. Did you know that Williamsons had a small garage in Nelson Street? So now then, how many people are up for this suggested meeting-up on 12th June? It’s a 500-mile round trip for me, and probably a 2-night stopover, which I’m happy to undertake if worthwhile (wife may not be so happy but there you go) – what say you all?
Patrick Hooper
19/04/11 – 19:14
Hello all, Patrick thankyou for clearing up the direct entry bit into Quay Road this seems logical as I should have realised, Also the ‘imagined’ WBS premises in Cambridge St. I’m wondering if the Nelson Street place was made into a car parking area. Pre 1920 Williamsons Horse-buses would simply exit at either end of Havelock Cres as would the large Daimler deckers later on. Im happy to meet up 12th June as wife and I will stay over for a day or two on Pembroke Terrace near Spa then I can take some photos of Bus Premises on a ‘scenic’ drive of old Brid.
Ian Gibbs
19/04/11 – 19:20
Hello all. The number of bus depots around Havelock Crescent seems to be increasing every week!! My notes show that EYMS purchased a garage in Havelock Crescent in May 1930 this was previously known as Dukes Garage, the depot was closed November 1937 and has been leased to many private business since July 1939.( this fits in with the notes above from others) so is this the garage in the corner as pictured above? This depot was still owned by EYMS when it passed to NBC and became NBC owned. My notes also show that land in St John Street was purchased in 1936 and J Quibell and Sons Ltd, commenced building in May 1937, it was completed and brought into use 8th November 1937, it was extended in November 1952, and three cottages in front of the depot were purchased in 1956 and 1962 and an enlarged forecourt was developed in October 1962. I went to Brid last week and took the same photos of the same depot as Chris did, but I’m still not sure if its where I took the old black & white pic!!
Mike Davies
10/05/11 – 07:34
When I was 8 we used to play in an empty garage yard which I think was in Havalock Cres. There was an old coach in a big shed and we used to jack it up as high as poss with a huge trolley jack then take it in turns to drop it as quick as we could while others were sat in it! Health and safety?
John
21/10/11 – 06:50
The ex-Sheffield PD2/12 that was stripped of its engine and various other bits and pieces in the summer of 1967 by Boddy’s at Bridlington was the former Sheffield 673 (RWB 73). The engine was transplanted into Boddy’s ex-West Riding Tiger, EHL 336, which survives in preservation, no doubt with the power plant from the erstwhile Sheffield machine still in place!
Dave Careless
22/10/11 – 06:25
Thanks Dave for that info I had forgotten the reg no of the Sheffield decker
Ken Wragg
29/10/11 – 16:40
I worked as a 15yr old in the West Street office of BODDY”S MOTORS. Flambro Lighthouse & North Landing 2/6d. Filey 3/-. Hornsea Potteries 3/9d. All the Scarbro shows of an evening & a Mystery drive 5 nights a week as well. My dad ran the office and coach park on promenade as well.
Happy Days.
Tony Boughton
30/10/11 – 06:22
Didn’t the West Street office become Aladdin’s Cave in the sixties?
Keith Easton
07/11/11 – 17:52
I am 80 and remember most of the bus Companys, Whites did have a Double Decker serving Flamborugh, Williamsons main terminal was Chapel street along side a Police Blue Box as in Dr Who etc etc
Bryan Carey
04/12/11 – 15:35
I remember the old Boddys coaches VBT191/192 and YXD12 from my childhood and probably travelled on them my father Bernard was a part time driver for them, he was a fire officer, the name at the top of this file Ken Wragg is familiar to me,I remember John Boddy and his son, also their operations Manager Bruce Gabbitas, I may have spelt his surname wrong! sadly my Father died a few years ago but it was nice to find these photos on the web, does anybody have any photos of Billy Richardsons garage in Quay Road or any of the old Priory Caravan factory behind Coggins Bakery in the Baylgate, I would be grateful if any were around.
