NEW BOOK - Sittingbourne's forgotten bus operators - Jessops of Frinsted and others

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Clive Cheeseman

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Sep 19, 2020, 7:51:34 AM9/19/20

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As some people will know I had been working on this project for some years. It recalls how I came to know Jessop's and made a trip there, mostly on foot, to take pictures of his last working Bedford in 1973. In the late 1980's a relative bought the pub and meeting one of the last drivers I began to research the history of the company and the issues which may have influenced him to operate a school contract and start providing a service to Sittingbourne on Fridays, later, under an express licence.

An outline of the history of early bus operation, in the area, and village carriers is followed by details of the attempts by Mears (venture) and Sittingbourne & Milton to compete with M & D c 1930 which largely failed.

After World War two he initially expanded to own three buses, and M & D tried to muscle into his area by expanding and introducing a new service. The word for word memories of his last driver, an elderly local resident, and an M & D Inspector help show what the operation of Jessop's business and local rural bus services was like. The memories of Harry Eglinton (Island Coaches) are also included.

The period covered is up to c 1980.

I was asked to restrict my coverage of M & D itself to avoid duplication with other M & D specific histories so only the main relevant facts are included.

It was published through the Omnibus Society 9Provincial Historical Research Group) whose outlets are online through MDS books or Dinnages of Brighton.