bus 2

The photographs above were all taken during the 1990's by Phil Groocock and Mike Wadman - click HERE to see some of the coaches that Leathers operated in the 1970's & 80's.

source

EXTRACTS FROM

"100 YEARS OF TRAVEL FROM MAIDEN BRADLEY"

WITH PERMISSION OF AUTHOR (BY JIM DOWNES)

ROGER GRIMLEY

INTRODUCTION

AS THE LONG REIGN OF VICTORIA DREW TO A CLOSE MANY VILLAGES IN RURAL ENGLAND WERE STILL OWNED BY A SINGLE FAMILY AND VIRTUALLY EVERYONE WHO LIVED THERE WAS RELIANT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON THE GOODWILL OF THE ARISTOCRACY.

IN THE FAR WEST OF WILTSHIRE, ADJOINING THE SOMERSET BORDER, MAIDEN BRADLEY WAS ONE SUCH PLACE. A CONTEMPORARY DIRECTORY RECORDED THAT "THE DUKE OF SOMERSET, WITH A TRIFLING EXCEPTION OWNS THE WHOLE PARISH" MOST PEOPLE WORKED ON HIS ESTATE -ON THE FARMS, IN THE SAW MILLS OR ON MAINTENANCE. MANY GIRLS WERE IN SERVICE AT BRADLEY HOUSE, THE LOCAL RESIDENCE OF THE DUKE.

ALTHOUGH THE VILLAGE WAS LARGELY SELF SUFFICIENT SOME GOODS NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO THE NEARBY TOWNS AND SUPPLIES BROUGHT IN AND THIS WAS THE JOB OF THE CARRIER. AFTER THE 1914-1918 WAR INCREASING NUMBERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES PASSED THROUGH THE VILLAGE AND SOON THE CARRIER'S HORSE AND CART WAS REPLACED BY A MOTOR BUS.

THIS IS THE STORY OF THOSE WHO OWNED ,DROVE AND RODE IN THE VEHICLES THAT TOOK THE PEOPLE OF MAIDEN BRADLEY AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS TO MARKET, SCHOOL AND CINEMA; TO VISIT FRIENDS; ON OUTINGS AND HOLIDAYS. IT COVERS THE PERIOD 1898-1998 AND INCLUDES THE HISTORY OF LEATHERS COACHES.

FOR ANYONE BROUGHT UP IN THE AREA THIS NAME WILL BRING HAPPY MEMORIES OF A SERVICE THAT WAS PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR EIGHTY OF THOSE YEARS.

PART 1

LIFE IN THE COUNTRY WAS RULED BY THE SEASONS AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK AVAILABLE AT ANY ONE TIME VARIED CONSIDERABLY. IF A MAN WAS TO MAKE A LIVING HE HAD TO SEEK WAYS OF KEEPING OCCUPIED ALL THROUGH THE YEAR , AND ONE WAY WAS TO HAVE SEVERAL OCCUPATIONS.

EDWARD DOMAN HAD CHOSEN THIS PATH. HE FARMED IN A SMALL WAY AND KEEP A FEW COWS. TO MAXIMIZE INCOME THE MILK WAS SOLD AROUND THE VILLAGE, CUSTOMERS PROVIDING THEIR OWN JUG OR CAN INTO WHICH THE MILK WAS POURED. IT WAS QUIETER ON THE FARM IN WINTER SO HE ALSO HAD A COAL DELIVERY ROUND AND TIMBER WAS TAKEN FROM THE WOODS.

HE WAS ALSO THE VILLAGE CARRIER. A WIDE RANGE OF ITEMS WERE FETCHED AND CARRIED ON REGULAR RUNS TO AND FROM FROME AND WARMINSTER. UP TO TWELVE PASSENGERS SQUEEZED ONTO THE WOODEN BENCH SEATS OF THE HORSE DRAWN WAGON, SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS BEING PROVIDED BY A CANVAS HOOD.