Robin O’Connor
05/12/11 – 06:31
Hello again the garage in Havelock Crescent became R Belt & Sons a car repair shop and used car site, I used to go to school with one of the boys Boyd, he would be around 57 now, from memory it continued as a garage until the eighties, I left the town in 1984 and lost touch with developments, although I still visit the town to see family, from the photos it does not appear to have changed since those days, I do not remember the Sandown Cafe being a bus station, I remember it as the Sun Wah Chinese restaurant, it was later taken over by a couple I knew David & Davina Stevenson
Robin O’Connor
06/12/11 – 07:00
Hello all sorry to be taking over your site but as an ex Bridlington born person I can remember a lot of stuff being discussed and hope my comments clarify some points.in no particular order, John Boddys last taxi was a dark blue MK3 Ford Zephyr 4 he still had some taxi jobs despite his age, my Father did some jobs in this car for the company, I rode in it a few times. Despite his age John would not stop working, we arrived at the West street garage one evening to find John painting the garage doors, apparently the previous day he had to be stopped from climbing 20 feet or so up a ladder. There was mention that Dukes had the garage in Havelock Cres, it may be correct but I do not recall it, there was a Dukes garage at the other end of the Cres in Havelock Street, they were not the same Dukes that had Buckrose Motors. Corrigans scrap yard was on the left in Havelock place, it did have an entrance in Havelock Cres. I remembered Anfields coaches and taxis, their premises were where Higgs and Barkers Vauxhall Dealership is now, when Fred Barker first took it over I am sure they used the old Anfields workshop. My Mother who is 80 and still lives in Bridlington remembers Mrs Anfield, she said she used to sit outside the taxi office (which they retained after selling the coach side to Boddys)chain smoking whilst holding a Pekingese dog, apparently she used to breed them. She also remembers Whites coaches, her comment was they ran the buses to Flamborough and that they were parked by the toilets in Queen St. I am not a huge coach and bus fan but a friend of mine is, he used to work for Alexanders the Coachbuilders in Edinburgh. I hope this information is useful to somebody.
Robin O’Connor
07/12/11 – 06:59
Thanks Robin for the info some confirms what I said about Corrigans scrap yard location. I do remember your dad Bernard very well always fun to be with and he enjoyed coaching in those good days. Yes Keith Boddys office on West st was later Alladins cave and also Kirbys toy shop when he relocated from Chapel st keep the recollections coming every one please
Ken Wragg
07/12/11 – 17:15
Thanks for those kind words Ken, my Mother has told me she has a photo of VBT 191 OR 192 outside the Park Lane Hotel in London that I will put on the site when it is found, I suspect my Father took it when he took some rugby fans to a cup final, did you go on one of those trips with him? Which coach hit the wall by the pond in Burton Agnes? I know who was driving it but I will not put it in print to save him any embarrassment but his initials were JG.
Robin O’Connor
08/12/11 – 06:47
I did all sorts of coach work in my time but as I had no interest in rugby or footy I was lucky to have other trips to do and spalding flower parade was on the same w/end as the rugby final so I usually went there. The coach that collided with the wall at burton agnes was FDB 571 which I took to Norths scrapyard following an engine change with RWF 785 in OCT 79
Ken Wragg
27/01/12 – 10:35
Just been reading the interesting comments posted here by a Mr Ian Gibbs and note that one of the statements relates to TOOTH & WADDINGTON, ie
It was never a rink when I knew it but it had been the premises of a 1920s Bus Firm Called Tooth & Waddington (They had 3 different owners but no space here for all that saga.)
I’m currently researching my grandad Thomas William Trown’s history of living in Bridlington and believe he may have worked for (Trown) Tooth, Waddington, any one with any more information please.
Garry Trown
29/05/12 – 17:26
Does anyone recall a bus driver by the name of William Isacc Morris Walker, who resided in Pinfold St., Bridlington. He was born in N. Ireland in 1914 and died in Bridlington in January 1998.
S. Arthur
30/05/12 – 07:15
Morris Walker lived on Pinfold St Brid as you say and was working on EYMS buses in 1966 when I started on the buses he was always smartly dressed as all EYMS staff were expected to be he was on the one man bus rota and also did Yorkshire services in summer
Ken Wragg
30/05/12 – 13:26
Well chaps its almost time for our local Bridlington rally again its on Sunday 10 June and starts in East Park in Hull and ends up at Sewerby fields on the cliff top in Bridlington hope you can make it.
Ken Wragg
24/08/12 – 15:39
Such an entertaining site especially due to the fact that much of this info refers to my Anfield relatives, my father being Jack Anfield died 1956 when I was 14. I am now living in the South and I would be delighted if anyone on this website has any memories and a photograph of my beloved late father. I am pleased to make contact through this site as it brings back memories to me of my childhood.
