West Row Coach Services

September 1990 – After Morley’s Grey Coaches, based in West Row near Mildenhall, ceased trading in 1985, the garage site was taken over by the Taylor-Balls haulage business. West Row Coach Services was established as part of Taylor-Balls and four of their Plaxton Supreme coaches are seen here parked at the West Row garage. Left to right: PMA 483P, a Bedford YMT that had been new to Niddrie’s Coaches of Middlewich, Cheshire in April 1976. It had latterly been operated by Morley’s Grey. HDN 472X, a Ford R1114 that had been new to Dodsworth’s Coaches of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire in February 1982. TND 418X, a DAF MB200 new in May 1982 as a Shearings Holidays touring coach (owned by either Shearings or Jacksons – they were in the same group). It was then operated by D J Coaches of Fordham and Steve MacKenzie of West Row before passing to WRCS. JGV 335V, a Bedford YMT new to Morley’s Grey in December 1979.

Tuesday 1 November 1994 – Riverside School in Mildenhall was accessed along Wamil Way until a new access road was built in later years. The roadway, lined with terraced cottages and houses is quite narrow and became very congested at school times. Two coaches of West Row Coach Services pass each other. Approaching is PMA 483P whilst JGV 335V heads away. Both are Plaxton bodied Bedford YMTs that had previously been operated by Morley’s Grey Coaches until that company ceased trading in 1985. The Morley’s garage became the base for WRCS and the related Taylor-Balls haulage business. PMA 483P was new to Niddrie’s Coaches of Middlewich, Cheshire in April 1976 and JGV 335V was new to Morley’s Grey in December 1979. The coach on the left is Leroy Coaches of Barway Q836 MEV.

Friday 23 March 1990 – West Row Coach Services PMA 483P seen by St. Mary’s Church in Barton Mills working a morning school contract. It was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT that had been new to Niddrie’s Coaches of Middlewich, Cheshire in April 1976 although had latterly been operated by Morley’s Grey Coaches until Morley’s ceased trading in 1985. WRCS and the related Taylor-Balls haulage business took over the former Morley’s Grey site as their base.

Sunday 6 August 1989 - West Row Coach Services had recently acquired TND 418X which was later painted in their colours of red, white and black. A Plaxton Supreme bodied DAF MB200 that had been new to Jacksons/Shearings of Altrincham in May 1982. It had previously been operated by D J Coaches of Fordham and then Steve MacKenzie of West Row before passing to WRCS.

Friday 22 October 1993 – West Row Coach Services operated the Suffolk County Council supported service 401 that ran on Fridays (for Mildenhall market) and Tuesdays (for Mildenhall Clinic). Plaxton Supreme bodied DAF MB200 TND 418X was new in May 1982 as a Shearings Holidays touring coach (owned by either Shearings or Jacksons – they were in the same group). It was then operated by D J Coaches of Fordham and Steve MacKenzie of West Row before passing to WRCS. This was the 1119 trip from King Street, Mildenhall to Lakenheath. In the background is Neal’s Travel H475 KSG, a Carlyle bodied Ford Transit, loading as the 1107 trip to West Row.

Friday 19 March 1993 – West Row Coach Services operated the Suffolk County Council supported service 401 that operated on Fridays (for Mildenhall market) and Tuesdays (for Mildenhall Clinic). Plaxton Supreme bodied DAF MB200 TND 418X was new in May 1982 as a Shearings Holidays touring coach (owned by either Shearings or Jacksons – they were in the same group). It was then operated by D J Coaches of Fordham and Steve MacKenzie of West Row before passing to WRCS. This was the 1310 trip from King Street, Mildenhall to Lakenheath.

October 1986 – After Morley’s Grey Coaches, based in West Row near Mildenhall, ceased trading in 1985, the garage site was taken over by the Taylor-Balls haulage business. West Row Coach Services was established as part of Taylor-Balls. JGV 335V was one of the two former Morley’s Grey Coaches Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMTs that were acquired by WRCS at its formation. The destination glass shows the name that Ron Issacson, the former Morley’s Grey driver, was known by. It was seen parked at the West Row garage. The livery used the same combination of colours that Taylor-Balls used for their lorries one of which may be seen in the background.

Friday 17 July 1992 – Like many schools in rural counties, Mildenhall Upper School had a catchment area that brought pupils from reasonable distances to school and they remain busy places with a lot of bus and coach activity. In this view West Row Coach Services YTV 165Y, a Van Hool bodied DAF eases past a coach lettered for Waterside Travel, a Southampton based operator. I presume it had been acquired by a local operator.

Monday 17 March 1997 – West Row Coach Services (Taylor-Balls) of West Row near Mildenhall JIL 2015 seen loading at the Schering-Plough site in Holborn Avenue, Mildenhall. The coach was taking Mildenhall employees to a two day conference held at the Marks Tey Hotel, Marks Tey near Colchester. A Bova Futura that had been new to Godson’s Coaches of Leeds in March 1998 registered E123 UWW.

May 1999 – West Row Coach Services HIL 4176, a Van Hool T815 integral new to Spratt’s of Wreningham in June 1985 registered B22 WEX. It had been acquired from Spratt’s in 1994 and had possibly carried registration HIL 7394 circa 1992. Alongside is Duncan MacKenzie’s VFK 661X, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1114 new to Sealandair of West Bromwich in August 1981.

Saturday 20 March 2010 (0746) – West Row Coach Services HIL 4176, a Van Hool T815 integral new to Spratt’s of Wreningham in June 1985 registered B22 WEX, seen at Roger Pamment’s workshop yard in West Row. It had been acquired from Spratt’s in 1994 and possibly carried registration HIL 7394 circa 1992.

Tuesday 7 June 2011 - West Row Coach Services M427 WAK, a Plaxton Premiere 320 bodied Dennis Javelin new to Banstead Coaches in March 1995. Seen in Mildenhall Bus Station working a private charter to the West Midlands for the local British Legion.

Tuesday 26 September 2017 (1058) – West Row Coach Services of West Row near Mildenhall W914 BEC seen outside Mildenhall Swimming Pool on a school to baths contract. It is an Irizar Century bodied Scania L94 that was new Battersby-Silver Grey (Harrison Coaches) of Morecambe in March 2000.

Tuesday 26 September 2017 (1059) – West Row Coach Services of West Row near Mildenhall W914 BEC seen outside Mildenhall Swimming Pool on a school to baths contract. It is an Irizar Century bodied Scania L94 that was new Battersby-Silver Grey (Harrison Coaches) of Morecambe in March 2000.

Monday 28 October 2019 (0840) – West Row Coach Services of West Row near Mildenhall W914 BEC seen by the Half Moon in Mildenhall when heading to Mildenhall College Academy. It is an Irizar Century bodied Scania L94 that was new Battersby-Silver Grey (Harrison Coaches) of Morecambe in March 2000.

Thursday 8 September 2016 (1006) – West Row Coach Services YN57 AEV, a Beulas Cygnus bodied Irisbus/Iveco, which was new to Manns Travel of Gravesend in October 2007. It was seen leaving Mildenhall bus station working a private hire.

Thursday 8 September 2016 (1002) – West Row Coach Services YN57 AEV, a Beulas Cygnus bodied Irisbus/Iveco, which was new to Manns Travel of Gravesend in October 2007. It was seen working a private hire in Mildenhall bus station.

Thursday 8 September 2016 (0955) – West Row Coach Services YN57 AEV, a Beulas Cygnus bodied Irisbus/Iveco, which was new to Manns Travel of Gravesend in October 2007. It was seen working a private hire in Mildenhall bus station.