A SUCCESSFUL BUS VENTURE
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How Early Coaching Experience Has Helped to Establish a Profitable Business in Hertfordshire.
NXTHEN Mr U. Leverett, a coach V V proprietor, retired from London to Ashwell, Herts., he disposed of a
profitable business that bad been in existence for something like a quarter of a century. During the earliest Period, of course, horse-drawn coaches produced the rev.pnue, but with the advent of the mechanical age and the introduction of more up-to-date vehicles the horses gradually gave way to Dennis motor coaches. It was a fleet that prospered.
Almost immediately upon his arrival in Ashwell, Mr. Leverett realized something of the great possibilities for a passenger service operating from his place of (intended) retirement. Although the population is small, the village lies approximately in the centre of the triangle formed by Baldock, Royston and Biggleswade, with several other villages in the immediate neighbourhood, and good scope appeared to exist for efficient road-motor services.
His first purchase for the new centre was a Dennis G-type chassis equipped with an all-weather, coach body. The facilities provided by this machine were so popular that two more of the same type of chassis, but carrying 20-seater bus bodies, were added
shortly afterwards, and regular setvices were inaugurated between the principal centres in the district.
A through route to Cambridge was also opened up, but for many weeks the service attracted but little custom, but as the public became aware of its regularity and dependability a growing volume of patronage was accorded the service, which is now one of the most popular.
Although it is a matter of some 1S .months only since this venture started, a record of persistent growth, and success has been achieved. Two .Dennis EV-type• 32-seater buses have' been added and the original G-type coach converted into st saloon, whilst Mr. Leverett's latest order is for One of the new -Dennis Arrow six-cylinder chassis with a single-deck bus bbd y seating 32. liassengers. Eve. On the London-Bournetneuth
route there will be the regular departures at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5.30 -pan. each day, including Christmas Day, and an additional coach leaving London at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Another late departure that day will be the 10.30 p.m. coach to Ipswich.
Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Gillingham, Margate, Folkestone, Canterbury, Reading, Ipswich, Colchester, etc., will be served by one or two fairly, early departures in both directions on Christmas morning. That day, as on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, thc LondonNewcastle-Sunderland services operated by Orange Brothers will comprise two departures from London at 7.30 a.m. and 8 P.m The departures front Margate on Christmas Day are at 9.15 a.m. and 2.10 p.m. ; the coaches in the opposite direction leaving at 9.5 a.m.. and 2.5 p.m.