As one of the longest stretches of ownership by the same family in the bus industry, Safeguard Coaches has hit the 100-year milestone. MARK LYONS details the company’s path to the present day
Immediately after the first world war, many haulage businesses were established by returning servicemen taking advantage of the ready availability of surplus military vehicles. Several of these began running buses and coaches.
Guildford was a frontier town between Aldershot & District (A&D), which had served the town since 1914, and East Surrey which first operated in the area in 1921. This created an environment in which smaller operators could find their niche, although most have fallen by the wayside.
Coal and charabancs
In 1924, Arthur Newman, who had established a coal delivery and general haulage business, fitted a 28-seat charabanc body to an accident-damaged coal lorry and offered excursions marketed as “The Safeguard Coaches”. The rationale for the choice of name is lost in the mists of time. Within two years, three further vehicles arrived. Annie Newman – Arthur’s widowed mother – looked after the administration while Arthur and his brothers undertook driving and maintenance.
In October 1927…