THE CARRIER SERVICE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY FRANCIS TAYLOR WHO SHARED THE FROME ROUTE WITH THOMAS HOOPER OF MERE. BY THE END OF THE GREAT WAR THE LATTER HAD CEASED RUNNING AND EDWARD DOMAN WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP HIM.

BASIL LEATHER WAS BORN ON 5TH SEPTEMBER 1898, ENLISTED AS A GUNNER IN THE ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY AT THE AGE OF 16 AND SAW ACTIVE SERVICE IN FRANCE DURING THE GREAT WAR. HE ENJOYED WORKING WITH HORSES AND SO ON RETURNING TO MAIDEN BRADLEY IN 1919 HE SOUGHT WORK THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO DO THIS . MR DOMAN NOT ONLY EMPLOYED HIM ALSO FOUND THE LAD LODGINGS IN THE VILLAGE.

BASIL BECAME FRIENDS WITH THE NEWBURY FAMILY AND WHEN INVITED TO SUPPER HE REGALED THEIR 6 YEAR OLD SON, DON, WITH STORIES OF HIS ARMY DAYS. DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS BASIL WOULD ASK MRS NEWBURY IF BASIL COULD GO TO RADSTOCK WITH HIM TO GET COAL, AND ARMED WITH SOME FOOD AND A BOTTLE OF COLD TEA , DON WOULD BE AT THE YARD BY 4 AM. THEY SET OFF FOR FOXCOTE COLLIERY AND AS THEY WENT DOWN THE FROME ROAD BASIL WOULD HANG THE REINS OVER THE HEADBOARD OF THE WAGON, GET UNDER SOME SACKS AND A HORSE RUG AND LEAVE OLD BOB THE HORSE, TO IT.

THE ANIMAL DID NOT NEED WORDS OF COMMAND FOR HE NEW THE WAY, AND TURNED LEFT AT THE LETTERBOX COTTAGE AT WEST WOODLANDS, WENT UP THROUGH TYTHERINGTON, TURNED RIGHT THROUGH PADDLES LANE AND CROSSED THE MAIN SHEPTON MALLET ROAD AT THE MASONS ARMS AND INTO MARSTON BACK LANE BEFORE EVENTUALLY REACHING THE RADSTOCK ROAD.

→ click images to enlarge

DON NEWBURY COULD ONLY GO TO THE COLLIERY IN THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS MR DOMAN WOULD MEET HIM AFTER SCHOOL AND ALLOW HIM TO MEET BASIL AT THE BOTTOM OF BRADLEY HILL WITH A TRACE HORSE TO HELP BOB WITH PULLING THE HEAVY LOAD UP THE HILL.

AFTER A FEW YEARS MR DOMAN DECIDED TO RETIRE AND OFFERED HIS CARRIER COAL AND WOOD BUSINESS TO BASIL.

ON THE RUNS TO FROME AND WARMINSTER THE HORSES (BOB,SHARPER AND PRINCE) HAD TO CONTEND WITH AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MOTOR CARS LORRIES AND CHARS-A-BANC, AND THEN A REGULAR MOTOR BUS SERVICE RUNNING THROUGH THE AREA , THE OWNERS WERE CHARLES WOODCOCK AND SON FROM WINCANTON.

REALIZING HE HAD TO COMPETE BASIL LEATHER STARTED TO LOOK AROUND FOR A SUITABLE VEHICLE. HE DECIDED TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR A DUAL PURPOSE VEHICLE

WITH REMOVABLE BODY WHICH COULD BE USED FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS OR FETCHING COAL. THE NEW MOTOR WAS REGISTERED HR9459 IN OCTOBER 1923 , AND AS IT NOW HAULED THE COAL FROM THE COLLIERIES AND COVERED MOST OF THE CARRIER SERVICES THE HORSES WERE MAINLY CONFINED TO WORKING IN THE WOODS HAULING TIMBER

AND ON WILTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CONTRACTS.

