The Charabanc - 1920

This was the first bus to run into Blidworth. The idea came from Mr Hodgkiss, who as most  people will remember, was the Methodist School, or was it Weslyan, Headmaster. He asked Mr Davis if they would run a bus Thursday – Saturday which proved such a success that they started a daily service – 7:00am first bus and 10:00pm last bus. THe the tramwasy decided to run a bus before them, which turnedo local poet to wirte a poem urgin people to reamin loyal to the Davis and Hope Service, which Mr Davis ensures me the people of Rainworth and Blidworth did. The tramways asked D&H to run an hourly service and they would run on the half hours which ran smoothly and successfully for a number of years until finally selling out to M.G.O.

Regarding the Chara, Mr Davis was taking a bus load to the coast when he was stopped for speeding – guess its speed – 17 mph – while the bus was regulated to 12 mph so taking 5 hours to the coast. The fine was £4. Also the tramways reported them for carrying 93 children who were given a free ride around Berry Hill and Three Thorn Hollow this particular Saturday morning!

A Leyland bus was put into service in the year 1921. The body was made of Oak for the floor and the sides and roof were Ash with glass windows. The most interestnig part about the bus was that the whole body was purchased by Mr Brookes of the ‘Bird in Hand’ inn who had it erected in the field at the bottom of Church Hill. The body work was constructed by a lcoal firm whose works were on Victoria Street in Mansfield.