Request for information YV 3578 / 9414
Michael Wadman 2
Does anyone have any information on two small normal control buses, possibly Fords, registered YV 3578 and YV 9414? In the photo I have they have folding roofs, which are open so it must be a nice day, and are parked in a row with a similar fixed-top vehicle (registration not visible), all three carrying route boards below the windscreen reading “Folkestone Hawkinge Selsted”.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
MW
Group_owner
The owner was Clarence Ward Hunt of Hawkinge, and the vehicles were
both Chevrolets, new to Hunt in 1928.
Surviving Dover licensing records show that they were 14-seaters.
Hunt had started a garage business after WW1 (later quoted as Minnis
Garage), running taxis and a covered lorry which was later fitted with
seats and carried passengers into Folkestone. His first known formal
bus service was run in partnership with a Stuart Hagger, trading as "H-
H", from about 1923, linking Swingfield, Hawkinge and Folkestone
Harbour. This partnership lapsed after a year, and by 1924 Hunt on
his own had extended the Swingfield service northwards to Selsted and
also applied to Dover Council that autumn to begin a Dover-Folkestone
service via the Alkham Valley (competing with Partridge of Alkham
along the same corridor).
In partnership with Robert Russell, also of Hawkinge (who may have
been Hunt's brother using a pseudonym - we are not yet sure), a
business known as Hunt & Russell Motor Service was in existence by
1926. Many of their vehicles are recorded in the 1978 East Kent Fleet
History (now out of print), and included several more Chevrolets with
Kent registrations, and a couple of Gilford coaches with restaurant
facilities that were used on a Folkestone-London express service from
1927. Some idea of the size of the business can be gauged from the
fact that a total of 14 motor omnibus licences were transferred from
Russell to East Kent in 6/30, though it appears Hunt carried on for a
short while after this until the end of 1931.
A number of different trading names, including Russell Motor Services
and The Valley Coaches, make it difficult to be certain who owned
what, but it appears that vehicles were licensed individually to
either Hunt or Russell. This is another firm where further research
is needed to tell the full story.
Derek J
On Feb 4, 12:06 pm, "Michael Wadman 2"
Michael Wadman 2
Many thanks for the information. I do have the East Kent book, but I
managed somehow to miss these vehicles when I looked through it. Having
now found them, I see that Hunt's and Russell's vehicles are listed
separately (presumably because of the licensing arrangements that you
mention) and there seems to be some confusion over the exact date of the
acquisition of the business by East Kent.
MW
Michael
Derek J
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