I have desperately been trying to find some photographs of Empress coaches of Stockbridge. My Grandfather was a driver for them before he left for national service. We have one photo of him stood in front of what looks to be an early Leyland Tiger. I would be grateful of any images at all you may be able to help me link to.
William Higgs
05/01/12 - 07:29
Empress Coaches of Stockbridge was set up by G E Martin Cooper, who, from about 1928, ran in rather rancorous competition with King Alfred (R Chisnell) in and around the corridor between Stockbridge and Winchester. In 1951, the business was purchased by Basil Williams of Hants and Sussex fame. At he time of takeover, the fleet consisted of five elderly Leyland Cubs, which Williams quickly replaced with Bedford OBs and some vehicles "hired in" from other members of the Hants and Sussex group. Williams soon discovered that his Empress Coaches purchase was a serious, loss making mistake, and this contributed its part towards the ultimate collapse of Hants and Sussex in 1954. A picture of the oldest Cub, JY 128, which dated from 1932, may be found in Alan Lambert's comprehensive history of Hants and Sussex. I have not managed to trace any other pictures of this operator, though others must surely exist somewhere. I suspect that these Cubs were the Leylands driven by your grandfather.
Elsewhere on this Old Bus Photos site, you may find detailed related information submitted by Michael Hampton under the heading of Commer Centaur.
Roger Cox
06/01/12 - 07:11
Hello Roger, Thank you for that, would you please be able to advise further where to find this photo? IE Internet or Book etc?
I will endeavour to find the photo we have so I can try and post it to this website. I have a family friend who's father also drove for Empress and he has some. Interestingly enough, he rebuilt the engine and some framework on some of the preserved KAMs busses. Whilst my Grandmother and Great Uncle on my Mothers side where clippies!
Maybe buses do run in the blood then!
William Higgs
09/01/12 - 15:55
Having purchased a copy of the excellent book last year, I had a look at this subject out of curiosity and one aspect surprised me. The fleet comprised five Leyland Cubs, one of which is listed as new in 1948 and this is borne out by the registration of GCG which was current in that year. Was the Leyland Cub produced or available after WW2? I was under the impression that Leyland didn't offer a normal control PSV post war until the Comet was introduced.
Chris Barker
23/01/12 - 10:16
One of the Leyland Cubs operated by Empress was new to Byngs, Portsmouth. It was ABK 871 with a Wadham FC26F body
Paul Statham
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