Buses in Kirkby

Buses in the Diaries

The family diaries contain quite a lot of detail about different means of transport. Given that grandma and grandad did not get a car until 1955, it is not surprising that there was a lot of emphasis on using buses particularly before that time.

Mansfield to Bulwell

One of grandad’s first references to buses was in June 1914 when he noted that motor buses started running from Mansfield to Bulwell. The following month, in July 1914, he noted that there was a new timetable which involved buses running on Sundays.

Henry Parkin Bought a Char-a-Banc

In September 1921, grandad’s father, Henry Parkin, bought a Ford Char-a-banc which elsewhere grandad described as a “bus”. Apparently, such vehicles were widely used in Northern England to provide workers with days out before annual holidays became the norm in the late 1960s.

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Other Vehicles/Buses

Grandad’s father and family may have had other vehicles with the diaries referring to a caravan, a “Thornycroft” and a car. It appears that the family may have had at least two buses as, in August 1929, grandad noted that he went with Len in the bus to meet “the other bus for Matlock”. In April 1927, grandad noted that John Smith had a new bus.

Bus Proprietors

By 1939, one of grandad’s brothers-in-law, Arthur Evans, is listed as a haulage contractor. Another, John Smith, and his nephew, Leonard Smith, were both listed as Motor Haulage Contractors and Bus Proprietors.

The House with the Large Garage

In 1925, grandad moved with his family to three houses on Diamond Avenue, see Chapter 24. Although these houses were originally number 158-162, I believe they are now 160-164. Number 164 is of particular interest in that it has a very large garage that might be used for a bus or lorry.

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Grandad Went for Journeys in These Buses

Grandad sometimes travelled with family members in these buses. For example, in September 1921, grandad went with Arthur Evans to Inkerman which I understand to be an area of Selston.

Grandad Sometimes Drove the Bus

For example, in November 1922, grandad went with John Smith to Nottingham. He noted that he drove part of the way.

Grandad Sometimes Made Things for the Bus

In November 1922, grandad made John Smith some side curtains for the bus.

The Buses Had Reliability Issues

It seems that the bus(es) had some reliability issues. Grandad noted various trips to recover vehicles when they had broken down. On one occasion, in November 1921, he went after midnight, with Arthur Evans, to tow the bus in from Sutton and they did not get home until 3am. In June 1922, Dick Clover and grandad went to find Arthur Evans with the bus crank shaft broken four miles on the other side of Bulwell. In November 1923, grandad went to Chesterfield to “pull the bus in“.

There Were Accidents of Various Levels of Seriousness

Jean Mary Howlett

One of the most serious accidents was in July 1936 when Arthur Evans was involved in an accident where a woman was injured and a child was killed. Based on a news article at the time, the accident happened at about 1pm on the Blidworth Road. The lorry, which Arthur was driving, hit a child, Jean Mary Howlett, and a woman, Dorothy Mary Thomas, when they stepped from a hidden gateway into the road. Jean Mary was killed almost instantaneously. Dorothy Mary was admitted to Mansfield Hospital with scalp wounds, concussion and a fractured leg.

This resulted in a court case in September 1936 but, according to grandad, Arthur was “exonerated from all blame”. Based on another news article, grandad was referring to the inquest which delivered a verdict of accidental death. It noted that “the lorry driver was exonerated from blame“. The article noted that Jean Mary was three years old at the time of her death.

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Mrs Gascoigne

In May 1925, grandad noted that John had an accident at Blidworth. Initially, I assumed this was an accident at work, that is a mining accident.  In February 1926, grandad wrote a note saying “John case came off at Nottm assizes £500 & costs”. I didn’t know exactly what this was but it was presumably a court case involving John and I initially wondered if it could have been compensation for his accident. Anyway, I managed to find details of the case from a newspaper article the next day. This showed that the accident had been a charabanc accident when John was driving a party from Bourne Methodist Church to Lincoln. It had been a serious accident and a Mrs Gascoigne had been killed. Apparently, a settlement was agreed during an interval in proceedings. This incident is recorded by Edith Searson in her book(let) “I Remember”.

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Sally Rosser

In July 1945, a friend of mum’s Sally Rosser, was killed by a Trent Bus. She was ten years’ old.  I presume this is the Sally Margaret that was “killed on the road” as noted by Edith Searson in her book(let) “I Remember” (p39 and p47). One challenge with that book(let) is that people are described largely using first names only. However, a news article from the time confirms the details of the accident and that her name was Sally Margaret. Details of her inquest were given in another article in the Nottingham Journal from 11 July 1945. This confirmed that her death had been accidental. The Coroner was identified as Lt-Col H Bradwell. The driver was identified as Edwin Herbert Lievers. No blame was attached to him.

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Remembering Sally Rosser

I am grateful to Colin Henstock for commenting on Facebook and explaining that Sally Rosser would have been his wife’s aunt. Sally had two sisters, Betty and Joan. Betty went on to be Betty Dyson, the mother of Colin Henstock’s wife. Pat Henry noted living next door to the Rossers in the fifties.

Elizabeth Smith recalled this accident happening. She noted, “we were at the junior school on school street our next door neighbor saw it happen she was just coming from the cemetery she just ran out of the shop and across the road in front of the bus she came home and told us and on the Monday the head mistress told us at assembly it was very sad she was a lovely girl”.

Broken Window

In March 1948, both mum and grandad noted that the shop window had been cracked by a stone thrown up by a Trent Bus. Grandad noted that it was the plate glass window in the ladies department.

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Drunk Driving

In August 1950, Arthur Evans, grandad’s brother-in-law, was fined £10 and had his driving licence suspended for 12 months for driving when drunk.

Grandad’s diary simply refers to Arthur so initially I was not sure if it was Arthur Evans or another Arthur. However, I found a news report of the court case which confirmed it was Arthur Evans. He claimed that the van had been stationary, and he was standing next to it, when the bus swung round the corner and collided with the van. However, the police officers who attended pointed out that the road was straight, there was no corner, and that where he was standing was a bus stop! He was found guilty and fined £7 10 plus £2 9 costs. The article’s headline was “Straight road had corner, he said.”

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John Unwin

In September 1951, grandad commented that “John Unwin had a crash into Butlers Bus on Victoria Rd he was on a motor bike”. Grandad did not note if he had been injured.

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Two Accidents

In March 1950, mum recorded two local bus crashes.

Near Edwinstowe

On the 6^th, there was a crash near Edwinstowe and 30 people were injured. An article in the Nottingham Evening Post that day included a photo. The photo caption noted that two buses had been involved. The article explained that the accident had happened in thick fog and involved a bus owned by Mr F T Tagg, a Sutton-based haulage contractor and an East Midland bus. Most of the injured had been on the Tagg bus. It had been taking staff to Boughton Ordnance Depot. The driver of this bus, Albert Edward Palmer, was one of three people admitted to Mansfield General Hospital. The others were Leonard Hearson and Joseph Bacon.

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Near Mansfield Reservoir

The next day, there was a crash near Mansfield reservoir with one boy killed and two seriously injured. An article in the Nottingham Evening Post that day explained that there had, in fact, been four separate accidents that day. In all cases, the foggy conditions were thought to be a factor. The first accident happened about 8.30am on the Mansfield Road in Sutton. A Midland General bus was overtaking a stationary van when it collided head on with a Trent bus overtaking a lorry. The boy killed was named as 13-year old Ivan Ball. The two people injured were Joan Greasley, aged 18, and Harry Barratt, aged 12.

The second accident involved a Trent Bus, that was taking miners to work. It collided head-on with a private car. The car driver Alfred Adams sustained facial injuries. Apparently, most of the miners “after helping the injured walked the remaining two miles to begin work on the morning shift at the pit“. The third accident involved a Trent double-decker bus and a lorry. One woman, Mrs Parks, required stitches at Harlow Wood Hospital. In the final case, a Skills bus tilted into the soft ground near a riverside pond in Coventry Lane, Strelley. No-one was injured.

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Bus Trips

Grandad also noted different journeys by bus. I assume these were commercial bus services rather than journeys in the family buses.

Between the Wars

Some of these were quite local, within Kirkby. For example, in March 1929, the year before they married, grandad went to see grandma by bus. In August 1932, grandad went by bus to Annesley and, in December 1934, to Kilburn. On 1 and 2 August 1938, grandad went on outings by Trent Bus to Matlock and Rudyard Lake respectively.

Bus Travel During the Second World War

Despite wartime restrictions, the Parkin family were able to make some bus journeys including, for example, into Nottingham. On one occasion, in September 1940, grandad noted that they went to see a German plane that had been shot down. When the family went to visit Harold (Green)’s new house in Clipstone, grandad went by bike but grandma and mum went on the bus.