THE MOTOR WAS USED ALMOST EVERY DAY, WITH PASSENGERS BEING CARRIED EVERY WEDNESDAY TO FROME MARKET, EVERY SATURDAY EVENING TO FROME PICTURES AND ALTERNATE SATURDAY MORNINGS TO FROME. THE RETURN FARE WAS ONE SHILLING.

ON ALTERNATE SATURDAY MORNINGS WHEN NOT NEEDED FOR FROME , IT WENT TO WARMINSTER, WHERE BASIL MET UP WITH THE CREW OF COUCHMANS-WYLYE VALLEY MOTOR SERVICES.

ON THE OTHER SATURDAYS A PONY AND WAGONETTE WOULD BE USED, AND NOW AT THE AGE OF 13 DON NEWBURY WHO WOULD OFTEN HANG ABOUT BASILS YARD WOULD BE GIVEN THE JOB OF DRIVING IT.

ON ARRIVAL AT THE OLD BELL HOTEL THE ANIMAL WOULD BE UNHITCHED AND PUT INTO THE STABLES, WHILE DON WOULD GO ACROSS TO MARSHMANS THE CORN MERCHANTS FOR A SIXPENNY FEED FOR THE PONY.

WITH THE HORSE SETTLED DOWN DON WAS ABLE TO LOOK AFTER HIS OWN NEEDS AND USE HIS 7d MEAL ALLOWANCE FOR A GOOD FEED OF FAGGOTS AND PEAS WITH BREAD AND BUTTER AND A CUP OF TEA AT MUNDAY'S CAFE IN EAST STREET.

THE ROUTE TAKEN WAS THROUGH HORNINGSHAM, SHEARWATER LAKE AND CROCKERTON BUT FEW PASSENGERS TRAVELED MOST RELYING ON THE CARRIER TO SHOP FOR THEM. DON RECALLS TWO REGULARS, MRS PAYNE FROM SHUTE FARM AND MRS SALLY WHATELY FROM CROCKERTON

BY THIS TIME MR DOMAN HAD LEFT 55 THE RANK IN MAIDEN BRADLEY AND GONE TO LIVE IN BATH, SO BASIL MOVED IN, AND HIS SISTER DOLLY KEPT HOUSE UNTIL HE MARRIED NELLIE GILLANDERS ON SHROVE TUESDAY 1926 AT MAIDEN BRADLEY CHURCH.

AS WORK CONTINUED TO INCREASE BASIL DECIDED TO MODERNIZE A CHEVROLET CHAR-A-BANC HE HAD BOUGHT, AND TO BUY A SECOND HAND FORD FOR £40. AND AS VERY FEW PEOPLE HAD PRIVATE CARS BASIL ALSO RAN A CAR HIRE SERVICE AND THROUGH THE 1930'S HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES INCLUDING A MODEL T FORD 4 SEATER, A FOUR SEATER CHEVEROLET TOURER, A 7 SEATER BUICK LIMOUSINE, A DELAUNEY BELLEVILLE LIMOUSINE, A POWERFUL SUNBEAM AND AN ESSEX SUPER SIX.

WILTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL'S DECISION TO CREATE A SENIOR SCHOOL AT MERE, WHICH ALL SCHOOL CHILDREN OVER 11 YEARS OF AGE OF THE DISTRICT WOULD ATTEND, WAS TO BE THE TURNING POINT FOR BASIL LEATHER.

BEFORE THIS MOST MAIDEN BRADLEY CHILDREN STAYED IN THE VILLAGE SCHOOL FOR THE WHOLE OF THEIR EDUCATION UNLESS THEY GAINED A PLACE AT GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ONE BOY AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP WAS DON NEWBURY WHO WAS BORN ON 3rd AUG 1913 AND LIVED AT 49 CHURCH STREET. IN 1927 HE WAS OFFERED A PLACE AT WARMINSTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL, WITH THE LOAN OF A BICYCLE WITH WHICH TO TRAVEL TO AND FRO ,HOWEVER THEIR WAS UNIFORM AND SPORTS GEAR TO BUY AND HIS FATHER WHO WORKED IN THE WOODS , WAS NOT WELL PAID. THE FAMILY COULD NOT AFFORD TO MISS OUT ON BOY'S WAGES SO INSTEAD OF CONTINUING WITH HIS EDUCATION DON STARTED WORK FOR BASIL LEATHER.

