The Regent Motorways Story- Part1

The  Story of Regent Motorways.

Harry John Jakeman was born in 1897. Harry had 2 sisters who were market gardeners. One was called Lily. Harry married Laura and they had a home in Greenhill, Evesham. Laura’s family owned a brewery where Harry worked as a young man during World War 1. Harry’s main form of transport in those days was a motorbike and sidecar.

Laura and Harry’s daughter Joan was born in 1924, followed by  son John in 1931.

Early years

Harry bought his first coach in the early 1930s. At the time, he worked for the Austin Motor Company and charged fellow workers to take them from Redditch to the Austin factory at Longbridge. This was a profitable venture, so Harry decided to start a company.  At first known as Harry Jakeman’s Regent Garage, the business initially operated from premises in Oswald Street, Redditch. Phil Bluck was forecourt attendant, operating the petrol pumps there in the late 1930s .

Harry lived in Mount Street, Redditch, later moving to Regent House in Mount Pleasant, Redditch. It is believed that the house may have given his growing coach company its name. Regent House was divided into 2 and Harry had a large garage built on the driveway which led to allotments at the rear of the property. Harry also owned 3 houses in St George’s Road Redditch, which he rented out.

Some of the early coaches were probably fitted with petrol engines. During the Second World War, coaches may have been camouflaged and were certainly fitted with shrouds over their headlights. Half- cab coaches were the rule in those days, and Harry purchased a variety of vehicles, often second hand.  During the war, as well as operating his coach business, Harry served as a firefighter.

The business was built up by securing contracts for works and school runs and offering football match and theatre trips, as well as satisfying the growing demand for excursions to the fashionable seaside resorts of the time such as Llandudno, Torquay or Blackpool. Harry involved his son John in the running of the business from quite an early age.

Four drivers who joined Harry in the early days were Arthur Tye, Syd Gorin, David Coventry and Todd Sloane.  A number of drivers worked for the company for many years, including Todd Sloane, who joined in about 1938 after working for the Midland Red. Todd loved the half cab coaches which provided  a  glass screen between driver and passengers, and had a particular liking for Leyland TS7 ACX 630.

On Nov 14th 1940, during the blitz on Coventry, Todd Sloane was involved in ferrying Coventry evacuees away from the conflagration to the relative safety of Redditch. Todd did several trips during the course of the night and was totally exhausted by the following morning! Todd lived in Webheath and often did works runs to “The Austin” at Longbridge , or Jaguar in Coventry. He would park his coach outside Webheath village hall when it was not in use, no doubt endearing himself to the locals!  Todd would still cycle to Alcester Street from his home in Batchley, working part time and doing regular school runs right up to his eventual retirement after a stroke at the age of 70.

Syd Gorin was another local man employed by the company both as a part time driver and mechanic, from around 1949 till 1960.  Syd was the driver on a trip to Weston Super Mare in the 1950s, before the days of motorways. Driving south on the A38 in Gloucester near to the Moreland’s “England’s Glory” match factory, Sid was pulled over by the local constabulary. There were no speed cameras in those days, but the policeman gave Syd a stern warning for driving at an alleged 35mph in a 30mph limit, and sent him on his way!

 Harry Jakeman moves the business to Alcester Street, Redditch.

Following a move in the 1950s the business operated from premises in Alcester St Redditch. The frontage of the building, which was opposite the Palace theatre and next door to the famous model shop of J.A. Fairest, combined a booking office to the left of an entrance to the workshop. Inside the workshop were 2 pits to enable maintenance and repair of coaches to take place. The Regent brand of petrol was sold from the front of the premises for many years out of 2 (or was it 3?) pumps. The main building was extended in later years by Ray Sloane who was the previously mentioned Todd’s son. On the right of the workshop entrance was an advertising hoarding, exhorting passers- by to come in and book a coach trip. There were a variety of destinations to choose from.  A trip to see the lights in Blackpool for 17/6d perhaps, or travel in comfort to a home match at Villa Park for 3/-.  

There was a gated and fenced compound at the rear of the premises in Red Lion Street,  opposite the old fire station and overlooking the Warwick Arms public house to the east side. Coaches were stabled here as well as at the homes of drivers living in outlying districts such as Evesham and Broadway. A spring manufacturer called Heartbeat Springs Ltd operated in the premises separating the compound from the main workshop.

After successfully building the business over many years, Harry died in February 1963 at the age of 66. He left the 3 houses in St Georges Road to his daughter Joan, whilst shares in the coach business went to his son John.

For more See The Regent Motorways story, Part 2