Buses Were Affected by Weather

Grandad noted that from 29 January to 3 February 1940 no Trent buses had reached Kirkby because of snow.

Post-War Forties

In February 1947, grandad went by bus to Nottingham to buy a new pulley for seventeen shillings and to Greggs, see Chapter 52, for a ranger, see Chapter 37, for £8 10 0. Grandad also went into Nottingham by bus at other times to buy different tools and also to meet mum after a party. Mum and grandma also sometimes went into Nottingham by bus. Other places the Parkins visited by bus included Chesterfield and Matlock. Chapel outings were often by bus. In June 1949, when mum went with a ladies’ trip to Chester, she managed to trap her arm in the bus!

Trip to Skegness

In August 1949, mum noted that she and grandma and grandad went to Skegness by train. Mum mentioned that they went to Uncle Cyril’s. So, it is not very clear to me if Cyril and his family were just staying there for a holiday or if they had moved there. Mum noted that she went in the sea twice and that they came home by bus.

Early Fifties

In the early fifties, the family also travelled by bus. Places they went included Nottingham, South Normanton and other local places, including to visit family and friends. Specifically, in May 1953, when mum and grandma went to London, as part of a pre-Coronation trip with Fordham and Burton, see Chapter 52, they went by bus. In June 1954, mum went to Matlock with Sunday School. They went with two Skills double decker buses. In September 1954, when mum and dad went to visit Dorothy Lofthouse in Stokesley, they went by Hall Brothers’ bus from Mansfield to Darlington.

Youth club and chapel trips also often involved bus journeys. For example, in May 1951, the Sunday School outing went by bus to Crich Stand and Matlock Park. Mum was pleased because “there had been no old teachers on their bus just young ones“.

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The following year, in May 1952, mum noted that she went to Wicksteed Park with the Junior Youth Club and they went in two Butler’s buses. Also, sometimes when the Rainbow Follies group gave a concert, e.g. in Annesley in January 1953, they went there by bus. In October 1953, a group of friends went to a dance at Henry Mellish, dad’s old school. Those who went included mum, dad, Margaret Varnam, Ken Roome, John Overfield, Hazel Munns, Harold Booler, Joy Munns and Ken and Pearl Hodges. They had a double decker bus to bring them home.

Late Fifties

Grandad sometimes used the bus to go and get his hair cut although, once they had the car, he sometimes used that. Mum also used the bus to go shopping in Nottingham.

Buses were hired for a number of chapel activities and outings including a concert in Swanwick in April 1955, the Sunday School outing to Wicksteed Park in June 1955, a chapel trip to Blackpool in October 1955, an outing to Tissington well dressings in May 1959 and a trip to Bridlington in August 1959, see Chapter 69. Mum and dad organised the Sunday School outing to Wicksteed Park. They did this using Truman’s buses.

The trip to Blackpool was organised using Evans’ buses. In June 1955, grandad noted going to Mansfield by bus to see an exhibition of old musical instruments at the Art Gallery. On Boxing Day 1956, grandad went to mum and dad’s house for a party by bus. I believe this was from Welbeck Street to Station Street. When mum and dad were on holiday in Guernsey, in July 1957, they did several bus tours. In October 1957, grandma and grandad went in the car one morning to Larch Farm to collect Ken and Pearl Hodges as their bus from Nottingham had broken down.

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Sometimes, family members might make a journey one way by bus and the other way by another means of transport. For example, in September 1959, mum, grandma and Tricia went to the Church of Christ on Mutton Hill where grandma was the speaker. After the service, grandma and Tricia came back on the bus as “Patricia wanted a ride in a bus”. Mum brought the car back.

Dad Used the Bus to Go to Work

Dad also usually used the bus to get to work in Nottingham. Sometimes, in winter, when the weather was bad, he would go by train instead.

Most Interesting Place Visited by Bus

On Facebook, I asked people for the most interesting place they had visited by bus. While not Kirkby-related, David Hall recalled going by bus, nine hours through the desert, from Sharm El-Sheikh to Giza and Cairo.

Oddest Reason for a Bus Journey

I also asked people about the oddest reason for a bus journey. Ann Angel Vernon noted that, when they needed a new kitchen sink, they either had to walk to get it or go by bus, as they had no car. The “bus was the winner“.

Bus Strike

In July 1957, grandad noted that there was a bus strike and that dad had had to go to work on the train. During that same bus strike, while mum and dad were away on holiday, Renie came to help grandma in the shop. She came by train and grandma took her home in the car.

One of the main concerns of newspaper and television coverage of this strike was the violence that occurred. According to the BBC, this violence was directed by those on strike against drivers and vehicles breaking the strike. The strike started on Saturday 20 July, the date noted by grandad, and affected around 100,000 “busmen” who were asking for a £1 per week pay rise. By 23 July, employers were only offering an additional three shillings a week.

The effects of the strike were being minimised through car-pooling, use of trains, which is what dad did, and use of private or work-based coaches. Apparently, by 27 July, an Industrial Disputes Tribunal had proposed a rise of 11 shillings per week which was accepted by the employers. Presumably, this was then accepted by the unions and workers as the strike ended on the 28^th. On the 29^th, grandad noted that the bus strike had ended at midnight on Sunday (28^th) and that “buses [were] running today”.

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An Incident in Kirkby

Strike-Related

In September 1957, a news article reported on a court case in Mansfield regarding events which had happened in Kirkby during the bus strike. Six men were charged with offences related to trying to stop a private coach from running. The six men – Albert Clifford Taylor, Derek Easom, Colin Bond, Eric Orange, Horace William Viggers and Cyril Brentnall – were all employed by Trent Motor Traction Company.

The Driver’s Allegations

The coach in question was owned by L Evans (East Kirkby) Ltd. It was driven by Arthur Sidney Evans with Kenneth Alcock as co-driver. At the time of the incident, the bus had no passengers. The prosecution alleged that the men broke one of the bus windows and used a motor cycle to try to block the road. Although the bus got past, the motor cycle again tried to force the bus to stop and there was a collision. Reportedly, Albert Taylor then seized Arthur Evans round the neck before Kenneth Alcock pushed him off. The bus was continuing to travel when a second motor cycle tried to force it to stop. Another stone was thrown through a window of the bus. The bus then went to Kirkby police station.

Denials

However, in another article, the men denied this version of events. They said they only wished to ask the driver peacefully not to poach on Trent routes. Albert Taylor admitted to a “flash of temper” when the motor cycle was hit by the bus. He agreed that he put his arm round the driver’s neck but denied using violence or trying to impede the coach. He also said that he left the bus voluntarily. Five of the men were acquitted of all charges. Albert Taylor was fined £10 for using threatening behaviour. He was also ordered to pay £8 15s costs.

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A Cave-in on Low Moor Road

In September 1957, grandad noted that buses and cars had had to come along Welbeck Street because of a “cave in” on Low Moor Road.

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Midland General Buses Stopped Running Along Welbeck Street

Grandad also noted, in February 1958, that the Midland General Buses stopped running along Welbeck Street. I am not sure if this still related to the subsidence on Low Moor Road or related to the bus service more generally, i.e. there used to be a bus route up Welbeck Street and this stopped.

Early Sixties

In October 1963, when grandma and grandad moved from Kirkby to Norwich, they did so by bus. In July 1962, when we were visiting Kirkby, grandma and Tricia went by bus to Jean Robinson’s wedding at Trinity Methodist Church.

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Memories of Bus Journeys

In response to the pictures from the AA book, a number of contributors on Facebook described their experiences of bus travel.

Running After the Bus

Jonathan Evans noted, “I used to love running after the bus and jumping on to the rear platform as it was picking up speed. The safety rail could almost have been designed for this very purpose. Another good trick was to jump off as the bus slowed to a halt, good fun until you collided with a concrete lamppost! On the downside, the wind really howled through, especially in winter. I recall one awful trip from Mansfield on the “12A” at the beginning of the great winter freeze of ,1962/3. The bus stopped at Westgate for 15 minutes while everyone froze. Luxury – as Monty Python might have said!“

Trips and Outings

Maureen Harris noted, “Only time we used bus was for holidays or train then occasionally to Nottingham shopping with mum otherwise walked everywhere . Then regular when I started work in 1957 not many people with cars them days”. A number of people recalled trips and outings by bus. Kevin Charles noted that manual workers used to have a day trip out on an annual day off paid for by the Council. He managed to go on some of these trips if they weren’t full but he had to pay.

