Stevensons of Uttoxeter[1] was a bus company that operated in Staffordshire from 1926 to 1997.
.jpg) Stevensons Optare Spectra at Lichfield bus station | |
| Founded | 1926 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operation | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Staffordshire |
| Service area | Midlands |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Fleet | 270 (June 1994) |
History
editOn 11 September 1926, John Stevenson commenced operating a bus service from Uttoxeter to Burton upon Trent based out of premises at Spath just north of Uttoxeter. In 1971, the business passed to John's son George, who was shortly joined by his son David. In 1977, the fleet comprised 40 buses.[2]
In the early 1980s, a small garage was opened in Rugeley in conjuction with the company taking over local services in the town formerly operated by fellow independent, Middletons and by Midland Red. In 1983, George Stevenson sold his 50% share of the business to Julian Peddle. On 1 October 1985, Stevensons merged its bus operations with that of East Staffordshire District Council, with Stevenson and Peddle owning 51% and the council 49%.[3] In 1987, Stevensons took a shareholding in Midland Fox including acquiring the Swadlincote depot.[4][5]
In February 1992, Stevensons acquired a shareholding in Rhondda Buses. This was sold to Stagecoach South Wales in November 1993.[6]
Also in the early 1990s, Stevensons operated substantial services in the West Midlands, mostly under contract to Centro. These routes were later sold or tendered to West Midlands Travel, leaving service 112, serving Burton upon Trent and Birmingham, as its only route in the West Midlands.
In June 1994, the business was purchased by British Bus who operated it in conjunction with their Midland Red North business which today is part of Arriva Midlands.[4] At the time of the purchase Stevensons owned 270 buses and were the largest independent bus operator in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
Under Arriva, the Stevensons name was phased out from the end of 1997 and the original Uttoxeter (Spath) depot closed in 2000 (the Rugeley garage having already closed in 1995), then the Swadlincote garage closed in 2007 before the Burton operation was sold to Midland Classic in 2016.
References
edit- ^ Companies House extract company no 1042339 Stevensons of Uttoxeter Limited
- ^ Last bus for Mr Stevenson Archive.org: Burton Mail 14 November 2003
- ^ East Staffs merger starts privatisation Commercial Motor 6 July 1985
- ^ a b Arriva Midlands History Arriva
- ^ Swadlincote Depot Midland Red
- ^ Stagecoach acquires Western The Independent 27 November 1993
External links
edit
Media related to Stevensons of Uttoxeter at Wikimedia Commons- Flickr gallery
- The Bus gallery