SINCE TAKING THE BUSINESS OVER FROM EDWARD DOMAN, BASIL LEATHER STEADILY GREW THE BUSINESS THROUGH THE 1930'S WITH THE HELP OF HIS TWO DRIVERS HARRY BIFFIN AND DON NEWBURY WHO ATTAINED HIS LICENSE ONE MONTH BEFORE HIS 17th BIRTHDAY, THE MOTOR BUS AND COACH SERVICES WERE DOING WELL, THERE WAS PLENTY OF TAXI WORK AND ALL FOUR HORSES WERE EITHER ON HIRE TO WILTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL OR WORKING IN THE WOODS.

THEN CAME THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AND THE WORLD CHANGED.

PART 2

THE START OF THE WORLD WAR TWO ON SEPTEMBER 3RD 1939 BROUGHT MANY UNWELCOME CHANGES.FUEL WAS SOON RATIONED AND THE THE FEW VILLAGERS , WHO RAN PRIVATE CARS HAD TO RIDE ON THE BUS , EVENING SERVICES HAD TO FINISH AT 9PM ,SUNDAY SERVICES WERE WITHDRAWN AND TRIPS CLASSED AS PLEASURE WERE STOPPED .EVACUEES ARRIVED IN CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS BUT ALTHOUGH THE BUSES WERE OFTEN FULL RELIEF JOURNEYS WERE OUT OF THE QUESTION DUE TO FUEL RATIONING. MANY TROOPS ARRIVED IN THE AREA AND WERE ACCOMMODATED IN EMPTY HOUSES AND HALLS THAT HAD BEEN COMMANDEERED. IN THE EVENINGS LEATHERS COACHES WOULD TAKE THEM TO CINEMAS AND DANCES IN FROME AND BATH AND WHEN WEEKEND LEAVE WAS GRANTED THE COACHES TOOK THEM AS FAR AS PORTSMOUTH SOUTHAMPTON AND LONDON.

LIGHTING RESTRICTIONS WERE IMPOSED WHEREBY SIDELIGHTS HAD TO BE FITTED WITH FROSTED GLASS AND HEADLIGHTS MASKED. THE LATTER INVOLVING FITTING A CONTRAPTION WITH FOUR SLOTS APPROXIMATELY HALF AN INCH WIDE AND FOUR INCHES LONG EACH HOODED TO PREVENT DETECTION FROM ENEMY PLANES. DRIVING IN SUCH CONDITIONS WAS DIFFICULT AS THE LIGHT WERE SO DIM AN APPROACHING VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE SEEN UNTIL IT WAS ONLY TWENTY OR SO YARDS AWAY. AT NIGHT THE IGNITION KEY AND ROTOR ARM HAD TO BE REMOVED TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STOLEN BY ANY INVADING ENEMY FORCES. A WHITE LINE WAS PAINTED AROUND THE VEHICLE ALONG THE EDGES OF THE FRONT WINGS , BUMPERS , AND SIDE AND REAR PANELS AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO ENABLE PEDESTRIANS TO SEE THE VEHICLE ON DARKENED ROADS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OF BUSES WERE PAINTED BLACK WITH JUST A THIN STRIP AT THE BOTTOM EXPOSED TO ALLOW LIGHT TO SHINE DOWN . THIS MADE THE TAKING OF FARES VERY DIFFICULT AND THERE WAS MUCH FUMBLING IN THE DARKNESS.