Children were Half Fare

Ivan Braddow recalled that children, who only paid half fare, used to give up their seats for adults. He noted that that does not happen anymore. However, Anne Brown recalled travelling with her grandson, aged 8/9, to Whitby. He gave up his seat to a woman on a single-decker bus in Scarborough. He did this without being asked. That was around 2012.

Drivers and Conductors

Bob Reed noted that the bus services of the 1950s were much more comprehensive than now. He noted that, “each bus had a driver and a conductor!! “Tickets please!!”“

Trent Buses

Trent Motor Traction Company

Established in 1913, the Trent Motor Traction Company operated a number of bus services in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. It expanded through the 1930s. In 1969, it became part of the National Bus Company. But, in 1989, as part of privatisation, it was sold. It merged with Barton Transport in 2005 and now operates as Trentbarton. 

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Other Trent Buses

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A New Route

In June 1947, grandad noted that there was a new Trent Bus route running through Kirkby. This was a service between Nottingham and Chesterfield and it came along Diamond Avenue.  

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Memories of Trent Buses

84 and 63

In a comment on Facebook, Joan Morley noted that she used to catch the Trent 63 bus from Nottingham City Hospital in 1968/69. She recalled that she “got off at Hoggs Lane if I’d missed the 84 bus“. Helen Jay recalled that the 84 bus came from Sutton via Old Kirkby and Station Street. It then went up Kingsway and via Hucknall to Nottingham. The 63 was referred to as the “fast route“. It ran less frequently and had fewer stops.

Joan Morley explained that both buses took the same route from Nottingham through Hucknall. However, at Four Lane Ends, the 63 turned right and went up Diamond Avenue to Chesterfield. On the other hand, the 84 turned left along Station Street and then on to Sutton. She noted that the latter route is the same as the 3B bus currently.

Other Services

Michael Richardson recalled that only two red Trent buses came through Kirkby, both running between Nottingham and Mansfield. These were the “84 direct run to Huntingdon Street and 61 round about route through Annesley Woodhouse and Newstead to Mount Street in Nottingham“. Lyndon Lowe clarified that the 84 was from Sutton. Others recalled other services including 61A (Paul Madin and Brian Cooke), 61B (Brian Cooke) and 63 (Geoffrey Whetton). Geoffrey Whetton noted that the 63 bus was later numbered X53. However, Tom Bonser recalled that the X53 ran from Sheffield to Nottingham while the 63 ran from Chesterfield to Nottingham. Brian Cooke noted that the 61B terminated at the junction of Southwell Lane and Hawthorn Crescent in Kirkby.

Round the Houses

Royston Nixon noted “The 84 took the more direct route too and from Mansfield Nottingham. The 61 went round the houses covering the estates and outlying villages… These when buses had a pole on the rear corner of the bus to help folk on and off along with conductors they continued up to the time of front entry auto doors and no conductors.“

Childhood Memories

Liz Shirley recalled “I remember in 60s being put on the 61 or 61a at the bottom of Greenwood Drive & my mamma would meet me in Nuncargate, presumably in school holidays. Sometimes my uncle was the driver, Bruce Ingall, but the conductor would always keep an eye on me!“

Always on Time

Richard Cooper noted that the 61 and 84 were always on time. Daphne Cantrill agreed. She noted, “I caught the 61 from the bottom of Cemetery Drive on Skegby Rd to go to school in Mansfield for 5 years and was never once late! I bet it wouldn’t happen now.”

Getting to Work

John Froggatt recalled, “I used to catch the Trent bus to work in Nottingham in the early 1980s. The same people sitting in the same seats everyday. The bus was usually full by the time it got to the Badgerbox. Unless some got off it never stopped in Hucknall. The bus was at Kirkby Cross 08.05 latest we ever got into Victoria center old bus station was 08.50. It can now takes that long to get along Derby Road.“

Before Speed Bumps

Rebecca Roulston recalled a Trent bus that used to “bomb it down Glenside before parking issues and speed bumps were a thing. If you sat upstairs at the front it was like being on a ride.” Lindsay Eastwood remembered “getting a half fare on the way to Mansfield on a night out.”

Skills Buses

This company was established in 1919 in Nottingham and is still operational. In June 1954, mum went to Matlock with Sunday School. They went with two Skills double decker buses. In a comment on Facebook, Chris Yates confirmed thy are still running. They run services in Derby and for National Express but they mainly do private hire/coach holidays. Alwyn Bowskill confirmed this and noted that the last trip he took with them was to Germany.

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Hall Brothers

This was a South Shields bus company that ran a bus service from Coventry to South Shields from the 1930s. They were acquired by Barton Transport in 1967.  In September 1954, when mum and dad went to visit Dorothy Lofthouse in Stokesley, they went by Hall Brothers’ bus from Mansfield to Darlington.

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Memories of Hall Brothers

A number of contributors on Facebook recalled this bus company and this route. Stephen Nuttall noted that he used them every year when going on holiday to his grandparents near Sunderland. Martin Kirk noted that, when he was a child, his neighbour’s daughter and family used to get it to go to South Shields from Mansfield. Maureen Gill used it in the early sixties “when we came to live here, when the miners were transferred, then to visit family back in the north east”. Michael Richardson remembered it well. He noted that, “For many years in the early 50s, aged about 12, used to be put on the bus at Mansfield and go through to the Cock o the North pub at Neville’s Cross, to be picked by my Aunt and Uncle for the Durham Miners Gala.“

Malcolm Rush recalled using the bus to go to Wrekenton to visit his aunt for a week. He noted, “We’d stand at Mansfield, Leeming Street with our parents and at about 12.30 the coaches started arriving. I think my Dad looked for reasonable seats before getting on. He’d say, “not this one, we’ll wait for another”. There was an hour stop at Doncaster then another stop at Leeming Bar. I think it was about 5.5 to 6 hours to Newcastle. Some delays used to be incurred during the dualling of the A1. The drivers all had brown colour uniforms and I remember Dad pointing out one coach he called a “chinese six” – it had 3 axles with two front steering axles.“

Butler’s Buses

This bus company, based in Vernon Road, Kirkby, is still operating.

Trip to Wicksteed Park

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Memories of Butler’s Buses

The Blidworth Run

In comments on Facebook, Sue Broughton commented that it was the only company to do “the Blidworth Run! Nag, Larch Farm, Forest Folk“. She and others, including Iain Cameron, noted using it frequently. Michael Hurt commented that he used it when he first started work. Phil Buxton noted that his father drove that bus. Sue Broughton commented that they had to push it up No Man’s Hollow several times. Phil agreed that the buses often broke down in the sixties. He recalled his dad saying “get your big coat we’re going for a bus ride.” He also noted that, “my mum even packed me sandwiches. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t sure we were coming back“. Apparently, Sue Broughton used the bus for school. She and her friends nicknamed the bus the “sardine can“.

Forest Folk

Lesley Barfoot recalled catching the Butler’s bus from Blidworth to Kirkby “with my mum to see an auntie and uncle in Kirkby I can always remember the trains running across station Street.” Steve Davies used the same bus every school day for two years. He noted that if he missed the bus he was always late. Tracy Black recalled using the service to go horse riding. Derek Taylor recalled that his first drunken night, as a 16-year old, involved a Butler’s bus to and from the Forest Folk pub in Blidworth. Others, including Robert Cheetham, Linda Ulyatt and Colin J Gitsham, also recalled using the bus to get home from the Forest Folk.

Anne Orwin noted that she used to pay 1p when she went home for lunch from school. She noted that, “Mr Butler dropped me off outside our house and picked me up on his way back to Kirkby from Blidworth.”

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Patricia Iris Lee Sheen recalled getting the Butler’s bus with her mother, “we’d get off before the big crossroads at the A60 and walked a long way to sneak into Newstead Abbey grounds”. Ingrid Victor remembered doing that too. Charles Reynard referred to that route as “up the ladder and over the wall“.

Other Routes

Darren Allcock recalled a Butler Brothers’ route that went “round Annesley, Nuncargate, Kirkby, Sutton and Mansfield and back.” Geoffrey Shaw recalled that they ran buses from Sutton to Bentinck pit and from Annesley ‘Stute on Saturday nights. He noted using both services. Ann Hill noted that, “in the late 60s through early 70s the Butlers bus stopped outside the Trinity Church on Diamond Ave, it went across Derby Road into Mansfield and stopped outside The Victoria Hotel. I caught it most nights.” Paul Wood noted that, in the fifties, when he lived in Clumber Street, it cost one and a half pennies from town centre to Clumber Street.

Elizabeth Smith remembered “when they ran the bus to Mansfield. Used to catch it instead of Trent. When you came to Kirkby they used to change drivers on Victoria road end of Hampden street. I think it got stopped because the aisle were not wide enough. Butlers always took the children’s outings from the Frankfort after the trains stopped running.”

