Huddersfield Corporation
1955
AEC Regent III
East Lancs L30/28R

The AEC Regent III (Provincial Type) as apposed to (RT Type) was in production from 1947-56 I’m not sure how many were built but they were extremely popular if anybody knows let me know. Like the Regent II there was only one version of the first Regent IIIs that were produced they had a 9.6 litre oil engine, air operated preselective gearbox and air brakes. It wasn’t long though before the 7.7 litre engine, crash or synchromesh gearbox and if the bus had one of these gearbox’s it had triple servo vacuum brakes. The early ones also had chromium plated radiators but round about 1951 they changed to cast aluminium. The Regent III was an excellent work horse, very reliable and long lasting 20-25 years service was the norm but quite a lot did much longer than that, after main service a lot were sold off to do even more service with other operators definitely one of the best buses built.

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Photograph M. J. Halstron

Vehicle sited in St. Augustine Florida Nov 2009. It’s gained a red livery and is being made to masquerade as a London bus. It’s in a very run down state and seems unlikely to ever be road worthy again. Below is a photograph of her now

J. Halston

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08/12/12 – 09:33

How sad to see these lovely buses left to rot, should be sent home to us.

Brian M

Photograph by ‘unknown’ if you took this photo please go to the copyright page.

Felix Motors Ltd (Hatfield) 
1953
AEC Regent III
Roe H31/25R

Felix motors was started in 1921 the company was named after “Felix the Cat” a cartoon character of the time, for some time the cartoon image was used as an emblem on the side of the vehicles. I have seen a photograph on the web somewhere of one of there vehicles showing the Felix logo if I find it again I will update with a link to it.

A full list of Regent III codes can be seen here.

The other Felix company in Derbyshire also used Felix as a logo but were recently threatened with legal action by the film company which owns the rights so it has now been dropped Both Felix companies used similar liveries but the Derby one has as far as I know always used saloons

Chris Hough

Absolutely right Chris – you will find a Willebrew ticket from Felix (N Frost) of Stanley Derbyshire, on the tickets side of the website.

Stephen Ford

06/12/11 – 06:47

I wrote a book about the ‘other’ Felix a few years ago and it would appear that both of company histories shared a similar beginning. ‘My’ Felix started in 1921 and was named after a popular song of the day – Felix kept on walking. The first vehicle R 7831 which carried a cartoon cat emblem over the front window was sold to the above Felix in 1926 (it was suggested that this was why the Hatfield based company was named Felix but I never found any proof of this).
Sadly it has just been reported that Felix (Stanley, Derbyshire) is to cease on 29th January 2012 after being taken over by TrentBarton – the local large bus company. Hope this is of interest.

Paul D Chambers

30/10/12 – 05:57

Felix in Stanley Derbyshire are now showing ‘Black Cat’ on the side, but are run by Trent/Barton.

John Swan

07/10/13 – 17:38

I recall seeing Felix buses in Doncaster but had no idea of the origin of the name. I suppose I assumed it was the proprietor’s name or else the Latin for "happy"!
Early on Felix ran some Leyland Tigers but no others from the Leyland "zoo", being mainly an AEC operator.

Geoff Kerr

08/10/13 – 07:39

Geoff – somewhere, in an article long ago, there appears a magnificent lady driver in WW2 just climbing elegantly into the cab of a prewar Felix Regent in Doncaster. She is dressed in a long white smock and sports a very chic 1930s hat and, if I remember rightly, a long skirt in lieu of the usual slacks.

Chris Youhill

08/10/13 – 12:51

She was clearly ‘doing her bit, don’t ya know! A change from driving the Rolls, what with the fuel rationing!"

Chris Hebbron

08/10/13 – 17:55

Nay Lad, not in them parts….
Actually, if you read Peter Gould’s potted history, its all there. www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/felix.htm  
Notice, too, how buses from them parts seem to have two fog lamps…

Joe

Photograph by ‘unknown’ if you took this photo please go to the copyright page.

Hebble Motor Services
1952
AEC Regent III
Willowbrook L55R

This is one of the last batch of Regent IIIs Hebble took delivery of, to say it was new in 1952 it looks as if it was built well before that. I think it is the drivers sloping small window that makes it look older. Although from what I can gather the Willowbrook bodywork had excellent interior finish.

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15/08/11 – 13:20

This batch or Regents were type 9612A (A=crash gears) which was a change from the previuos Roe bodied Regents which were type 9612E (E=epicyclic pre-selector). I remember them on the Joint Bradford-Huddersfield route 64

Kev