Thomas William Stanton, always known as Bill, has passed away. He was aged 75 and had fought a very brave fight after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August last year.
Originally a conductor with Potteries Motor Traction (PMT), Bill went on to become a driver before moving to Blackpool where he was a driver/conductor with the corporation. He returned to Stoke-on-Trent to form a taxi business in the early 1970s called B Cabs – how he got the nickname Billy B Cabs – and soon progressed to operating coaches. The name of the operation was changed to BC Travel, which stood for Better Class Travel in the mid-1970s, but it ceased in 1981.
Bill then became General Manager of Berresford Motors of Cheddleton before joining Stevensons of Uttoxeter where he was manager of the Crystal Coaches operation. He left Stevensons in the early 1990s after a conversation with Jim Stonier of J W Stoniers and Sons of Shelton who wanted to retire. Stoniers was acquired and a network of routes in Newcastle-under-Lyme introduced under the Cheepa Bus brand competing against PMT.
Bill later sold out to what had become First PMT and other than the occasional spell of driving and other business activities which included driving for his son Keith who was Transport Manager and later General Manager of Wardle Transport, he retired.
During his career Bill had over 50 jobs and was never out of work. We compiled his memories in a book called What no Jobs? published by Amazon. “He leaves behind my mother Linda, eldest sister Tracy, me and my youngest sister Tina,” explained Keith Stanton who now has his own business, Stantons of Stoke. “His funeral is planned for 29th February and if anyone wants to contact me for details please email me at [email protected]”