School Buses

Other contributors on Facebook, such as Roger Wakefield, Patricia Hodgson Bullimore and June Canham, recalled that Butler’s supplied their school bus. June remembered being picked up in Newstead village to go to Mowlands Secondary School in 1954. Ken Tomlinson recalled using Butler’s buses to get to Sutton swimming baths from Jeffries Junior School for swimming lessons in the late sixties. Isabel Timmins remembered being picked up from Kirkby Woodhouse school to go to the old swimming baths in Hucknall in the early fifties. Nick Martin recalled school trips and that “when you hit the seat a cloud of dust came out“.

Pop Bang

John Webster recalled the destination sign to Fishpool which is now called Ravenshead. John Froggatt recalled that people always sang, after trips on Butler’s buses, “Oh you’ll never get heaven…on a Butler’s bus…” Lynne Orrell noted that they used to call the buses “Butler’s pop bang” because of the noise they made going up Diamond Avenue. Bet-Bet Phillips recalled that, during the war, Butler’s had one bus with wooden slatted seats.

Trips and Outings

Railway Club

Graham Upchurch noted that he used Butler’s buses to get from Sutton to Bentinck colliery in the sixties. They also used them for their Railway club trips. John Froggatt noted, “as a child when we went a trip from St Wilfrid”s Church or the cubs we always used Butler’s buses. My mum’s friend Mary Buttler lived not far Butler’s bus depot on Bannerman Road. For many years I thought the buses were hers and was very confused when I was told they weren’t.”

Fishing Trips

Tony Wilson noted that Morris, the driver, often took them on fishing trips. Brian Cooke noted that “Summit miners welfare Angling used Butlers buses.”

Cities and the Coast

Janet Poole noted that she goes to York with them every year. Sue Hardy recalled trips to Skegness, Bridlington and Blackpool.

Kirkby Old Band Trips

Dot Grice remembered that, from about 1953, she used to go out with them with Kirkby Old Band to numerous places where they were playing. Tom Butler drove the bus most of the time. His wife Lilian often came on those trips.

Pantomimes

Sharon Ellis recalled that her grandmother used to organise trips on Butler’s. She recalled going to pantomimes in Coventry and Birmingham and that she “used to love those outings“.

Frankfort House Club Day Trips

Sue Hardy recalled, “As a child we always had Butlers buses to take the Frankfort House Club on its day trip. They would line up outside the club on Victoria Road on a Sunday Morning as we were loaded with crates of pop and boxes of crisps for the Kids. Always a stop on the way back for the adults to have a drink, before getting back to the club around 8pm, think my last trip was about 1978 to Blackpool.”

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Sunday and Other Trips

Bet-Bet Phillips recalled, “my dad was a friend of Tom’s and he very often hired a bus on Sundays to take trips out. Tom used to drive. If he wanted a night off with Flo with us Stan Jinks would take us. Dad also took trips to Blackpool. Flo also joined us. Mum and dad used to go to Stirlands club on Morley street so most of the people that went on his trips were from there and their children of course. This was the 40s. I can remember telling Robert that we were the first to take him to Blackpool. We took him while Flo was pregnant and next year when he was a baby.

We always went the first weekend. I have a few photos of the buses out on trips my mum in the driving seat on one… she couldn’t drive. When we came home on a trip Tom used to pull up on the road side and say ladies to the left gents to the right and no looking under the bus no toilets in those days. Tom also took me to church when I got married then picked Flo and Robert up to come to the reception. Many happy memories of Butlers.”

Coach Trips Today

Butler’s still offer coach trips. For example, in February 2024, Will Graham Allcock commented, “went on a day trip with them yesterday to bury market… good day out.“

Working for Butler’s

Drivers

Colin Parker recalled that his cousin, Les Harris, drove for them. Alice Margaret Green recalled that her father “used to do work on this bus”. Ian Chappell noted that his grandmother, Dorothy Chappell, worked as a secretary for Butler’s. She “organised day trips out , of which I went on many. She would take her poodle dog Cindy with her.” Nona Sheriston also remembered the day trips organised by Dorothy Chappell. CarlandSuzanne Bowler noted that their grandfather, Len Brown, used to drive for Butler’s buses. Lynne Orrell recalled that her uncle Newell Butler drove for them. Apparently, he used to take Lynne’s aunt to Ravenshead and Fishpool to see her boyfriend. But, they ended up getting together instead and then getting married! Leanne Summes noted that her father drove for them for over 30 years.

Stan Jinks

Tina Cheetham commented that “Stan Jinks was my grandad. He started with Butlers as a young man with Raymond Butler. My dad Alan Jinks also drove for Butlers for many years.”

Bet-Bet Phillips replied, “Stan was a lovely man. He used to love going out with us. He was still going to Butlers when we came back to live near them 22 years ago.” She continued “He came and helped Robert to clean the buses when they came in at night not something they do now. I used to see him come by to go for a cup of tea and a chat in the office always smartly dressed. Robert said he had to stop him working as he was getting old but he was welcome to come anytime.

Ray took over when Tom stopped but I don’t think he really wanted it but passed away young as did Robert whom I got to know quite well when we came here to live. I asked if they picked up home to go on trips and he said no so I said I wouldn’t go with them then so he asked where I live and I said across the road. He laughed. I used to go on a lot of trips with the homesteads at the time with them but the driver wouldn’t drop me off if we went by home. He used to take me to homesteads and drop me off on the other corner and said I wasn’t going to have a heart attack because I had not had any exercise because of him.”

History

June Canham noted that the firm had been started by three Butler brothers in the 1940s. Bet-Bet Phillips recalled that their base “used to be coal merchant before bus company started picking miners up on back of lorry if they had missed bus to Bentinck pit later had bus Tom took me to church when I got married he was a very good friend of my dad’s.” Carol Anne Clay confirmed this story noting that it was her great grandmother who had started the company “taking Miners to work on a horse waggon”.

Leanne Summes noted, “Robert and Ray Butler where the two brothers then Stan Jinks and his sons and eventually his grandson worked there Les Moore, Peter, Morris who live on Victoria Rd.” Royston Nixon noted that Maurice Butler was the coalman and the buses were run by Rob Butler senior. Royston remembered Maurice as he used to bring the coke to Birds butchers for the boilers. Vivien Easom noted that “the family ran a group of separate but interrelated companies including coal haulage, general haulage/removals, leisure/work transport, house building: My mum and Grandma Brown told us that “Aunt Mariah” was the business brains behind all if this.”

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The Butler Family

A Well-Remembered Family

Some contributors recalled members of the Butler family. For example, Michael Hurt remembered Susan Butler living on Kingsway. He commented that “we all played together when we was young“. Anna Richardson noted that her grandmother was sister to the Butler brothers. Royston Nixon noted that Maurice Butler lived on Victoria Road opposite the Frankfort Club.

Vivien Easom recalled that her family had lived at 62-64 Vernon Road, next to Butler’s office and depot. Her understanding was that her great grandfather had had the houses built. Two of her great grandfathers were cousins to the Butlers.

Bet-Bet Phillips recalled, “Tom lived on Victoria road opposite the post office. The house with the plaque is now the office. Parkers shop was on the opposite corner. There is a building behind the bungalow that was Parkers where he put the vans and they did electric repairs. Mr Parker built the bungalow and had a gate in the wall so that he could cut through to the work shop. I had my first TV from him when we lived on Cookson street 1960. From what I was told they started picking men up on the coal lorry on the way to Bentinck pit early morning if they had missed the bus. They later started the buses. I remember during the war they had one with wooden slatted seats we used to go to Little John on it Sunday nights sometimes“.

Family Memories

Jamie Butler commented, “What great memories you all have… I don’t know that much more unfortunately. I remember the drivers from the 80s and also Stan Jinks and Maurice Allen.“ He continued “I think my Grandad Tom Butler died before I was born. I have fond memories of the drivers like Dave Summers and Dennis Peter Corbett when I was a kid and also when I started working there. Also worked with Stan when I was just starting mechanics at Butler Brothers in the mid 90’s. Still get people come in the office now telling me stories of going to the Forest Folk at Blidworth on the bus.”

Joe Butler commented, “I’ve just spent some time following the link you posted and reading all the memories people have about Butler Brothers. Thank you so much for collating that all together. As Bob’s daughter it was so lovely to learn things about older generations of my family that I didn’t even know, and I’m sure my brother Jamie feels the same.” She also kindly included a photograph, of Tom and his wife when they got married, and a news article.

