Whittle Bus

Went to West Midland Safari Park a couple of days ago and, nearby, passed a Whittle bus (two coloured ticks formed the 'W'). Wondered who they were and, lo, they are an outpost of East Yorkshire

Chris Hebbron

09/08/13 - 13:10

You're not saying that you'd never heard of Whittle are you Chris? Another highly respected, long-standing operator like the Delaine not to mention the late lamented Harper and Ledgard. The family sold out to East Yorkshire some time ago - a little while after a family tragedy (something to do with the abduction and murder of a daughter, I believe).

David Oldfield

09/08/13 - 16:23

Lesley Whittle was the family's teenage daughter who was kidnapped for ransom by Donald Neilson the notorious Black Panther from Bradford. He murdered her prior to eventual capture.

Chris Hough

10/08/13 - 05:51

I have to hang my head in shame, David, and admit I hadn't, although the tick 'W' does seem to ring the bell that I've seem the trademark before. Seems I must broaden my horizons!
And Chris H, what a terrible thing for the family to go through. Your mention of the tragedy will ensure I don't forget the name now.

Chris Hebbron

10/08/13 - 05:52

David, there must be nearly 20-30 years between Leslie Whittle's abduction and the sale of the company to EYMS - more than a "little while".
And then, Chris, Bradford gets enough bad press without having to pick up what doesn't rightly belong to it. Donald Neilson was from Morley (never part of Bradford, and since 1974 part of "Greater Leeds") - for what its worth his "birth name" was Nappy, he changed it to Neilson whilst serving in the Army . . . I wonder why?
There is still speculation as to whether Neilson actually murdered Leslie Whittle or whether she slipped to her own death - Wikipedia, for all its faults, does have a comprehensive (and well-informed) entry on this tragic story.

Philip Rushworth

10/08/13 - 09:19

There is a documentary on Channel 5 at 8pm on Tuesday evening about Neilson and the murders, including that of Lesley Whittle, that he committed in 1974/5.

Eric Bawden

10/08/13 - 12:03

I hope you don't mind one or two corrections to the 'Whittle' story. As Chris Hough and Eric Bawden have correctly stated, the daughter was Lesley rather than Leslie. Donald Nielson is variously recorded as having been born in Morley, or Bradford - the Morley version seems more convincing - but most of his later years were spent in Bradford, and it is my recollection that at the time of his arrest his home was in the Thornbury area. His birth name was apparently Nappey, rather than Nappy, and the story goes that he changed it for the sake of his daughter.
If the documentary being shown on Tuesday evening is the one which has been doing the rounds for several decades, I think the location of Nielson's home is pretty well pinpointed.
Apparently Nielson died in 2011, a fact which must have passed me by at the time.

David Call

10/08/13 - 18:38

Nielson did indeed live during his last years of freedom in Leeds Road Thornbury, a few doors the Leeds side of the big one way system. When I worked on the Leeds buses I remember that a driver at Bramley depot had bought Nielson's house, and was very matter of fact about it - rightly so as it was just a house on the market as far as anyone else was concerned. The number was 1179 Leeds Road, or something similar - I always look with a feeling of disquiet when passing it.

Chris Youhill

11/08/13 - 06:43

There is a coach company in Kidderminster which uses 2 ticks as their logo and not surprising to see one of their vehicles near WM Safari Park at Bewdley. More at www.whittlecoach.co.uk/ It was established in 1929. Became part of EYMS in 2004 but they still retain their own livery which was the point of the original question in my opinion.

Ken Jones

18/09/13 - 17:35

Just thought you all might like a pic (or two) of a splendidly turned out J T Whittle Tiger, shots taken Sunday 8th September at the Bewdley Bus & Coach Rally.

Nigel Edwards

19/09/13 - 05:55

Thank you Nigel for two glorious pictures of what I can safely say is the very finest example of the wonderful Burlingham Seagull that I've ever seen anywhere.

Chris Youhill

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