Percival Bros.

The Bus Up the Dale

Vintage Roadscene Articles
written by Reuben Frankau of Low Row,
kindly commissioned by David Hayward, Deputy Editor,
whose enthusiastic support and assistance from the beginning of this project
we very gratefully acknowledge. David—many thanks!

February 2010 : Vintage Roadscene Issue 123
“Tim Scratcherd T/A Reeth Motor Service” (pp. 42-45)
features Tim and Doris Scratcherd of the Black Bull at Reeth, who ran motor-buses up Swaledale and Arkengarthdale from 1921 to 1938. Six previously unpublished b&w photographs and a period advertisement. An unfortunate misprint on p. 42 was corrected, after some delay, in the May 2010 Issue (no. 126), p. 52. We can only apologise to the Stubbs and Stones families, both of Arkengarthdale, whose 1920s motor operations were unintentionally conflated by an over-hasty sub-editor.

October 2010 : Vintage Roadscene Issue 131
“Sunter’s coaches ? But they ran wagons, didn’t they ?” (pp. 48-51)
furnishes an overview of Tom “Fire” Sunter’s PSV sideline, ca 1949-1960. Like the Percivals, the “Fires” were a Gunnerside family, though more widely known and remembered as heavy hauliers based at Northallerton. Eight b&w photographs, six by veteran transport photographer Roy Marshall and two, previously unpublished, from the Sunter family’s own archives. This piece was drafted with the co-operation of the “Fire” Sunters, for which we are very grateful as some members of the family were initially mistrustful of this project, having had their fingers burned in previous local history efforts. We are also indebted (as always) to Deputy Editor David Hayward for bearing with us while every dot and comma was carefully considered here at the Yorkshire end. Interested parties may also wish to procure a copy of the book Sunter’s—High, Wide and Mighty, by Tony Eaton of Northallerton, which covers the heavy haulage for which the “Fires” became famous.

January 2011 : Vintage Roadscene Issue 134
“Percival’s of Gunnerside—Part 1” (pp. 50-53)
begins the Percival’s story in Victorian times and carries it as far as the Second World War. During this period, the long-established Gunnerside firm of Lodge Percival and Sons began to be superseded by the Limited Company which Lodge’s three sons—William, James, and John Lodge—set up in 1937. Nine b&w photographs, all previously unpublished, and two period advertisements.

February 2011 : Vintage Roadscene Issue 135
“Percival’s of Gunnerside—Part 2” (pp. 48-53)
takes up the story of Percival Brothers (Coaches), Ltd, at the end of the War and carries it through to the end of the 1950s, by which time William and James had both died leaving John Lodge Percival—not unlike George VI—unexpectedly carrying the can. Fourteen b&w photographs, eleven from PM Photography and three, previously unpublished, from the Percival family’s own archives, which also yielded an impressive 1940s colour business card for this piece.

May 2011 : Vintage Roadscene Issue 138
“Percival’s of Gunnerside—Part 3” (pp. 46-49)
concludes the tale, covering the period from late 1960 to the Summer of 1971. Seven b&w photographs from various sources, and also three previously unpublished colour snaps and a 1960s advertisement. Naturally there will be much more on Percival’s—and likewise on Scratcherd’s and Sunter’s—in the forthcoming book, The Bus Up the Dale.

ooooOOOoooo

Also of interest, in terms of local P. S. V. nostalgia, are the several recent pieces in Vintage Roadscene by our valued supporter and co-researcher Keith Kitching of Scarborough, who is himself compiling the history of the Darlington firm, Scott’s Greys. Keith’s support has been moral as well as practical, and he also happens to be the proud owner of a former Scott’s Greys saloon which was used in the filming of B. B. C. Television’s “All Creatures Great and Small” in the 1980s (and, more recently, in “Heartbeat”). Keith Kitching’s contributions to Vintage Roadscene include:—

July 2010 : Issue 128
“Scott’s Greys of Darlington”—a brief history of the firm—for further details, buy Keith’s book as soon as it comes out !
August 2010 : Issue 129
“Small Plaxton Motor Coaches of the Early 1950s”—a feature on the smaller coaches built by Plaxton’s of Scarborough in the 1950s, including RHN 548 which Keith knows a bit about, as it belongs to him ! Wesley Harker of Reeth ran a Plaxton-bodied 14-seater Commer in the 1960s, so Swaledale bus aficionados may wish to take note...
June 2011 : Issue 139
“Cold War Coach Driver”—a fascinating memoir of Keith’s time driving the staff transport at the R. A. F. Fylingdales listening station in the early 1970s
July 2011 : Issue 140
“Spring and Summer with Wallace Arnold”—a season driving for Wallace Arnold (better known to some of us as “Wally’s Trolleys”...) at Scarborough
September 2011 : Issue 142
“On and Off the Buses”—Memories of driving for United Automobile Services at Scarborough
October 2011 : Issue 143
“On and Off the Buses—More Happy Memories”
November 2011 : Issue 144
“On and Off the Buses—More Fun and Games”
December 2011 : Issue 145
“Even Marriage...”—Keith’s exploits on United buses include Holy Matrimony
January 2012 : Issue 146
“G. N. E. Motor Services, Ltd”—a brief history of this noted operator
March 2012 : Issue 148
“Scott’s Greys”—the first part of a slightly more detailed history.

If anyone out there can add any information or memories to Keith’s researches on Scott’s Greys—or other Darlington operators such as G. N. E.—then, as with our own researches on Percival’s and other Swaledale bus services, do please get in touch.