Pam Ellis (nee Anfield)
28/09/12 – 14:23
Having acquired an old destination bus blind I thought I would do a little research to see if I could date the blind more accurately than 1950/60 and Google pointed me to your superb website. I have to say that I never expected passing a couple of hours contemplating the history of buses and their destination history. Captivating. My blind does seem to relate to a comment/question from Patrick Hooper: “No service to Thornwick Bay ever operated in my lifetime, and indeed the side road to Thornwick Bay was hardly up to bus operation and there was nowhere to turn a bus round when you got there. Did such a service ever operate before the war? Or was one planned but never materialised? “ My blind has the header “HULL WITHERNSEA EXPRESS” and contains all of Patrick’s mentioned destination plus many more; all of them are of a personal interest as childhood memories,: BEEFORD, ULROME, SKIPSEA, HORNSEA ot mention a few. The Header also contains the following information: Buses 508. 519. Manufacturers Whitlay Tool Co. Bin 3965 HOLLYM. Town Center-Waxholme Rd. Whitlay as a company were dissolved in 1968. Another pointer to dating might be the Destination HULL HEDON Via Marfleet Saltend Aerodrome Entrance, as I understand the Aerodrome became a speedway circuit in the late forties early 50s but only lasted a year or so however the destination, Aerodrome Entrance could have carried on for years. I could put up photos of the blind if required. Just wondered if an answer to Patrick’s query helped with my dating. Either way it’s all become an interesting and nostalgic journey, including your site.
Steve Gregory
29/09/12 – 07:24
The Thornwick Bay Service was originated by Archer Robinson in the early 1920’s as a branch off his Bridlington-Flamborough service. He owned the cafe at Thornwick Bay. His business passed to East Yorkshire Motor Services in September 1929-presumably they continued the service as long as it remained profitable. Hedon Speedway was operating from March 1948 to August 1949. I don’t think that there would have been any reason to have the Aerodrome Entrance on a destination blind after 1949.
David Hick
29/09/12 – 12:32
Hello David – you may be surprised to hear that, even in 1955/6 when I was in the RAF at Patrington, the intermediate destination blinds in the 1946 onwards Leyland PD1 double deckers (gorgeous legendary vehicles) on the Hull – Withernsea service displayed: AERODROME HEDON PATRINGTON Such happy days – oh, and the ECW rebodied Leyland TDs which provided Saturday night duplicates from Hull depot, with identical displays………..
Chris Youhill
02/10/12 – 15:25
The EYMS timetable for Summer 1948 lists Thornwick Bay in its alphabetical list of places served and the map actually shows Thornwick Bay as one of three legs after Flamborough (Lighthouse, North Landing and Thornwick Bay). The service was no. 28 (which, of course, was not displayed on the blinds)and the timetable quotes Ye Olde Thornwick Hotel some two minutes after leaving Flamborough and three minutes before arriving at North Landing. Buses to the Lighthouse did not call there. The frequency was roughly hourly, the last journey from Bridlington being at 10 30 p.m.. The Winter 1950/1 timetable has the same service but the map omits Thornwick Bay. Sometime in the 1950s references to Thornwick Bay disappeared. The 1940 timetable also contains references to Thornwick bay but the service was very restricted owing to wartime conditions. Does this add to the confusion? A Bridlington book would be a great asset. My family holidayed at Sewerby and Barmston in the 1950s and I have many memories of EYMS and the White Bus Company.
Malcolm J Wells
24/06/13 – 12:06
I am Gt Gt Granddaughter of John Williamson who founded the Bridlington Bus company. He and his family were all involved in different aspects of the business. Horse dealing and beach donkeys was the work of my Gt Grandfather Thomas, but his older brother Robert and youngest brother Reuben worked on the buses as bus/carriage drivers. Another brother Reed had a livery stable on Market Place and was a horse breaker. John Knaggs worked for Reuben Williamson and Reuben was summoned under the Elementary Schools Act for employing John Knaggs before the end of term. My father said the horses used to launch the life-boat. Not only were John’s sons involved in the business but also grandsons too. My Grandfather in 1909 is identified on his marriage certificate as a carriage driver. He married into the Pant family. John Wm Pant was a cartman in the town as was his uncle and grandfather. The Bridlington Free Press describes John as a popular man who started working life as a mariner plying the Baltic. He was involved in the Crimean War and the Battle of Sebastopol where he was taken a prisoner. Whilst in Russia he learnt to speak some Russian despite the fact that the conditions were desperate. On returning home he set up as a shoe-dealer. Around 1881 he set up his son Robert as a bus proprietor.
Cathy Goldthorpe
03/12/13 – 06:18
Read with interest the comments on old coaches my father John drove for EYMS for 39yrs and drove the first London Birmingham service from Brid two new Leyland Tigers or Leopards in yellow PAT 1 and PAT 2 registration I can still remember at 70 my dad getting ready to go with his small brown overnight case and saying I hope I have PAT 1 because it was 6 miles an hour faster than PAT 2 on the A1 I wonder what happened to them.