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Three Brothers

I am grateful to everyone who contributed memories of the Butler family, particularly family members themselves, including Joe and Jamie Butler. Apparently, the three brother who started the firm were Frank (b1897), Fred (b1903) and Thomas Charles (Tom) (b1908). Their parents were Charles and Rebecca. Charles was described as a council scavenger. By 1911, the family were living at 60 Vernon Road. There were other siblings, Maud (b1892), Jack (b1894), Ethel (b1899) and Florence (b1911). At least one of the sisters, Florence, worked in the business. Tom’s sons, Robert and Raymond (Ray) continued to run the business. Tom’s children Jamie and Joe worked in the business and Jamie runs it currently. Susan (Sue) Butler is Ray’s daughter. Stan Jinks and Maurice Allen were not related to the Butlers but worked for them for many years.

A Tragic Accident

Sadly, Daryl Lees noted that his mother’s younger brother, Frank Norman Greasley, was killed by a Butler’s bus in Annesley Woodhouse in February 1941. He was 3½ years old.

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Midland General Buses

Midland General Buses were established by Balfour Beatty in 1920 and operated until 1969 when they became part of the National Bus Company and, in 1972, they were merged with Trent Buses and the Midland General name was no longer used. Details of the Midland services operating in 1969 are included in the Kirkby Directory of that year (p55).

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Memories of Midland Buses

Working on Midland Buses

In a comment on Facebook, Joan Morley noted that her father had been a conductor on Midland General buses. She recalled, “he was involved in an accident in the late 1950s ,I don’t know where it was but I know the the bus tuned over and landed on a hedge and my dad was on top deck and as he tried to get up the bus went right over several passengers as well as my father were injured. The General bus didn’t start running up Glenside until way after 1964 as I moved up there 1964 and the road wasn’t done.

Triggering Memories

David Meredith started a post on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group with a photo of the B7 bus heading to Ripley. This triggered a lot of memories.

B7

Some contributors specifically remembered the B7 bus. For example, Margaret Murray and Angela Barnard used it to get to school. Michael Richardson noted that it went round the Coxmoor area of Kirkby and then to Selston via Old Kirkby. Rob Bradford used to catch the B7 right outside the sheds every school day between September 1967 and July 1970 going from Kirkby to Mansfield. Geoff Chapman recalled getting the B7 to Ripley and then the X2 to Stockport. He recalled that, “quite a few of these “Guy” omnibus had large bench seats upstairs. The access was via a sunken gangway at the top of the stairs. ” Keith Watson noted that his uncle, Samuel Smith Bodden, was a conductor on the B7. Angela Barnard’s father was also a conductor.

Other Routes

Those memories included reference to other Midland routes including B6 (Patricia Yates, Lynn Pustelnik, Pat Watterson, Michael Richardson, Susan Sparkes, David Jeacock), C2 (Martin Kirk, Patricia Iris Lee Sheen, Mary A Rowe, Robin Brad Braddow, John Froggatt, Carole Britton), E6 (Paul Madin, Carole Britton, Donna Lancashire) and F1 (Pat Watterson, Michael Richardson, Glenys Hufton, Lesley Rabbitt). Patricia Iris Lee Sheen recalled that some of the C2s had long bench seats upstairs with the aisle at the side. She noted that “the roof was so low even us kids had to bend down.” Donna Lancashire remembered that “E6 broke down one year on Rowan Drive Kirkby.”

Excursions

David Herberts also recalled that Midland General used to offer excursions from the Nag’s Head on a Sunday. “We got tickets from the off-licence shop on the corner of Lowmoor Road and Diamond Avenue. They where mostly mystery trips. My Grandma used to take me.“

Frequent Services

John Froggatt noted that he now hardly ever seems to see buses running. They used to be every 20 minutes when he first lived by the cross and they became every half hour. He recalled “lots of memories catching the last bus home from Mansfield at 22.45 slight worse for wear“.

Bench Seats

David Alcock and John Smith recalled that the upstairs front seat was a bench seat. David Meredith recalled that sometimes all the seats were bench seats.

Working for Midland

Sharon Farr noted that her uncle, Ken Orton, had been a bus conductor. Patricia Yates noted that her father had been a conductor for Midland for many years. Keith Watson recalled that his uncle Sam was a conductor on Midland General. Neil Davis noted that his father, Dave Davis, was a driver for Midland Garage. Pat Watterson noted that her uncle, Eric Baldwin, was a driver for Midland General. Dave Baldwin noted that Eric Baldwin was his grandfather and that he used to drive the B6 and did days out in the summer.

Midland General: A Group and a Brand

Ivan Braddow thought that the F1, E6, B6 and B7 were operated by a company called Mansfield District Midland General. It seems that there was a Midland General Group which was owned by Balfour Beatty and had three “brands” – Midland General, Notts & Derby and Mansfield District. 

Truman’s Buses

Truman’s was a private bus company in Shirebrook that operated from 1919 to 1956 and later became part of East Midland Transport. Mum and dad organised the Sunday School outing to Wicksteed Park. They did this using Truman’s buses.

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Evans’ Buses

Mentioned in the Diaries

In October 1955, mum went on a chapel trip to Blackpool. She noted that they travelled by Evans bus. Initially, I did not find details of this company. I noted that grandad’s brother-in-law, Arthur Evans, operated one or more buses but this was earlier than this.

Yard on Portland Street

In discussion on Facebook, Paul Madin noted that the Evans family had a big yard on Portland Street in the fifties and sixties. John Webster noted that he worked as a lorry driver for Lewis Evans’ transport company in the late sixties. He thought they might have operated buses before he started working for them. David Herberts recalled Evans garage on Portland Street. He noted that “he had lorries and one or two buses. I’m not sure but he took us to Blackpool? I can remember, when we went up hill, black smoke was bellowing out of the back side of the [bus] and my dad muttering we aren’t going to get there. That will be about 1954 or 55.”

Family Memories

Barbara Murden, Lewis W Evans’ niece recalled collecting fares on the way to Annesley pit in her uncle’s bus. She noted that there was not enough work for them and Butler’s so “we ended up with just the vans and lorries“. Also, she noted that her dad used to take a lot of bus trips to the coast and she would go with him. She commented that her uncle’s health was poor, so her father, Sid Evans, took the business on but “there was no sons to take it over so it was all sold“. John Milnes noted working for Lewis W Evans as a long-distance lorry driver.

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Lewis W Evans

Based on this, I found some details of Lewis W Evans. According to the 1939 Register, he was born in 1905 and was married to Florence. They were living in Gladstone Street, He was listed as a haulage contractor. His middle name was Wootton and he died in 1973. He married Florence Bowmar in 1930.

Legal Cases

In September 1947, Nottingham Traffic Court heard two applications to provide special bus services for miners. Both applications were opposed by Midland General. The case for Langton Colliery made by ATO Ltd was approved. However, a similar application for Bentinck Colliery made by Lewis W Evans was declined. The proposal had been to provide a bus service from the LMS station to Bentinck Colliery. I found another article referring to this company related to the 1957 bus strike.

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Barton Buses

In a comment on Facebook, John Harrison referred to a Barton bus that “from the Folly it went up Diamond Avenue, along Derby Road and then down Nottingham Road into Mansfield. I think Barton called it something like A1 or maybe A2.” However, Geoffrey Whetton did not recall any Barton buses in Kirkby. Daryl Lees commented that he had never heard of Barton buses until Trent merged with them after nationalisation had ended. Peter Herbert noted that Barton did not have Ashfield routes. Nick Martin thought they were coach company from “that side” of Nottingham. He was not sure why they merged with Trent.

I have also not come across any Barton buses in family diaries although I have come across the company because of later mergers.

Brian Cooke remembered using Barton buses to go to Nottingham Forest away matches in the late sixties. Christina Millward used to use Barton buses when travelling from Nottingham to Keyworth. She caught the bus in Broadmarsh bus station.

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National Bus Company

Using the 345

In discussion on Facebook, Gary Woodward recalled the double decker 345 to Nottingham on Saturday Football day. Sharon Ellis noted using the 345 to get to Sutton baths on a Saturday morning. Melanie Millington caught these buses from Kirkby Cross to get to school, sixth form college and to meet friends in Nottingham. Kirsty Colclough, Jane Wilson, Jonny Parsons, Dylan Holbrook, Dawn Geeson, TerrynSteph Moore, Gill Bennett and Liz Molloy also recalled using the 345 frequently. Lisa Jane Morton did too but she noted that it “took bloody hours to get there“.