MANY MEN, SOME OF WHOM WERE TOO OLD TO SERVE IN THE FORCES, WERE CONSCRIPTED TO WORK ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. ONE OF THESE WAS A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT CORSHAM, WHERE THE OLD QUARRIES WERE CONVERTED INTO FACTORIES AND MUNITIONS STORES, EVERY DAY FOR ABOUT EIGHTEEN MONTHS LEATHER'S BUS CARRIED THEM TO AND FRO PICKING UP MEN AT YARNFIELD, MAIDEN BRADLEY, FROME WOLVERTON, NORTON ST PHILLIP AND BRADFORD ON AVON. AFTER DROPPING OFF THE DAY WORKERS AT 7.30 AM IT WAS THEN A RUSH TO GET BACK TO MAIDEN BRADLEY TO PICK UP SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO HAD TO BE IN MERE BY 9.0 CLOCK. AFTER THE CORSHAM CONTRACT FINISHED WORKMEN WERE TRANSPORTED FROM THE FROME AND WESTBURY AREA TO LONGLEAT PARK, WHERE A MILITARY HOSPITAL WAS BEING BUILT. THIS LASTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS, THEN FOR A SIMILAR PERIOD GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR WERE COLLECTED FROM WESTBURY AND BROUGHT TO MAIDEN BRADLEY TO WORK ON VARIOUS FARMS AND IN THE WOODS ON THE BRADLEY ESTATE. THIS WORK FITTED IN WELL WITH SCHOOL RUNS. WHEN THIS CONTRACT ENDED ANOTHER WAS TAKEN ON TO CONVEY POLISH SOLDIERS BETWEEN A HOSTEL IN MERE AND THE FORESTRY COMMISSION WOODS AT BREWHAM, THE POLES ARE REMEMBERED AS BEING NICE PEOPLE AND SOME OF THEM COURTED LOCAL GIRLS, MARRIED, HAD FAMILIES AND SETTLED HERE.

THERE WAS ALSO A LAND ARMY HOSTEL AT MERE AND LEATHER'S WERE GRANTED IN ADDITIONAL FUEL ALLOWANCE TO TRANSPORT THE WOMEN. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE HAD A DISTRIBUTION DEPOT AT CRABTREE, NEAR HEAVENS GATE WHERE LARGE SHEDS WERE CONCEALED IN LONGLEAT WOODS AND FROM HERE SERVICEMEN WERE TAKEN TO DANCES IN LOCAL TOWNS. THE R.A.F. AT CHILMARK, NEAR SALISBURY ALSO HIRED LEATHER'S COACH TO TAKE GIRLS, MOSTLY FROM THE LAND ARMY HOSTEL, TO DANCES AT THE CAMP. WHENEVER THE AIR FORCE HIRED COACHES THEY PROVIDED ENOUGH PETROL COUPONS TO COVER THE MILEAGE.

AS WELL AS WORKERS, SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THE WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY BUS SERVICES, THE FIRM WAS OFTEN ON CALL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AFTER THE EVACUATION OF ALLIED FORCES FROM DUNKIRK TRAIN LOADS OF TROOPS ARRIVED AT FROME STATION AND TEMPORARILY TOOK OVER ALL THE MARKET BUILDINGS. THEY WERE THEN TRANSFERRED TO VARIOUS PLACES IN WILTSHIRE, SOMERSET AND DORSET. DON NEWBURY AND HIS COACH WERE WITH THEM FOR ABOUT A WEEK DURING WHICH HE LIVED AND HAD HIS MEALS WITH THE ARMY.

