More than half a century after its demise, a legendary Yorkshire operator is still creating huge interest, with a thriving society honouring its memory and now a new book.
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Samuel Ledgard, better known to many as ‘Sammy’s Blue Buses,’ was taken over by West Yorkshire Road Car in October 1967, its iconic livery disappearing virtually overnight. Born in Leeds in 1874, Samuel Ledgard was the licensee of the Nelson Hotel at Armley from 1896, branching into catering and after using a horse and cart graduated to lorries, including a vehicle that could be converted to carry passengers.
In 1924 he launched a Horsforth to Leeds bus service and the bus business gradually expanded, partly through acquisition. Samuel Ledgard also had other enterprises including a farm and a brewery.
On his death in 1952, the bus company passed to the family and the legal lettering on buses was changed to ‘Exors of Samuel Ledgard.’ Then began a policy of buying mainly secondhand – in the next 15 years only 13 new vehicles entered the fleet, mainly coaches but also half a dozen Roe-bodied AEC Regents which arrived in September 1957 with unusual registrations 1949-1954 U – Ledgard’s first lorry in 1912 was U 1949.
They were joined by more than 170 secondhand purchases, including ex-London utility Daimlers and AEC RTs; Bristol Ks from United and Bristol Omnibus and Leyland PDs from several operators meant Ledgard was an enthusiast’s delight, with vehicles in its distinctive blue and grey livery operating a major network of services and seen everywhere from Harrogate to Otley and Leeds.
To many, the operator was unique and unforgettable, and in 1998 the Samuel Ledgard Society was formed as a result of people meeting at the Rose & Crown in Otley (opposite the operator’s former depot) for an evening’s remembrance of the company.
This was characteristically led by a zealous Barry Rennison, who had started his lifelong transport career as a teenage Ledgard conductor, finishing as Manager of Independent Coachways of Horsforth, ably assisted another major Ledgard fan and photographer Tony Greaves. As well as still numbering some former Legard staff among its membership the society is attracting an increasing number of younger members fascinated by Ledgard’s history.
A quarterly magazine is published and a reunion and other events held. Details of the society can be obtained by emailing Tony on [email protected]
With thanks to Tony Greaves for the use of his photos, also published in the new Ledgard book.
Stuart Emmett has had a fascination for Samuel Ledgard since he was ‘bus spotting’ in Leeds in the 1950s. “Not only was the fleet fascinating but there was always something special about Ledgard. It was absolutely unique,” he said.
Stuart went on to amass a vast number of photos and information on Ledgard and now his book, Ledgard of Leeds Buses has been published. “It’s not meant to be a definitive history of Ledgard – others have already done this – but pure nostalgia, with pictures and informative captions to rekindle memories for those fortunate enough to have known Ledgard’s buses and the many others never able to experience them first hand,” he added.
The book does give Ledgard’s history and looks at routes but the main emphasis is on the vehicles in the 1950s and 60s, with some wonderfully atmospheric pictures.
Ledgard of Leeds Buses is published Key Books, ISBN 978-1-913295-85-1 at £14.99. keypublishing.com
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