GLORY DAYS: Hants & Dorset

One of the best-known operators on the south coast, Hants & Dorset was established originally as Bournemouth & District Motor Services. Its more familiar title was adopted when the Tilling Group acquired a shareholding in 1920. The company came to dominate bus services in rural Hampshire and Dorset, with routes linking the major urban centres such as Bournemouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Swanage. In 1929, the Southern Railway acquired a stake in the company. Like most of the Tilling Group companies, the Hants & Dorset fleet consisted mainly of various types of Bristol-built buses, although there were also more unusual purchases, such as Beadle-Morris Commercial single-deckers as well as both AEC Regent III and Leyland PD2 double-deckers. As with other Tilling Group operators, Hants & Dorset was to become part of the National Bus Company in 1969.

The latest title in the popular ’Glory Days’ series, recounts the history of Hants & Dorset from its origins through to the mid-1970s. Serving as it did a holiday destination area, Hants & Dorset was well known to transport enthusiasts outside the area in which it operated. The company’s popularity will ensure the success of the latest title in the series and this new addition to the series will be enjoyed by many interested in the history of one of Britain’s most important bus and coach operators. 

Author: James Pribce
Format: HB 96 pages
Publisher: Ian Allan Ltd
Pub date: Not Known
ISBN 10: 0711031053
ISBN 13: 9780711031050

List Price: £16.99