Silvey's Coaches
The 1960s
By Mike Ellis
Silvey's fleet had 2 new coaches in 1960/61 similar to the vehicle shown in your picture although as I say I don't think this is one of theirs. Resplendent in their regulation light brown and cream livery the first to arrive was a Duple bodied Bedford bearing the Gloucestershire issued registration number 2391AD. This was followed a little later by a stable mate of the same specification, 5565AD. I think drivers Jim Russell and Mick Green were regulars behind the wheel. Meanwhile not to be outdone their neighbours Locke’s Coaches over at Eastington also had 2 new coaches delivered. Unusually for the period (Bedford being the No 1 choice for the smaller operator) these were of Ford manufacture and fitted with (in my opinion) the more attractive Plaxton Embassy bodies. Looking very smart in their 'Hales Cake Van' derived colour scheme of blue and cream the first one was registered 3906AD. I seem to recall the second one bore a Scottish registration ORS 9 (which would be much sought after today as a 'cherished number' no doubt). I can only guess that although 'new' the vehicle was a cancelled order that had already been taxed when Locke's acquired it. As a schoolboy in 1961 (the only year you can turn upside down and it reads the same) I can remember being dragged along by mum and dad on a Locke's outing to Bath Military Tattoo. The saving grace for me was the coach in which we travelled was 3906AD which as far as I was concerned was far more of an event than the Tattoo could ever be! The driver was Brian 'Bumble' Neale (Mr Neale to me of course) who with his brother Gerry were long serving employees of Locke's.
Under the banner Stonehouse Carriers, Locke's also operated a small fleet of vans and lorries. These were also out shopped in the familiar blue and cream livery. Perhaps surprisingly the business also ran some mobile shops (including JDF369 a former Commer/Plaxton coach which always appeared to be dreadfully overloaded!) and several home-converted camper vans (usually ex Hales Cakes hence the choice of blue and cream!) which were hired out on a self-drive basis during the summer months.
Glyn Locke, the company's charismatic and entrepreneurial proprietor, tragically lost his life a few years later in a drowning accident.