A Mystery Tour via Everywhere

Caroline Greaves and Neil Grant commented that the 342 was quicker. Matthew Easom noted that it seemed to take forever to get to school on the 345. Ian Bignell summed up the length of this journey “the 345 was enough of a mystery tour back in the day. When I started driving I was amazed Nottingham was actually only 20 minutes away!” Mark Coburn commented “only time as a kid I got to go to notts was when I had appointments for my ear, so I always tried to get my mum on the 345. Made it a full day trip for me.” John Milnes, on his Flickr site, describes the 345 as a “long haul” and going “via everywhere“.

Route Details

Based on a comment by Alwyn Bowskill, these were National buses. The 345 replaced the old 61. Daryl Lees gave details of these buses all operated by National Buses [Trent].

• 342: Alfreton, Sutton, Kirkby, Nottingham
• 341: Chesterfield, Sutton, Kirkby, Nottingham
• 345: Mansfield, Sutton, Kirkby, Newstead, Nottingham

A Driver’s Memories

Ashley Pearson recalled that he drove the 345 when he first started at Trent Barton. He noted that John Milnes was his mentor, “great memories, great work mates too“.

Photographs

345

In Kirkby

Station Street

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Hartley Road

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Harcourt Street

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Southwell Lane

Turning from Kingsway?

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Kirkby Woodhouse

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In Nottingham

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In Mansfield

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In Hucknall

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In Sutton

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342

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341

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Leaflet and Route Map

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Models

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Delta Darts

A Price War

In a comment on Facebook, Rebecca Roulston recalled a bus company called Delta Darts from the nineties. She recalled that they engaged in a price war with Trent “but they still went under”. Heather Mulholland noted that “it became a very bitter war between the two bus companies. Trent countered the Delta Dart cheaper fares by cutting their prices to 5p for journeys to and from Mansfield and Nottingham and anywhere in-between. The Delta Dart couldn’t compete with Trent, when the Delta Dart folded, Trent put their fares back up. I think the Delta Dart was funded by a couple of miners who sank some of their redundancy into it.”

An Unwinnable Fight

Nick Martin commented that “if they weren’t having an unwinnable fight with Trent they might’ve survived. they were just a little company with a few small knackered buses which used to run slightly different routes than Trent round Sutton and Kirkby but had silly cheap fares which were never going to make them any money. They then upset Trent so Trent demolished them by giving even cheaper and sometimes free fares. They didn’t last long after that.”

A Battle of Fares

Daryl Lees summed up the issue, “Remember the times well – a battle of fares, buses going where no bus had dared go before, blocking each other in at stops and traffic… Of course it couldn’t and wouldn’t last – Trent cut their fares to a ridiculously low amount that people was leaving their cars because it was cheaper to travel from anywhere by all the different multiple routes Trent had put on.

Once they had beaten Delta buses into liquidation and got rid of the threat, the extra bus routes was removed and within days fares was back to the expensive prices they was and people was moaning. Instead of sticking with Delta, they chose Trent because their prices was cheaper but Trent was only doing it to get rid of Delta! Had the people stuck with Delta, then I think we would be in a much different place now with how Trent run and Delta would’ve thrived too and that would’ve been good for us all.”

Little Green Buses

Selina Brown noted that, “Delta Dart had little green buses, if they got to Sutton bus station without breaking down or bits falling off it was a miracle!! They were old and not looked after well but some days I could get from Hartley Rd to Sutton for about 30p.” Roberta Knight commented that, if you got stuck behind one, you knew about it as the fumes coming out were “disgusting“. Others, including Lindsay Eastwood, recalled using the service.

Photos and Articles

There is a Flickr group dedicated to photos of this bus company. I found a number of news articles related to the price war that Dart raged with Trent. This appears to have taken place between around April 1995 and February 1996.

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Bailey’s Coaches

Denis Cooper

Alwyn Bowskill messaged me to say that he recalled going on Denis Cooper’s tours to concerts with Bailey’s coaches. Several contributors on Facebook recalled Denis Cooper including Heath Linacre, John Luigi Tuckwood, Georduos Huxwell and Steve Vallance. Steve noted that he was called “super coop“.

Memories of Baileys

Alwyn recalled that Baileys used to pick up in Hucknall, Kirkby, Sutton and Mansfield. Many other people remembered such trips, including Dave Baldwin and Stephanie Bonsall. Stephanie commented “We were only saying the other day how we missed them and it would good if they ran again. Great memories.“

Concerts Attended

Specific concerts people remembered included Earth, Wind and Fire (Jacqueline Kingswood), Queen (Gill Crisp and Sue Marriott), David Bowie (Gill Crisp and Sue Marriott), the Police (Gill Crisp), Barry Manilow (Sheila Fowler, Sandra Payne and Patricia Castledine), Peter Gabriel (Liz Shirley), Robert Plant (Liz Shirley), Rolling Stones (Sandra Payne), Chris Rea (Sandra Payne), Michael Jackson (Patricia Castledine), Bee Gees (Patricia Castledine), Phil Collins (Patricia Castledine), Lionel Ritchie (Patricia Castledine), Cliff Richard (Patricia Castledine), Billy Joel (Patricia Castledine), Monsters of Rock (Ian Rowbottom and Johnny March), Anthrax (Ian Rowbottom), Metallica (Ian Rowbottom and Johnny March), Iron Maiden (Ian Rowbottom), WASP (Ian Rowbottom), AC/DC (Ian Rowbottom and Heath Linacre), Wham (Alison Young), Ozzy Osbourne (Johnny March), Alice Cooper (David Jeacock), Motorhead (Georduos Huxwell) and Celine Dion (Joan Morley).

England Football Matches

Rob J Hoult also recalled that they did trips to Wembley to see England football matches. Staff Paul Stafford recalled going to football matches with them. Sue Marriott recalled getting on the bus in Mansfield at “shoe co steps“. Keith Watson recalled being picked up at the Woolpack. Denise Phillips recalled them taking her to work. Melanie Millington noted that they also ran school trips.

Working for Baileys

Carol Banner recalled that the driver’s name was Trev. Leslie T Bramley recalled driving for the company including for concerts, taking people to work and a Shirebrook run. Mandy Ruckledge noted that her father was a driver for the company. Mark Coburn recalled that he and a friend used to work for them on Saturday mornings cleaning buses back in the eighties. Joan Morley noted that Trevor Bailey still lives at the old garages on Forest Street. This was confirmed by Steve Vallance. Joan had worked with Trevor Bailey from 2019 to 2021 as a passenger assistant doing school runs taking children with special needs to school. At that time, “he only had a mini bus which he now had it converted into a camper van“.

Limited Documentary Evidence

However, I had some difficult finding evidence of this company not least because there are a number of bus companies with this name. I did find details of a Trevor Bailey Travel Ltd based in Forest Street Kirkby and I believe this is the company in question.

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Maun Travel

While this company was mentioned on Facebook, initially I could not find many details about them although I did find Maun International Travel Consultants Ltd in Sutton that is said to offer coach hire. Alwyn Bowskill recalled that he went on a couple of trips with Maun “back in the day” to Paris and to Belgium. Their offices were on Outram Street in Sutton. They later became Maun International Travel.

I am grateful to Andy Bailey for guiding me to a Facebook page related to Maun Travel. This explains that the company operated as a coach company from 1981 to 2004. Stephen Read expands, “Maun originally started as a Travel Consultancy in the early 70s, founded by my father Alan Read. His own coaches came in 1981 after previously working closely with East Midland Motor Services (1959-1975, ie inc. pre-Maun days) and Redfern Travel (1975-1980). Maun still functioned as a Travel Consultancy right up to 2006 when Alan passed away. Indeed the last tours operated some six months after his death as I ensured all his commitments were met before the company was closed.” There are quite a number of photos on this Facebook group.

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Tagg’s Coaches

Coaches Called Helen Jane

I don’t believe they were mentioned in the diaries but I did come across them in one of the accidents described above, They are still operating. Contributors on Facebook had several memories of Tagg’s. Nina Grimshaw and Simon Clarke recalled that all their coaches were called Helen Jane. Nina thought these were the names of their daughters. Michael Richardson recalled that they were known locally as Tagg’s Tigers. He also noted that they had “some of the better coaches and more unusual destinations“. Brycaz Gascoigne recalled that they had a tiger’s head painted on the coaches.

Bilsthorpe Colliery

Geoffrey Shaw recalled that Taggs “did the pit run to Bilsthorpe colliery“. Apparently, Frank Scott, the landlord of the Shakespeare pub, was the main driver on that run. Eve Booth commented that she knew his daughter, Julie and Geoffrey Booth replied that the other daughter married his brother, Eric.