Keith Symonds
04/12/13 – 07:14
EYMS had 15 Willowbrook bodied Leyland Tiger Cubs registered PAT408-421
David Hick
14/12/13 – 07:38
Reading all the interesting comments about all the old bus companies got me thinking was there a Chadwicks in Bridlington
Keith Symonds
02/11/14 – 07:17
To clear things up about Trown, Tooth & Waddington in Bridlington, the partnership first operated buses on two services in the town in January 1922 Belvedere to the Market Place and a Circular service from the Promenade. The trading name was variously ‘Bridlington & District Motor Services’ and ‘The Red Bus Service’ further services were added to Flamborough (5/22), Driffield (6/22) & Bempton (3/23) the depot was located at Alexandra Garage on the Promenade which was also the home of the business of motor engineers which they ran. In December 1923 Tooth & Waddington (Motor Services) Ltd was formed to take over bus operations of the partnership. The fleet at the end of 1922 was 7 AECs (2x42st dd, 1x46st dd & 4 30 seat saloons), no registrations except a dd BT 5288. In January 1925 the operations of the company and its vehicles were acquired by Archor Robinson. Two toastracks were owned by Robinson by 5/25 so these were presumably the two Leylands BT 7268/9 that were new to T&W in May 1924.
Mike Pearson
01/12/14 – 09:55
In the early 50s my brother and I played in Anfields yard Bridlington, we jacked up the coaches and let them down with a bang whilst friends sat inside. Great fun!
David Carass
Vehicle reminder shot for this posting
14/07/15 – 06:19
Even though this is not my subject, this site is so interesting. I was born in Bridlington in 1948 and all I can add to this site is a child’s memory of Anfield’s garage. I spent many a happy hour in the early 50’s secretly playing in these buses, covered in oil and grease much to the dismay of my mother. It is quite correct that the business was located on a corner of Quay Road; I recall there was a gas company showroom on the opposite corner just before the level crossings. The picture of the front of the business onto Quay Road was adjoined by three or four terrace houses of greater antiquity than any in the neighbourhood, abandoned with all their contents still inside. I gathered that they were evacuated and never refurbished after they were damaged in an air raid on the nearby gas works in WW2. The road between did indeed lead to the back entrance to Moorfield’s School. The picture of the yard at the back of the office does not show many buses but, in my time, probably a couple of years later it was full of old buses right up to the yard entrance in Moorfield Road and were already old even by the standards of my time. I also recall an old London style taxi cab parked there that still had a working bulb horn that must place it in the 1920’s or earlier. I look forward to reading any new additions to this site.
In 1958, Boddy’s Motors (John Boddy & Son) purchased a trio of AEC Reliances type MU3RV, which were bodied by Yeates with their Europa bodywork. There was seating for 41 passengers and was fitted with front entrance and exit doors. The first two VBT 191/2, were to service in May, 1958, whilst the third VBT 893 entered service the following month. I am unaware what happened to these three upon withdrawal, but one, VBT 191, survived into preservation. It had chassis number 823 and Yeates body number 658. The photograph shows this vehicle at the Harrogate end of the Trans-Pennine Rally, which commenced in Manchester. It is seen on the Stray, Harrogate on Sunday August, 1985.
191 was sold to Yeates at there co Durham branch supposedly for preservation 192 was stripped of all useful mechanical and body trim and the shell went to a local haulage contractor as a store shed at a yard at the side of the railway at flambro until it was broken up when a new owner took over. 893 was sold earlier than the other two I believe to a Lancs operator. 191 appeared later with Mathers Motors in the Scottish Borders, it then went to Skegness and I understand it is now with Fowlers in Lincs. They were very pleasant coaches to drive and the exhaust brakes made a loud noise when coming to a stop every one turned round to see what was coming
Ken Wragg
19/06/11 – 20:52
Kens notes reminded me that I managed to get a photo of VBT 192 at Askham Caravan Transport in Flamborough on 14/9/82 a sad end to a fine coach.
YXD 12 was another sad end this fine vehicle ended up as a club house at a Hunmanby race track seen in 26/10/87 see below
Mike Davies
20/06/11 – 15:03
Mike, was YXD 12 a Duple Britannia ?? I think it looks like one – Wallace Arnold had just three of those, 4324/5/6 UA and I thought they were beautiful. On the East Yorkshire theme, I once took 4324 empty to Hull, had B & B in the City Centre, and then took a full load to Southend Airport next day (one of my favourite runs) to hop across to the Continent for their holidays in one of the Channel Airways Dakotas. Wallace Arnold had a huge programme based on Southend Airport in those adventurous days in the early 1960s.
