Sharpes of Nottingham has been adding to its heritage fleet, as Nick Larkin reports
Nottingham operator is celebrating its 15th anniversary with two extremely contrasting fleet additions.
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A Volvo B58 with Plaxton Viewmaster bodywork, registration VLF6X, is the latest addition to the Sharpes of Nottingham heritage fleet.
Described by Sharpes Managing Director Neil Sharpe as ‘probably the best Plaxton Viewmaster in existence,’ the coach was new to Albatross of Brentford in August 1981. It later passed to Sworders Coaches of Walkern, Hertfordshire, and was then sold to Bob Bowers of Grove Travel and later passed to his son, who rallied the vehicle as a non-PSV. Sharpes will be returning it to Class VI specification. “We were after a Viewmaster and this one was exactly right,” said Neil.
Restoration has recently been completed on another Volvo B58 in the fleet, Plaxton Supreme IV-bodied STM238W, new to Sworders in 1981 and then used by Grayway of Wigan. In great contrast, currently in build, and also marking Sharpes’ anniversary will be a new bespoke specification Van Hool Altano TDX21.
Sharpes currently has 18 Van Hools in its 40-strong PSV fleet. The operation was set up with just three vehicles in 2004 and now has more than 50.
The family’s association with the coaching industry began after Neil’s father, Trevor took on a part-time driving position with Lamcote Coaches in Radcliffe-on-Trent, while working as a projectionist for the Odeon Cinema in Nottingham. He later spent 10 years with the operator as Traffic Manager before briefly joining Silverdale of Nottingham doing the same. He then set up a Nottingham branch of Yorkshire-based Eddie Brown Tours with two coaches belonging to that operator.
In 2004, Trevor’s sons Neil, Russell, James and Simon established Sharpe and Sons (Nottingham) Limited with three ex-Shearings Volvo B10M Van Hool Alizees, later buying the operation run by their father and bringing the total fleet to 13 vehicles.
Realising there was a gap in the market for high quality coaches, Sharpes bought its first new vehicle, a Bova Synergy 75-seat executive double-decker in 2007, by which time the fleet had increased to 27. Today, Sharpes runs everything from holidays, tours and schools to local bus services and a huge range of private hires.
In 2012 had come the chance to buy a 1971 Duple Viceroy-bodied Ford coach that had been in storage for more than 40 years and never been registered. “This began our heritage fleet – and even though we’re not too sure how it expanded so much, we’re glad it has,” said Neil. Other heritage vehicles range from a new to Littlewoods of Sheffield AEC Reliance/Plaxton Panorama Elite III, VWA290L to a London Transport AEC Regent III RT-type. Many of the vehicles are available for private hire.
Visit: www.sharpesofnottingham.com