Return to Home Page

The Bus Up the Dale
	*Vintage Roadscene* Articles written by Reuben Frankau of Low Row, kindly commissioned by David Hayward, Deputy Editor, whose enthusiastic support and assistance from the beginning of this project we very gratefully acknowledge. David—many thanks! February 2010 : *Vintage Roadscene* Issue 123 “Tim Scratcherd T/A Reeth Motor Service” (pp. 42-45) features Tim and Doris Scratcherd of the Black Bull at Reeth, who ran motor-buses up Swaledale and Arkengarthdale from 1921 to 1938. Six previously unpublished b&w photographs and a period advertisement. An unfortunate misprint on p. 42 was corrected, after some delay, in the May 2010 Issue (no. 126), p. 52. We can only apologise to the Stubbs and Stones families, both of Arkengarthdale, whose 1920s motor operations were unintentionally conflated by an over-hasty sub-editor. October 2010 : *Vintage Roadscene* Issue 131 “Sunter’s coaches ? But they ran wagons, didn’t they ?” (pp. 48-51) furnishes an overview of Tom “Fire” Sunter’s PSV sideline, ca 1949-1960. Like the Percivals, the “Fires” were a Gunnerside family, though more widely known and remembered as heavy hauliers based at Northallerton. Eight b&w photographs, six by veteran transport photographer Roy Marshall and two, previously unpublished, from the Sunter family’s own archives. This piece was drafted with the co-operation of the “Fire” Sunters, for which we are very grateful as some members of the family were initially mistrustful of this project, having had their fingers burned in previous local history efforts. We are also indebted (as always) to Deputy Editor David Hayward for bearing with us while every dot and comma was carefully considered here at the Yorkshire end. Interested parties may also wish to procure a copy of the book *Sunter’s—High, Wide and Mighty, by Tony Eaton of Northallerton, which covers the heavy haulage for which the “Fires” became famous. January 2011 : Vintage Roadscene* Issue 134 “Percival’s of Gunnerside—Part 1” (pp. 50-53) begins the Percival’s story in Victorian times and carries it as far as the Second World War. During this period, the long-established Gunnerside firm of Lodge Percival and Sons began to be superseded by the Limited Company which Lodge’s three sons—William, James, and John Lodge—set up in 1937. Nine b&w photographs, all previously unpublished, and two period advertisements. February 2011 : *Vintage Roadscene* Issue 135 “Percival’s of Gunnerside—Part 2” (pp. 48-53) takes up the story of Percival Brothers (Coaches), Ltd, at the end of the War and carries it through to the end of the 1950s, by which time William and James had both died leaving John Lodge Percival—not unlike George VI—unexpectedly carrying the can. Fourteen b&w photographs, eleven from PM Photography and three, previously unpublished, from the Percival family’s own archives, which also yielded an impressive 1940s colour business card for this piece. May 2011 : *Vintage Roadscene* Issue 138 “Percival’s of Gunnerside—Part 3” (pp. 46-49) concludes the tale, covering the period from late 1960 to the Summer of 1971. Seven b&w photographs from various sources, and also three previously unpublished colour snaps and a 1960s advertisement. Naturally there will be much more on Percival’s—and likewise on Scratcherd’s and Sunter’s—in the forthcoming book, *The Bus Up the Dale. ooooOOOoooo* Also of interest, in terms of local P. S. V. nostalgia, are the several recent pieces in *Vintage Roadscene* by our valued supporter and co-researcher Keith Kitching of Scarborough, who is himself compiling the history of the Darlington firm, Scott’s Greys. Keith’s support has been moral as well as practical, and he also happens to be the proud owner of a former Scott’s Greys saloon which was used in the filming of B. B. C. Television’s “All Creatures Great and Small” in the 1980s (and, more recently, in *“Heartbeat”). Keith Kitching’s contributions to Vintage Roadscene* include:— July 2010 : Issue 128 “Scott’s Greys of Darlington”—a brief history of the firm—for further details, buy Keith’s book as soon as it comes out ! August 2010 : Issue 129 “Small Plaxton Motor Coaches of the Early 1950s”—a feature on the smaller coaches built by Plaxton’s of Scarborough in the 1950s, including RHN 548 which Keith knows a bit about, as it belongs to him ! Wesley Harker of Reeth ran a Plaxton-bodied 14-seater Commer in the 1960s, so Swaledale bus aficionados may wish to take note... June 2011 : Issue 139 “Cold War Coach Driver”—a fascinating memoir of Keith’s time driving the staff transport at the R. A. F. Fylingdales listening station in the early 1970s July 2011 : Issue 140 “Spring and Summer with Wallace Arnold”—a season driving for Wallace Arnold (better known to some of us as “Wally’s Trolleys”...) at Scarborough September 2011 : Issue 142 “On and Off the Buses”—Memories of driving for United Automobile Services at Scarborough October 2011 : Issue 143 “On and Off the Buses—More Happy Memories” November 2011 : Issue 144 “On and Off the Buses—More Fun and Games” December 2011 : Issue 145 “Even Marriage...”—Keith’s exploits on United buses include Holy Matrimony January 2012 : Issue 146 “G. N. E. Motor Services, Ltd”—a brief history of this noted operator March 2012 : Issue 148 “Scott’s Greys”—the first part of a slightly more detailed history. If anyone out there can add any information or memories to Keith’s researches on Scott’s Greys—or other Darlington operators such as G. N. E.—then, as with our own researches on Percival’s and other Swaledale bus services, do please get in touch. *Return to Home Page*