South Notts Buses celebrates 80 years of public service on Monday 13th March 2006 – an important milestone for a local operator still based in Gotham where it all began in 1926.
To commemorate South Notts birthday, NCT has repainted double deck bus 490 into original South Notts maroon, cream and navy blue livery.
On Monday 13th March 2006, fleet 490 will re-enact the very first journey from Gotham Garage at 08.20 to Nottingham as in 1926 and NCT Managing Director, Mark Fowles and the Dabell family – the original owners of South Notts – will be at the Gotham Garage to send the bus off.
Celebrating the 80th Birthday, Arthur Dabell, former South Notts Chairman / Managing Director and son of the original owner said, “the family are pleased to see the South Notts logo is still supported by NCT and I am more than delighted that they are orchestrating celebrations to mark the 80th year, including the double decker painted in traditional livery colours with original badge; issuing a special commemorative timetable and arranging a display of South Notts memorabilia at Gotham Gala this year. Most of all, I thank them for assuring that the South Notts name and values are still seen today and remain synonymous with loyal staff and a level of public service that still is one of the best in Nottinghamshire”.
Following the commemorative send off, the special liveried bus will then operate normally on route 1 between Loughborough and Nottingham, including on dedicated journeys at the weekend, as follows:
Saturdays
From Nottingham at 06.30, 09.00, 11.30, 14.00, 16.30
From Loughborough at 07.50, 10.20, 12.50, 15.20, 17.40
Sundays
From Nottingham at 08.15, 10.15, 12.15, 14.15, 16.15
From Loughborough at 09.15, 11.15, 13.15, 15.15
Further celebrations for South Notts 80th year are planned for former employees of the Company and to coincide with the Gotham Gala on Sunday 25th June 2006, including preserved South Notts buses and memorabilia being on display.
A Summary of the South Notts Story.
In 1926 Christopher Thomas Dabell, (“CT”) bought his first bus with the financial support and encouragement of the Gotham villagers who were the first shareholders. The vehicle - a 20 seater Guy, cost £1150, and ran for the first time on 13th March 1926 from Gotham Garage to Nottingham Collin Street terminus, via Wilford. The new venture proved successful, and a second vehicle was purchased in November 1926, and continued the preference for Guy vehicles right up until 1932 when the first Leyland vehicle was acquired.
When South Notts first started, Barton Bros were running a service from Loughborough to Nottingham via Gotham. For the first few years, the companies ran in competition, but Barton Bros agreed to vacate the route for a 50% shareholding in South Notts. As a result of this agreement, and the anticipated introduction of the Road Traffic Act 1930, South Notts became a limited company. On 29th December 1929, South Notts ran the extended route between Loughborough and Nottingham, via Gotham – the same route still followed today.
During the 1930s, South Notts went from strength to strength, extending services into surrounding villages. On occasions, the routes suffered unplanned diversions, one example being in 1932 when Wilford suffered one of the major floods, causing the main road service to be diverted through Ruddington and West Bridgford.
At this time, the company livery was Indigo Blue and Cream, with silver roof. The first company logo was in the shape of a lifebuoy and appeared on the rear panels of the vehicles. In 1935 maroon was added to the livery on both the roof and mudguards. The most distinctive insignia was the badge, introduced in the 1950’s and appearing on rear panels of the vehicles until the mid 1970s.
At the start of World War 2, three of the fleet were requisitioned by the War Office. Additional vehicles were needed, but were all second-hand, and had the usual timber body that had been pre-war specification, and were single-deck. However, a landmark was reached when South Notts took delivery of the first double decker in the fleet, coinciding with the planned development of Clifton Estate to provide extra capacity. When the Estate opened in 1951, South Notts, West Bridgford UDC and Nottingham City Transport operated joint services into the area.
The demand for private hire started to increase in the 1950s, and South Notts acquired luxury coaches. Day excursions to the coast, parks and zoos were very popular. One of the most popular excursions was the Sunday Evening Tour, which incorporated a tour around the countryside within a 30 mile radius, with two stops at a pub en-route. On some occasions, it was necessary to provide 5 coaches to cater for demand.
Unfortunately, CT died suddenly in February 1978 and the role of Chairman and Managing Director passed to son, Arthur Dabell. The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1986, and Bus No.117 – a Daimler Fleetline, was specially commissioned to commemorate the occasion.
However, the political climate changed in the 1980s, and two pieces of transport legislation dramatically impacted the independent bus operator – particularly de-regulation in 1986. South Notts were not immune, and despite considerable effort to maintain the company’s viability, this was not to be. It was, admittedly, a sad day for the family when South Notts was sold to Nottingham City Transport – more poignant perhaps that the hand-over fell on 13th March 1991 – 65 years after starting.
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