New Station for Coach Fleet
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PAA LARGE new coach station was opened on Monday at Borden, Hants, by Crearnline Motor Services
;Borclon), Ltd, The ceremony was performed by Ur. A. E. Smith, Mayor of Reading, who is also managing director of Smith's Luxury Coaches (Reading), Ltd., and a personal friend of Mr. H. C. Wilkins, director and founder of Crearnline.
The new coach station is at the bottom of a spacious sloping forecourt, and has a servicing bay at one end. A two-storey red-brick office block stands at the top of the slope, near the road, with gardens in front. The new premises replace the former offices in Oakhanger and a garage elsewhere in Bordon.
The three coaches which took part in the recent Brighton rally, were exhibited. one of which, an A.E.C.Duple Elizabethan 43-seater, won the premier award in Class C.
The business was founded in 1937, when Mr. Wilkins bought a 14-seat bus from Mr. Smith, and started a Blackmoor-Oakhanger-Alton service, which was later sold. Now the fleet has grown to 24 luxury coaches, which arc mostly nearly new.
These comprise 13 A.E.C., five Maudslay. four Commer and two Bedford. All save five have bodies by Duple. Ten coaches are based on a separate depot at Aldershot and 14 at Bordon. Three 48-seat half-deck coaches were operated until a few months ago and were found satisfactory, but vehicles with 43 scats on one level arc lighter.
The fleet is engaged mainly on private hire, hut there arc excursions to various south-coast resorts, Ascot, Wembley, Goodwood, as well as mystery tours. Week-end express services for the Forces are run to Liverpool, Leeds, Derby. and Newcastle, each also serving intermediate towns. There are also military contracts, school contracts and a considerable amount of work for an L,C.C. educational camp at Hindhead.
Last October the company purchased control of the Liss and District Omnibus Co., Ltd.. formerly in the Hants and Sussex group, and this now has eight vehicles—five • Bedford, two Maudslay and a Leyland double-decker.