ANOTHER JOB WAS TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE CITIES. THEY ARRIVED AT FROME STATION CLUTCHING A LITTLE BAG OF BELONGINGS AND A CARDBOARD BOX CONTAINING A GAS MASK. MANY WERE DEEPLY DISTRESSED AT BEING PARTED FROM THEIR PARENTS AND THIS MADE DON NEWBURY VERY UNHAPPY. THEY WERE CONVEYED TO SURROUNDING VILLAGES AND TAKEN IN BY ANYONE WHO WOULD ACCOMMODATE THEM. SOME HAD NEVER SEEN THE COUNTRYSIDE BEFORE AND FOUND IT STRANGE AND FRIGHTENING BUT OTHERS LOVED RURAL LIFE. MANY CHILDREN WERE WELL CARED FOR, HAD GOOD FOSTER PARENTS AND BLENDED WELL INTO THE COMMUNITY. QUITE A NUMBER STAYED UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR AND HAVE KEPT IN TOUCH WITH VILLAGERS EVER SINCE. IN 1944 WHEN THE GERMAN V2 ROCKETS CAUSED MUCH LOSS OF LIFE, THERE WAS ANOTHER EVACUATION, MOSTLY CHILDREN FROM LONDON TO THE RELATIVE PEACE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.

LIKE MANY OTHER COMMODITIES COAL WAS RATIONED DURING THE WAR AND IN ADDITION TO HIS LONG ESTABLISHED CUSTOMERS IN MAIDEN BRADLEY, BASIL LEATHER WAS ORDERED TO COVER A WIDER AREA. THIS INCLUDED STOURTON, KILMINGTON, NORTON FERRIS, GASPER AND PART OF ZEALS AND THERE WERE MANY ARGUMENTS WITH CUSTOMERS WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO MORE FUEL THEN WAS AVAILABLE. TWO LORRIES WERE KEPT BUSY ON COAL DELIVERIES AND EVERYONE HELPRD BETWEEN SCHOOL AND SERVICE BUS RUNS. OFTEN THE BUS DRIVERS HAD TO DASH OFF TO MERE SCHOOL WITH BLACK HANDS AND FACES, NOT HAVING HAD TIME TO WASH. WHEN THE WAR ENDED AND PEOPLE WERE AGIN ABLE TO BUY FROM THE MERCHANT OF THEIR CHOICE, BASIL LEATHER SOLD HIS COAL ROUND TO FORDS OF TIMSBURY.

THE LORRIES ALSO HAULED TIMBER FROM THE DUKE OF SOMERSET'S SAWMILL TO SOUTHAMPTON AND OTHER GOODS TO BRIDGEWATER, BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM.2- OR 3 TON FORDS WERE USED AND A MORRIS HAULED FLOUR FROM AVONMOUTH FOR WARMINSTER CO-OP.

EVEN BASIL LEATHER'S HORSES PLAYED A PART IN THE WAR EFFORT, BEING COMMANDEERED TO PULL TIMBER FROM THE FORESTRY COMMISSION WOODS TO THE ROADSIDE WHERE IT WAS LOADED ONTO LORRIES. AT ONE TIME THEY WORKED IN BATH FOR FOUR MONTHS AND WERE KEPT IN A NEARBY RENTED FIELD DURING OFF DUTY HOURS. THE CARTER LODGED IN BATH DURING THE WEEK BUT CAME HOME ON SATURDAY, RETURNING ON MONDAY MORNING WITH FEED FOR THE HORSES DURING THE COMING WEEK.

NOT LONG AFTER THE DECLARATION OF WAR THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN COMANDEERING BUSES AND COACHES BUT AS LEATHER'S FLEET WERE ALL MORE THAN TWO YEARS OLD NONE WERE TAKEN. SOME SPARE PARTS WERE VIRTUALLY UNOBTAINABLE AND DON NEWBURY USED TO GO ROUND THE DEALERS IN BATH, BRISTOL AND TROWBRIDGE ON A MOTOR BIKE TRYING TO GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO KEEP VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SOME OPERATORS HAD VEHICLES LAID UP THROUGH SHORTAGE OF SPARES AND THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT BECAME SO CONCERNED THAT THEY INTRODUCED A SYSTEM OF PRIORITY PERMITS GIVING THE HOLDER FIRST CALL ON WHAT WAS AVAILABLE. THIS DID NOT ENTIRELY SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AS IT WAS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO WAIT UNTIL ENOUGH PERMITS HAD BEEN LODGED TO WARRANT MAKING A BATCH OF PARTS.

