Website revamp

Some of the regulars on the Countrybus website suggested it was time for a make-over or revamp of the site, that some of the pages were getting too long and needed a lot of scrolling to read the whole page.  Well we've had a go and have split the different topic areas into separate sections.  See what you think, and let us know what you think.

Around Casterbridge Town

So for once the driver's rumours have been shown to be correct, and their prophesy has come to pass.  The business of Coach House Travel of Dorchester (home of Thomas Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge) has been sold to Damory Coaches, the rapidly expanding Go Ahead subsidiary company which has recently gained a considerable percentage of the tendered bus and school work across Dorset.  This will mark the end of thirty years of independently operated town services in Dorchester, from Interbus through Bere Regis to Cawlett to Coach House.  Also transferring to Damory will be the long established Herrison Hospital bus route with its intriguing history: a route that has been commercially operated since Coach House Travel acquired it from the health authority in the mid-1990s.  Interestingly Damory are to operate the town services commercially - rather than under subsidy - when they take over in October.  Perhaps the real value of Les Watt's business to Go Ahead is for parking space rather than for the bus routes per se  (-:

Adieu Shamrock

A fateful day in Dorset as Shamrock Buses ceased trading at short notice yesterday 6th July.  Several pieces of tendered work had been lost or were about to be lost (eg bus routes 32, 22, 111). These were the icing on the cake, three of the five public bus routes that fitted between and around some of the not inconsiderable amount of school runs that were being operated. Their loss left the main thrust of the Shamrock operation as peak time only, no doubt unviable with full time labour costs to bear. Whilst one could hope it is but 'au revoir' this time perhaps it is 'adieu'.   Shamrock, you will be missed.

Shamrock & Rambler

Do you remember the orange and cream coaches of Shamrock & Rambler in and around Bournemouth in days gone by?  Coaches with names rather than fleet numbers, names like Avon, Falcon, Kestrel and Medina.  Take a look at our newest webpage and if you can add to the memories in any way, so much the better . . .

King Alfred

A new page has been added to the Independent Bus website recalling some of the operations of King Alfred Motor Services in and around the cathedral city of Winchester in Hampshire.  Every year there is a splendid running day with restored buses running over their old routes, organised by the Friends of King Alfred Buses.  A treat not to be missed if you are in the area, or indeed an occasion worth travelling many miles to see!  As always any further historical input to this article would be useful.

June is bustin' out all over . . .

One or two people have said to me that it would be opportune to be able to add comment and information relevant to the Countrybus website.   So with the new month about to start I thought 'let's give it a try'.  Feel free to contribute information, or perhaps just drop by and say 'hi'.                             Peter