Chris Youhill
21/06/11 – 07:41
YXD 12 was an AEC with duple Britannia body. with 40 seats only 4 across the back seat however it was possible to get 5 on the back and very often 1 on the courier seat this was a very nice coach to drive with air brakes
Ken Wragg
21/06/11 – 07:43
Yes, Chris, it’s the final manifestation of the Britannia before the Continental – and subsequently the Commander – took over as the AEC and Leyland body by Duple. I agree with you about its looks.
David Oldfield
21/06/11 – 07:47
Re VBT 191..Tonight I did a DVLA check and found that it is not listed on their records so at best is not currently taxed unless it has lost it’s original registration number. I then researched the website of Fowlers Travel and found that they have a complete list of every coach they have had since they started with details of when bought, date of disposal and to whom it was sold or scrapped. Sadly, the AEC is not listed as far as I can see. You can view the list here.. It will be a real shame if the coach fell into poor hands after being preserved.
Richard Leaman
21/06/11 – 16:03
Yes Chris YXD 12 was Duple Britannia, interestingly Hoods of Wold Newton, which is not to far from Bridlington had YXD 14 I don’t remember seeing it, and have not got a photo.
Another ex Boddys vehicle which I managed to photograph was RN 8672 in use as a store shed at Octon Lodge Farm, Octon. this has since gone on to one of the Ribble preservation groups I think.
Mike Davies
22/06/11 – 07:10
VBT 191 is alive and well and appeared at this year’s UK Coach Rally at Peterborough.
MikeB
22/06/11 – 07:13
If you Google the registration VBT 191, it comes up with a very nice photo on Flickr of VBT 191 at the UK Coach Rally in April of this year. The Fowlers listing given by Richard seems to omit vehicles they have acquired for preservation, as they also have 966 RVO, a Yeates bodied VAL new to Barton Transport.
Bob Gell
22/06/11 – 13:17
Thank you Mike and Bob. Good news indeed but puzzling that it is not found on the DVLA records which is why I feared it might be lost. Maybe there has been a change in it’s details recently and been temporarily off record as happened to a car I sold last year.
Richard Leaman
26/06/11 – 08:09
VBT 191 is on the DVLA website-classed as a Leyland AEC VBT 893 left the fleet as early as July 1966, and passed to an operator called Davies of Halewood.
Further to Keith Eastons earlier post-I have a fleet list for Annfield in JPEG format-probably (certainly!) incomplete.
David Hick
26/06/11 – 11:27
Such a fleet list, complete or otherwise, would be most interesting to we older “Bridophiles” David if there is any possibility please.
Chris Youhill
27/06/11 – 07:09
Davies of Halewood, eh? The last ever delivery of a RELH to an independent operator was to them. [The previous such – and the first – was to Flights.]
David Oldfield
29/06/11 – 14:37
Hello just want say I have a great interest in the Willlamsons coaches and am trying to find out as much info as possible as my family are related to them; my nana was a Williamson her Grandad was Reuben Williamson . She would recall living in Brid among all the coaches . she told us they owned horse drawn coaches before the motorised vehicles in Havelock Crescent . She moved away from Brid in her late teens and sadly passed away 2 weeks ago aged 96. This why it is of great interest to me…
Anon
01/07/11 – 05:34
RWF 785 , another former Boddy coach, can be found here: //www.flickr.com/
David Hick
01/07/11 – 09:25
Hello Anon, and firstly we’re very sorry to hear of your Grandma’s passing away. I’m not good on “family trees”, but would the lady’s father possibly have been Tim Williamson ??, as he was the son of Reuben and ran the business till the sale to EYMS. My Grandma and my Aunt knew Tim in the old days – they ran a very small B & B in St. Stephen Road.
Chris Youhill
08/10/11 – 06:18
…all this talk of Boddy’s etc. sent me to my ticket collection of which I have ‘BODDY’S MOTOR TOURS’ at 101 Promenade and 10 Hilderthorpe Road BRIDLINGTON. – also (to make Mr. Youhill dribble are scans I have done (Front and Back) scans of his ‘beloved’ WILLIMSON’S punch tickets showing ‘Havelock Crescent’ on reverse self message.
“Coming Soon” as they say to the Old Bus Tickets web site.
Peter Abel
08/10/11 – 17:23
Now then Peter A, a very good job I had a bib to hand as I’m already dribbling in anticipation !!
Chris Youhill
10/10/11 – 06:34
Ain’t we all! Cant wait to see the Boddy’s ticket
Keith Easton
12/01/12 – 06:45
Peelings of Tittleshall had YXD 10 a very similar Reliance.
Jonathan Joplin
18/07/21 – 06:28
VBT 191 is now in the heritage fleet of Thornes Independent, Hemingbrough near Selby, North Yorkshire.