EVER ON THE LOOKOUT FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLES BASIL LEATHER WENT TO THE SOMERSET LEVELS DURING 1941 AND COLLECTED A 1933 COMMER (OD6288) FROM A SHED AT MOORLINCH. THEN IN 1944 HE WAS ALLOCATED A BRAND NEW UTILITY MODEL BEDFORD 32-SEATER (DHR627) WHICH CAME PAINTED IN DRAB BROWN FITTED WITH WOODEN SLATTED SEATS ALLOWING VERY LITTLE LEG ROOM. THE BODY WAS SINGLE SKIN AND IN WARM WEATHER THE ROOF GOT SO HOT THAT YOU COULD BURN YOUR HAND ON IT. THERE WERE ONLY TWO OPENING WINDOWS SO AIRFLOW WAS RESTRICTED AND EVEN DRIVING ALONG WITH THE DOOR OPEN IN SUMMER DID NOT STOP THE ATMOSPHERE BEING OPPRESSIVE. IN WINTER CONDENSATION FORMED ON THE ROOF AND DRIPPED ON TO THE PASSENGERS BELOW.

DRIVING TESTS FOR BUS DRIVERS WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE WAR AND THOSE NEW TO THE JOB WERE GRANTED A DRIVER'S PERMIT ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THEIR EMPLOYER. HOWEVER, EVENTUALLY THE TIDE OF WAR TURNED AND ALLIED TROOPS ADVANCED THROUGH EUROPE. AT LAST PEOPLE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT PEACE-AND A CHANGED WORLD.

THANKSGIVING AND GREAT JUBILATION GREETED THE END OF THE WAR IN 1945 AND PEOPLE WERE EAGER FOR TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT AFTER THE HARDSHIPS OF THE PAST TEN YEARS. IT SEEMED THAT THEY WOULD GO ON A TRIP OF ANY KIND BUT WITH FUEL STILL RATIONED, BUS AND COACH OPERATORS STRUGGLED TO COPE WITH THE LARGE NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS USING THEIR SERVICES. DEMAND FOR VEHICLES WAS HIGH BUT WITH A SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS THERE WAS A LONG WAITING LIST, SO ALTHOUGH BASIL LEATHER PLACED AN ORDER FOR A NEW COACH IN 1946 IT WAS FIVE YEARS BEFORE IT WAS DELIVERED.

EXISTING VEHICLES HAD TO BE RENOVATED IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THEM LOOK AS MODERN AND COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS HARDLY SURPRISING THAT THE FEW USED VEHICLES FOR SALE FETCHED HIGH PRICES, OFTEN FAR IN EXCESS OF WHAT THEY COST NEW.

EXISTING VEHICLES WERE RENOVATED IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THEM LOOK AS MODERN AND COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE, THE BODY ON COMMER, OD6288, BEING RECONDITIONED BY HEAVERS OF DURRINGTON. IT'S CANVAS ROOF WAS REPLACED BY A DOME WITH SLIDING PANEL, NEW SEATS FITTED AND THE REFURBISHMENT GAVE IT ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS LIFE. ALTHOUGH IT WENT WELL, THE COMMER WAS NOT GOOD AT STOPPING. IT WAS FITTED WITH CABLE-OPERATED BRAKES AND WHILE GOING DOWN BATH STREET IN FROME A CABLE BROKE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT THE TIME AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER INTO CORK STREET AND ROLL TO A STOP WITH NO DAMAGE.

THE WARTIME BEDFORD DHR627 WAS ALSO GIVEN SOME ATTENTION BUT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED IT WAS USED TO TAKE A PUB PARTY TO THE DERBY. THE SEATS CONSISTED OF WOODEN SLATS AND A COUPLE OF HOURS INTO THE JOURNEY THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE STANDING UP. "WHAT'S GOING ON?" HE ASKED THE ORGANIZER. "WE'RE GIVING OUR BACKSIDES A REST" WAS THE RESPONSE.

THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF RIVALRY BETWEEN OPERATORS OF THE UTILITY MODELS AS TO WHO COULD OUTDO THE OTHER MODERNIZATION. ON LEATHER'S BUS ADDITIONAL OPENING WINDOWS WERE FITTED AND UPHOLSTERED COVERS MADE FROM ARMY TYPE CANVAS REPLACED THE WOODEN SLATTED SEATS. LATER BASIL OBTAINED A SET OF BLUE MOQUETTE COACH SEATS. THE WARTIME BROWN PAINT GAVE WAY TO A COUPLE OF COATS OF DARK BLUE WITH A LIGHT BLUE STRIP ROUND THE BODY AND A SIGNWRITER, MR GRANT OF FROME, PAINTED A MONOGRAM, B.C.L., IN SHADED GOLD LETTERING ON BOTH SIDES AND THE REAR. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE LOOK QUITE ATTRACTIVE.

AFTER SCOURING THE COUNTRY BASIL LEATHER EVENTUALLY FOUND A SUITABLE VEHICLE AT AIRLINGTON COACH SALES, VAUXHALL BRIDGE ROAD, LONDON IN 1948. IT WAS AN AUSTIN 27-SEAT COACH (JFC12), NEW IN 1939, WHICH HAD DONE A HIGH MILEAGE AND SOON NEEDED A RECONDITIONED ENGINE, GEARBOX AND REAR AXLE. IT HAD COST £1.600 WHEN NEW BUT BASIL HAD TO PAY £3.500 FOR IT. HOWEVER, IT HAD LUXURY COACH SEATS AND A LUGGAGE BOOT, THE FIRST LEATHER'S COACH TO BE SO FITTED. AFTER BEING PAINTED IN LEATHER'S DARK AND LIGHT BLUE AND CREAM LIVERY AT WINCANTON IT LOOKED GOOD AND BROUGHT IN A LOT OF PRIVATE PARTY BOOKINGS. ANOTHER PURCHASE, IN 1949, WAS A THREE-YEAR OLD BEDFORD 29-SEATER (JKJ971). THE SMALLER PRE-WAR VEHICLES WERE NOW WITHDRAWN BUT THE USE OF LARGER VEHICLES MEANT THAT CONDUCTRESSES WERE NECESSARY ON THE BUS SERVICES, THREE LADIES DONG THIS WORK.

WHILE THE PASSENGER TRANSPORT BUSINESS EXPANDED IN THE POST WAR YEARS, THE GOODS HAULAGE SECTION ALSO CHANGED. WILTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL NOW HIRED MOTOR LORRIES FOR HAULAGE RATHER THAN HORSES AND SO EVENTUALLY BASIL LEATHER SOLD OFF ALL HIS HORSES AND WAGONS AND BOUGHT A FORDSON TRACTOR FOR USE IN THE WOODS.

IN FEBRUARY 1951, BASIL LEATHER WAS FINALLY NOTIFIED THAT THE BEDFORD COACH ORDERED IN 1946 WAS READY FOR COLLECTION FROM THE DUPLE WORKS AT HENDON IN NORTH LONDON.

AS THEY WERE BEING SHOWN TO THE NEW VEHICLE THE WORKS MANAGER REMARKED "IT IS A PITY YOU ARE NOT HAVING ONE OF THESE". THERE, FURTHER BACK DOWN THE PRODUCTION LINE, WAS THE FIRST OF THE NEW FORWARD CONTROL SB MODELS, LOOKING VERY MODERN. HOWEVER, JUST BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF GWV101, WHICH WAS THE REGISTRATION NUMBER ALLOCATED TO THE NEW COACH, BASIL LEATHER EXPANDED HIS BUSINESS BY ACQUIRING THE SERVICES OF ANOTHER LOCAL OPERATOR.

THESE ARE JUST SHORT EXTRACTS FROM A VERY DETAILED HISTORY OF LEATHERS COACHES

THE FULL VERSION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE VILLAGE SHOP