West Country Independent Bus Operators

Woodcock's Buses Leyland National KRS537V (previously GSO3V) delivered new to Alexander Northern Ltd in March 1980 seen arriving at The Bank - Hugh Town, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly in 1991 operating the Hugh Town to St Mary's Airport service. The vehicle only operated for a short while on St Mary's as its length made it unsuitable for the island's narrow roads.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Unidentified WJO Jennings of Bude coach on the Strand, Bude, Circa 1980.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Bruce & Roberts AEC Reliance OFN717F (ex East Kent Road Car Company) seen at Launceston near the Town Hall operating on the 620 Tuesday and Saturday shopping service between Launceston and Lewdown - on Saturday the service commenced operated further east from Bridestowe, 6 miles west of Okehampton.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Bruce & Roberts AEC Reliance OFN717F (ex East Kent Road Car Company) seen at Launceston operating on the 620 Tuesday and Saturday shopping service between Launceston and Lewdown - on Saturday the service commenced operated further east from Bridestowe, 6 miles west of Okehampton.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Bruce & Roberts AEC Reliance OFN717F (ex East Kent Road Car Company) at Bridestowe in West Devon on the old A30 road (now by-passed) operating on the 620 Tuesday and Saturday shopping service which operated between Launceston and Lewdown - on Saturday the service commenced operated further east from Bridestowe, 6 miles west of Okehampton. Here it is seen on the weekly run to Launceston. Today the village of Bridestow has a much more frequent service.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

During the early 1980s Okehampton was the place to be to see classic late 1950s early 1960s buses and coaches working out their last days on school contracts. The traffic lights in the town centre proved to be an ideal vantage point for photographing the morning and afternoon procession of buses coaches heading to and from the local schools. Bristol MW5G 353MHU delivered new to Bristol Ominibus Company in 1961 seen turning from George Street into West Street, Okehampton in the morning after dropping off pupils at Okehampton School. July 10980

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Unidentified Born's Tours (Bruce and Parker) coach at the West Street Bus Stop, Okehampton prior to heading for Okehampton School to operate a school service.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Brixham Coaches Bedford YMT VOD545S seen at Kingswear Banjo Terminal on the company's Brixham to Kingswear Service. The bus was delivered new to the company in September 1977.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Brixham Coaches Bedford YMT VOD545S seen at Kingswear Banjo Terminal on the company's Brixham to Kingswear Service. The bus was delivered new to the company in September 1977.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Okeridge Motor Services Ltd Ford R226 FNM149E seen departing from Fore Street Okehampton in August 1980. The vehicle is a Ford R226 new to Super of Upminster in 1967. Okeridge Motor Services was a very ramshackle operation operating vehicles well past their sell by date! I travelled on this vehicle and several others in the fleet and it was was not unusual to see oil containers by the driver and gaps through which the road could be seen. Once when travelling on a Bedford the horn started sounding intermittently without warning and continued to do so until the driver stopped and snipped a wire. What is more the tickets were collected when you disembarked and reused. The proprietor was an elderly chap - Mr Elvan. Research on the web suggests the company ceased trading in 1983.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Line up of mainly independent operators at Plymouth Bretonside Bus Station - August 1980.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Independent operators at Plymouth Bretonside Bus Station in August 1980. Okeridge Motor Services operating the Plymouth to Okehampton service. WJO Jennings operating the Plymouth to Bude service. Fry's operating the Plymouth to Tintagel service.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Safeway Services Bedford SB3 seen on an excursion at Plymouth Bretonside Bus Station in August 1980. The vehicle had been delivered new in 1958 to Giles of South Petherton in 1958.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Delivered new to Brown of Donnington Wood UNT915J was a Bedford YRQ Wilowbrook B45F body work. It is seen here in August 1980 at West Stree, Okehampton in service with G.G.Gay of Northlew which operated the 618 Tavistock – Mary Tavy – Brentor – Lydford – Bridestowe – Okehampton service.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Bruce and Roberts bus depot at The Chalet, Lewdown, Devon. August 1980

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Bruce & Roberts AEC Reliance OFN717F (ex East Kent Road Car Company) at Portgate on the old A30 road (now by-passed) operating on the 620 Tuesday and Saturday shopping service which operated between Launceston and Lewdown - on Saturday the service commenced operated further east from Bridestowe, 6 miles west of Okehampton. Today the former A30 road Is served by a much better frequency of service between Okehampton and Launceston. The above photograph was taken near Launceston Rugby Club. September 16, 1980

West Country Independent Bus Operators

WJO Jennings Bedford YMT BJF889T which was delivered new to the company in November 1978 is seen here at Exeter Bus and Coach station in its usual bay 19 allocated to the Bude - Okehampton - Exeter rail replacement service 629. The service which in its early days ran non-stop between Exeter St David's Station and Okehampton West Street was a replacement for railway services on the Bude - Okehampton - Exeter route. Initially services were operated between Bude and Okehampton station, however, with the closure of the Okehampton - Exeter rail service in 1972 they were extended via Exeter St David's Station to Exeter Bus and Coach Station. After service with Jennings the vehicle passed to O.J. Hambly of Pelynt.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Wood Brothers of Buckfastleigh Ford Transit Bus GBM770N at Holne Turn awaiting to connect with Beard's of Widecombe Newton Abbot - Widecombe service at Holne Turn before returning to Buckfastleigh via Holne. Both services ran Wednesday only - Newton Abbot Market Day. My mother Elsie Luxton and grandmother Mary White can be seen. August 1980

West Country Independent Bus Operators

WJO Jennings of Bude depot in Lansdowne Road. This had been the former Southern National depot. When National withdrew from north Cornwall in the early 1970s acquired the depot and many of the former SNOC routes. August 1980 The depot had just been given a fresh coat of paint after this photograph had been taken.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

Unidentified WJO Jennings coach on a local service near Crooklets in August 1980.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

WJO Jennings Bedford YMT CRL91V on a Bude local service at Flexbury in August 1980. The bus was delivered new to the company in December 1979. Augus

West Country Independent Bus Operators

MEN329H a Bedford VAL70 operating for Guscott's Coaches of Halwill Junction on a Halwill to Launceston service. New to Fairclough of Radcliffe in March 1970 passing the White Hart Hotel in Launceston August 1980.

West Country Independent Bus Operators

MEN329H a Bedford VAL70 operating for Guscott's Coaches of Halwill Junction on a Halwill to Launceston service. New to Fairclough of Radcliffe in March 1970. Alongside is Bedford YMT XGL51T of Fry's Coaches of Tintagel - delivered new to that company in December 1978. August 1980