Forest Away Games and Other Foreign Travel

I am grateful to Alwyn Bowskill for guiding me to some photos of Tagg’s coaches on the Sutton-in-Ashfield Facebook Group. These photos appear to relate to travelling to Nottingham Forest away games including to Munich for the European Cup Final in 1979. Rob Hoult recalled using them to go to Mansfield Town away matches and that they “always broke down”.

Chris Yates recalled going to Northern Italy with them. He commented, “broke down on way, water pump went, one of our drivers went to butlers not long after.” It appears that Tagg’s may have had some financial arrangement with Mcewens Coaches of Mansfield but the company “went under” leaving some holiday makers stranded.

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Cartledge Coach Hire

Although this company has been mentioned on Facebook, I have found few details. Ann Hill mentioned them and thought they had been bought out by Baileys. Other contributors on Facebook had various memories of them. Ruth Elizabeth Long recalled that her aunt used to clean their buses. Helen Jay recalled that they offered “incredible value holidays“.

CarlandSuzanne Bowler recalled that they were based at the precinct or lived there. Specifically, “used to go in their minibus on Wednesday nights to help at the Red Cross Disabled Club held at Trinity Methodist Church. The bus used to go round collecting the people who attended. As I lived opposite one of these people, I was allowed to travel on it.” David Meredith commented that, before moving to the precinct, they used to live in Morley Street. “ I knew Alan well then he was Ron’s son, we were at school together. Hired a fifty six seater for my twenty first to take us to a nightclub in Coalville, Leicester.” Linda Knowles commented that Alan’s brother Delwyn had been in her class at school.

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Don March Coaches

Based on Forest Street

According to Annesley OC Heritage Extra Facebook page, Don March coaches was based on Forest Street. This was in the location where Vallance’s are based now. I am grateful to Frank Towns and Charles Reynard for explaining that this was originally a haulage yard first operated by Davisons and then Eric Meeks. Charles noted that, in the early to late fifties, his great uncle drove for Davisons transporting mainly meat. Charles lived next-door to the yard from 1952 to 1956.

Memories of Eric Meeks

Frank Towns recalled that Eric Meeks and his father used to “scour scrap yards for tyres for the old Atkinson’s, and one time I was mucking about In the garden behind the workshop and I found an old spearhead about 18inch long. Mr Meek’s told me to take it to school and find out its history. Turns out it was African/Zulu era it ended up in university history archives., wonder if it’s still there I was given a great day tour of the university.” He also recalled Eric Meeks as a lovely man, always with a pipe and very smart. As a result, he “looked more like an old vet than a haulier.“

Don March the Musician

A number of contributors on Facebook recalled Don March including Michael Richardson. Ian Chappell noted that Don March was also organist at Forest Street Baptist church and that Don gave him some tuition when he was learning to play. Heather Mulholland remembered that Don played the organ at her father’s funeral in the late nineties.

Remembering Don March Coaches

Some recalled Don March coaches. For example, Dot Grice noted using them on Friday nights to go to Tiffany’s in Sheffield. Liz Molloy recalled that, when she was little, she lived near them and used to watch the buses. She thought she remembered going to Matlock with them with her grandparents.

Julie Warren recalled that Don March coaches began life on Cricket Close in Nuncargate in the late sixties. Apparently, Don also had a garage on Pond Street. He moved with his family from Cricket Close to Forest Street in the early to mid-seventies.

Steve Vallance explained that “Don March ran out of Forest Street, after Meeks left, for many years. He is great friends with my dad, Graham Vallance. He eventually sold the coaches and the yard to Mick Mcpate who was trading in Nottingham as ladybird cars and coaches. Mick then moved in to the house and yard and traded as dml travel (don march ladybird) until he retired and sold the yard and garage to Trevor Bailey. Don is alive and well and is still a regular visitor to my dad’s.”

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Mansfield District

Mansfield (and) District were one of three major parts of the Midland General Omnibus Company owned by Balfour Beatty. The others were Midland General and Notts & Derby. It was the predominant operator in Mansfield and had a green and cream livery. It operated from a garage on Sutton Road which is still in use by Stagecoach.

I am grateful to Tom Hubbard for explaining on Facebook that Mansfield District, Midland General and Trent all operated out of a garage on Sutton Road in Mansfield. Mansfield District operated services “all over the area surrounding Mansfield including many services to the coalmines in the area.“

Daryl Lees remembered “the bus 101 from Mansfield Woodhouse to Huthwaite, which later became bus 1 (still is, as Stagecoach bought Mansfield District out after Nationalisation) and there was bus 106 from Mansfield to Sutton, via Leamington Drive estates. Sometimes, during nationalisation, Mansfield District would run some of Trent bus services like the 341 and 342, which ran into Derbyshire…” Sandra Carter noted that the number 1 bus goes past her bungalow. Glyn Scothern and Dawn Undy recalled that their fathers drove for them.

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Gittins

In a comment on Facebook, Ken Stimpson asked if anyone remembers Gittins buses Woodhouse. Andrew Collins wondered if they were the green one “behind coop funerals Mansfield on way to court house.” Ken Stimpson recalled that his father-in-law, Clarence (Jake) Smith used to drive for them. He noted that they had a garage at the “top of Coke Street, Woodhouse“.

I found an article about different bus companies on the Our Mansfield and Area website. John Duckmanton mentioned Gittins in the comments saying, “we also had a private Gittins buses garaged at the top of Sherwood St MW. We went on school trips from Yorke St school in Gittins boneshakers.” There are some photos of Gittins buses online.

Vallances

This company continues to operate noting that it has been in business for over 50 years. It was started by Graham Vallance in 1962 and was continued on by his son, Steve. Joan Bailey noted on Facebook that Steve Vallance keeps some of his coaches at the old Baileys garage on Forest Street. Steve Vallance confirmed that their current yard is located where Baileys were based after they moved from Byron Street.

Alwyn Bowskill referred to the company being based in Annesley Woodhouse. He noted that, “they run regular day trips from the local area as well as longer trips. Their vintage buses are a regular sight in the centre of Kirkby as they are used for Heritage days out.” One of these tours was advertised on Sutton Living Memory Facebook Group in December 2023. They administer a Facebook group focused on coach trips from Mansfield and Ashfield.

Alwyn Bowskill also recalled that Steve Vallance’s mother and father “used to drive us to the old swimming baths in Sutton for lessons from old Annesley Woodhouse School.”

A number of contributors on Facebook have positive memories of the Vallance family and their coaches. These include Frank Towns, Robert Lamb, Karen Kirkham and Darren Allcock. Bob Reed recalled teaching Steve Vallance.

Wass Brothers

I have seen mention of this bus company but have found few details. Apparently, they were taken over by East Midland in 1958. It seems they operated services from Mansfield to Clipstone, Edwinstowe and Ollerton. The livery was half maroon and half dark red. Apparently, their garage is currently used by Johnson Brothers/Redfern Travel.

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East Midland Motor Services

East Midland Motor Services became a subsidiary of National Bus Company and this was purchased by Stagecoach East Midland in 1989. There is a photo album dedicated to East Midland Motor Services on Flickr.

Tom Hubbard commented on Facebook that the company was started in 1920 by W.T. Underwood and was originally based in Clowne Derbyshire. The company was renamed East Midlands Motor Services in 1927 with its headquarters in Worksop and then to Chesterfield in 1930. Its original livery was brown and yellow, later with a cream band. It adopted the dark red livery in 1955. They shared the garage on Sutton Rd Mansfield with Midland General, Mansfield District and Trent. He recalled them “running Bristol REs and VRs“.

John Wag Harris noted that East Midland also had a depot on Chesterfield Road next to the technical college. He also commented that the only service that came through Kirkby was the 12A which was a shared service with the Trent 63. It ran from Nottingham to Chesterfield once per hour. He explained that it followed the 84 service route to the Nag’s Head then went up Diamond Avenue to Mansfield via the A611 then on to Glapwell and Chesterfield.

John Milnes explained that, in the mid-eighties, Trent and East Midland shared the 241 route with Trent having three workings and East Midlands one.

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Mark Kempin

I encountered this name through a photo by John Milnes in which they were operating the 148 service. I have found a number of other photos online but, as yet, no description. Chris Yates commented that they used to do the 141 service.

Mcewen’s Coaches

This Mansfield company was mentioned in relation to Tagg’s. It appears that it is still operating and that it may be connected to Skills coaches. Chris Yates commented on Facebook that McEwen’s were based on the Millenium Business Park in Mansfield. His understanding was they they were sold to Skills.

Dudley’s Coaches

Based on a comment by Keith White on Facebook, Dudley’s coaches were based on Station Road in Sutton. I found some details of Elam Dudley on the Sutton-in-Ashfield Facebook Group. It seems he may also have run taxis, wedding cars and even a hearse. In comments, Rob Eyre recalled weekend coach trips to the coast with the liberal club. Steven Padley recalled that they had a contract to take schools to the swimming baths.

