Business as usual says Devon General chairman
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• Mr. J. T. E. Robinson, new chairman of the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co. Ltd., has given an assurance that Devon General's immediate future will be "business as usual". He was presenting long service awards to staff from a wide area of Devon at Torquay.
Said Mr. Robinson: "I know that there have been all sorts of rumours circulating during this past year following the acquisition of the BET bus companies by the Transport Holding Company and the creation of the new National Bus Company.
"It is of course a fact that Devon General is now under the same ownership as the Western and Southern National Companies, but speaking as your chairman—and their chairman too—I can tell you that there is no intention on my part that the name of Devon General shall go under—nor are your buses to be painted green.
"While I am not yet in a position to give any details—for the simple reason that we have not got down to details—it is not impossible that there may be some exchange of routes or services with the Western or Southern National.
"There will almost certainly be some integration on the maintenance side and probably in the clerical and administrative fields as well. "Whatever changes there are to be will not be made without the fullest consultation with the people concerned."
Referring to Devon General management changes under which Mr. L. J. Crook, traffic manager, will take over from the retiring general manager, Mr. T. L. C. Strange, for a transitional period until his own retirement in just over a year's time, Mr. Robinson said that Mr. B. L. Rootham of Bristol would succeed Mr. Crook as traffic manager and ultimately as manager.