DML Travel

I am grateful to Steve Vallance for explaining that Mick McPate took over what is now Vallance’s yard when Don March coaches ceased to operate. He was trading in Nottingham as Ladybird cars and coaches. So, he operated from Forest Street as dml (don march ladybird) travel until he retired and sold the yard and garage to Trevor Bailey. John Richards recalled that Mick McPate had run a couple of buses from there after Don March.

Leah Buses

I am grateful to Kathleen White and Les Heath for drawing my attention to Leah buses. According to Les, they “were based at Huthwaite and were heavily involved in school runs. Three buses a day went from Huthwaite via Mansfield or Kirkby to schools in Newark on Trent. This was in the 1950s, early 60s and I went to school on one of them. Surprisingly I remember the registration of one began with EF and one with FJF. They took pupils to Newark boys grammar school and the girls’ high school. Of course they also ran day trips to seaside resorts.“

Special Buses During World War 2

In August 1941, Gracie Fields and boxer Len Harvey came to Blidworth. Grandad did not go but he noted that he “watched the folks crushing for Blidworth buses Gracie Fields & Len Harvey were at Blidworth”. Len Harvey is mentioned in the book by Gerald Lee called “Kirkby-in-Ashfield Yesterday Remembered” (on p76). Lee, a boxing fan, noted seeing him in the film “Excuse My Glove” at the Star. He also wrote to him and received an autographed photo. He does not mention Harvey’s visit to Blidworth but perhaps he was serving in the Armed Forces at that point.

I am grateful to Blidworth & District Historical & Heritage Society and their secretary Jayne Williams for permission to use this description and these pictures of the event in Blidworth in 1941 that grandad described but did not attend.

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Wartime Rules

Apparently, one of the rules during the second world war was that if more than six people were waiting for a bus, they were required to form a queue, see Chapter 31.

Bus to School

In the late 1940s, mum attended Nottingham High School for Girls. She mostly went there by bus. However, there were times, particularly in the winter of 1946/47, when the bus could not make the journey because of the weather. Mum also missed odd days of schooling when the weather was particularly foggy.

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Winter of 1947 in Detail

On 27 January 1947, mum noted that only ten girls in her form had made it to school. By the next day, the number was down to nine and mum noted that the bus skidded twice coming home from school.  The next day mum stayed home herself and she heard from her friends that the number of girls in her form had reduced to seven. She had two more days off because of the snow and then returned to school on Friday 31 January along with 11 others in her form. But, there was more snow over the weekend and she missed at least one more day of school in the first week of February.

That same year, on 26 February, mum set off for school but had to return as the bus could not get up Mutton Hill. She did manage to get into Nottingham that day with grandma, perhaps by train (but did not go to school!). On 5 March, something similar happened but on this occasion, she was unable to get into Nottingham by train. She noted that there were no buses or trains and this meant they missed going to the Theatre Royal to see “Just William”. Mum noted that her friend Valerie [Frith] had gone to school and had only got home at 5.45 am the next morning!.

Memories of Weather Disruptions

Winter of 1947

In comments on Facebook, Heather Mulholland referred to the winter of 1947 specifically, “my mother worked for Boots in their offices in Nottingham. I remember her telling me that in 1947 the snow was so bad the buses had stopped running between Nottingham and Kirkby so she had to walk back to Kirkby. The snow and drifting was worst around City Hospital as she made her way up the hill towards the hill up from the hospital. When she got home, she lived at the top of David Street on the small holdings, it was a case of a quick bite to eat and some sleep. It was back to work the next day as the buses were running again.“

General Memories

Sue Broughton noted that the road between Kirkby and Fishpool was notoriously bad for drifting snow between Blidworth Road houses and Salt Box Hall. She recalled that Butlers always managed to get through but often had help from passengers! Also, she recalled, “the other way up Norman’s Hollow usually meant we got out and pushed.” She noted that it was exciting for schoolchildren. Tony Robertson recalled that his mother often told the story, whenever it snowed, of having to get off a bus at the bottom of Mutton Hill to help push it up in icy weather,

January 1963

John Harrison recalled that he “used the Trent 61 bus to go to school in Mansfield and for three days in January 1963 the snow was so bad with drifts of several feet that there were no buses. On the third day my father was driving into Mansfield and we managed to get there via Derby Road, but in some places we had to weave between the drifts. By the evening the buses were running so I got home OK.“

1978/79

Steffie Richards recalled seeing “a Trent bus almost covered with snow and falling into a ditch too around the Underwood/Bagthorpe area in around 1978/9. The snow was level with the top of the hedges which stood on banks – cars completely covered and people trapped in them having to climb out of the sunroof!”

A Driver’s Perspective

Andrew Collins gave a driver’s perspective noting that they always tried to get round all stops. He recalled a specific incident in 1999/2000, “I drove the 45 and was told to come back. But I thought about all the people waiting so did most I could and told others who were waiting to go the other way that there was no bus. Luckily we got back safe.”

Buses in Kirkby Today

There are a number of bus routes through Kirkby that operate currently. Many of these are operated by TrentBarton. Services include:

The Threes

The threes ( now A-C and formerly 3A-3C). These operate from Nottingham to Mansfield (3A and 3C) or from Nottingham to Sutton (3B). They run through Kirkby following slightly different routes.

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9.3

The nines (9.3). Service 9.3 operates between Derby and Mansfield. It appears to run through Old Kirkby.

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33

This runs between Ilkeston and Sherwood Business. I don’t see its route on the map but, according to the detailed timetable, it has stops in Pond Street and Ellis Street. I think the reason it is not on the map is because it replaced the Black Cat service which is shown.

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90

This runs between Mansfield and Ripley. This appears to pass through Kirkby.

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445B

In addition to these TrentBarton services, there seems to be a bus from Blidworth to Kirkby (445B) run by Ravenshead Community Project. It seems to run only on Mondays and Wednesdays with stops at Aldi and Morrisons.

A1

Stagecoach East Midlands also operate a bus (A1) between Kirkby and Glenair but this does not appear on the map.

Other Services

There are a number of other services listed on the map. These include BC, N3, JS, SS and US. I found some more information about these in another County Council leaflet dated 2014.

• BC may refer to the Black Cat service which runs from Mansfield to Derby and is operated by TrentBarton. This bus appears to pass through Kirkby on Kingsway and Lowmoor Road. I am grateful to Alwyn Bowskill for his comment below explaining that “the Black Cat, so called because of their black livery, have recently been replaced by the 33 which no longer goes into Derby but terminates at Ilkeston.“
• N3 appears to be a night bus that is part of the threes. It runs from Nottingham to Kirkby.
• JS is the Jacksdale shopper operating between Jacksdale and Sutton. This service is operated by Our Centre/AOT Coaches and passes through Old Kirkby
• SS is the Selston shopper operating between Selston and Sutton. This service is operated by Our Centre/AOT Coaches and passes through Old Kirkby
• US is the Underwood shopper operating between Underwood and Sutton. This service is operated by Our Centre/AOT Coaches and passes through Old Kirkby

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Bus Service Review

In May 2023, there was a bus service review in the area by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Comparing These Bus Routes

Initial Listing

I am grateful to Daryl Lees for listing the different bus routes which have served Kirkby over time. I assume the groups relate to similar or the same routes. Where I have described a particular route, I give a link. Where I have not come across that route, the number is in italics. I have added other buses that came up in discussion on Facebook.

• 61 (345, 45, 3A)
• 84 (341, 342, 42, 3B)
• B7 (147, 148, 190, 90)
• B6 (120, black cat, 33)
• E6
• F1
• 61A, 61B, 61C & 61E
• 84A
• 83
• 145
• C3 (242 193 93)
• 63 (X53)

Different Views

There was some difference of opinion as to which routes were the same. For example, John Froggatt noted that the C2 was then the 42 and then the 242 while the C3 ran via Alfreton Road Sutton and became the 43 and then the 243. However, Daryl Lees considered that the C3 became the 242 then 193 and then 93.

Explanation

I am grateful to Liz Molloy for explaining some of the routes that I had not come across. For example:

• The 45 took same route as the A bus, but at that time, didn’t go through Lemington, going Mansfield direction. Going to Nottingham at Hucknall at the Byron cinema it turned right, went round streets, it went through Bulwell, Basford and terminated at Broardmarsh Centre.
• I do remember 120, I think it used to run same as black cat I assumed.
• The 90 at one point went up Diamond Avenue, and turned onto Clumber Street, then turned onto Abbey Road and joined Glenside.

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