Shearings/National Holidays/WA-Shearings

Thursday 22 October 1989 – The Pleasurama Group owned coach tour operator Smiths-Shearings and, following their purchase of the privatised National Holidays, the consolidated operation became Shearings-National. During 1989 the Pleasurama Group was acquired by the Mecca Leisure Group. With tour destinations countrywide together with pick-up points covering vast areas, the company had a network with a number of interchange points to maximise its facilities and resources. One of these interchange coach stations was at Exhall near Coventry in the West Midlands which featured a passenger terminal and an exceptionally large open area for coach parking. The buildings also included administration offices and a maintenance facility. In this photograph ODJ 577W, a Duple Dominant bodied Volvo B58 new to Smiths (numbered 158) in April 1981, had been converted to a recovery vehicle. It carries the Blundell Group name in the destination glass. Alongside is Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M 751 (E751 ENE) new in January 1989.

Thursday 22 October 1989 – The Pleasurama Group owned coach tour operator Smiths-Shearings and, following their purchase of the privatised National Holidays, the consolidated operation became Shearings-National. During 1989 the Pleasurama Group was acquired by the Mecca Leisure Group. With tour destinations countrywide together with pick-up points covering vast areas, the company had a network with a number of interchange points to maximise its facilities and resources. One of these interchange coach stations was at Exhall near Coventry in the West Midlands which featured a passenger terminal and an exceptionally large open area for coach parking. The buildings also included administration offices and a maintenance facility. 474 (B474 UNB), a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1985 and 779 (F779 GNA), a Plaxton Parmount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in January 1989, are seen at the terminal loading bays.

Thursday 22 October 1989 – Smiths-Shearings 779 (F779 GNA), a Plaxton Parmount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in January 1989, seen parked at the company’s property at Exhall, near Coventry. With tour destinations countrywide together with pick-up points covering vast areas, the company had a network with a number of interchange points to maximise its facilities and resources. One of these interchange coach stations was at Exhall near Coventry in the West Midlands which featured a passenger terminal and an exceptionally large open area for coach parking. The buildings also included administration offices and a maintenance facility. The Pleasurama Group owned Smiths-Shearings and, following their purchase of the privatised National Holidays, the consolidated operation became Shearings-National. During 1989 the Pleasurama Group was acquired by the Mecca Leisure Group.

Thursday 22 October 1989 – The Pleasurama Group owned coach tour operator Smiths-Shearings and, following their purchase of the privatised National Holidays, the consolidated operation became Shearings-National. During 1989 the Pleasurama Group was acquired by the Mecca Leisure Group. With tour destinations countrywide together with pick-up points covering vast areas, the company had a network with a number of interchange points to maximise its facilities and resources. One of these interchange coach stations was at Exhall near Coventry in the West Midlands. Rather peaceful during this visit, its substantial parking area would be heaving with coaches, passengers and their luggage during a peak holiday time interchange.

Thursday 22 October 1989 – The Pleasurama Group owned coach tour operator Smiths-Shearings and, following their purchase of the privatised National Holidays, the consolidated operation became Shearings-National. During 1989 the Pleasurama Group was acquired by the Mecca Leisure Group. With tour destinations countrywide together with pick-up points covering vast areas, the company had a network with a number of interchange points to maximise its facilities and resources. One of these interchange coach stations was at Exhall near Coventry in the West Midlands. Rather peaceful during this visit, its substantial parking area would be heaving with coaches, passengers and their luggage during a peak holiday time interchange. The lower height building housed the passenger terminal and administration offices. The higher building was a vehicle maintenance facility.

Thursday 22 October 1989 – The Pleasurama Group owned coach tour operator Smiths-Shearings and, following their purchase of the privatised National Holidays, the consolidated operation became Shearings-National. During 1989 the Pleasurama Group was acquired by the Mecca Leisure Group. With tour destinations countrywide together with pick-up points covering vast areas, the company had a network with a number of interchange points to maximise its facilities and resources. One of these interchange coach stations was at Exhall near Coventry in the West Midlands which featured a passenger terminal and an exceptionally large open area for coach parking. The buildings also included administration offices and a maintenance facility.

Sunday 1 July 1990 – Shearings 836 (G836 RNC) is seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge after operating National Express service 305 from Birmingham. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger that was new in January 1990.

Saturday 9 October 1993 (approx. 1740) – Shearings Holidays 893 (G893 VNA) seen setting down homeward bound tour passengers at King Street, Mildenhall. An ordinary looking Plaxton Paramount 3500 one might say but it was unusually mounted on Mercedes-Benz O 303 running units, one of three such models (891-893) added to the fleet for the 1990 season. They were presumably to try the model as, in addition to Leyland Tigers, Volvo B10Ms and Scania KC93s, there were also two DAFs and 3 FAP-Sanos Charismas - a Yugoslavian built Mercedes Benz O 303 look-a-like.

Saturday 9 October 1993 (approx. 1740) – Shearings Holidays 893 (G893 VNA) seen setting down homeward bound tour passengers at King Street, Mildenhall. An ordinary looking Plaxton Paramount 3500 one might say but it was unusually mounted on Mercedes-Benz O 303 running units, one of three such models (891-893) added to the fleet for the 1990 season. They were presumably to try the model as, in addition to Leyland Tigers, Volvo B10Ms and Scania KC93s, there were also two DAFs and 3 FAP-Sanos Charismas - a Yugoslavian built Mercedes Benz O 303 look-a-like.

Wednesday 27 September 1995 (approx. 1325) – For many years, before the opening of the bus station in St. Andrew’s Street, Angel Hill was the focal point for quite a number of services operated by the local independent bus and coach companies as well as being used by tour coaches passing through (the latter sometimes still the case). In this view we see Shearings Holidays 750 (YXI 9256), a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M new in January 1979 registered F750 ENE, seen during a call when working a tour to Clacton-on-Sea. It was alongside Rule’s Coaches Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard LIB 1611 bound for its home village of Boxford on the return journey of a market day service. In the background is Coach Services (Thetford) Bova Futura F900 RDX.

Sunday 11 June 1995 – Any regular traveller on the A11 between Barton Mills and Thetford will certainly recognise the war memorial very close to Elveden. The memorial stands at the point where the boundaries of three parishes - Elveden, Eriswell, and Icklingham - meet and honours those from the parishes who served and died during World War One. The memorial was commissioned by philanthropist and businessman Edward Cecil Guinness (created Earl of Iveagh and Viscount of Elveden in 1919), owner of the Elveden Estate and Elveden Hall. Funded by Guinness in conjunction with donations from parishioners the column stands about 39 metres (128 feet) high and commemorates the 48 fallen from the three parishes. Shearings Holidays 184 (H184 DVM), a Van Hool Alizeé bodied Volvo B10M new in February 1991, was heading westbound on the A11 at the end of a tour based in Cromer.

Sunday 4 June 1995 – Shearings Holidays 197 (H197 DVM), a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M new in February 1991, was heading westbound on the A11 on the approach to Fiveways at Barton Mills.

Saturday 21 May 1994 - Shearings 918 (H918 DRJ), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in March 1991, making a quick call for toilets at St. Andrew’s Street North, Bury St. Edmunds as it worked a ‘Clacton-on-Sea’ based tour. It was around 1120 so I think the clientele were perhaps on their way back home rather than just starting their holiday. Not the most salubrious of facilities the building was demolished as part of the redevelopment of the site all along the background which now houses the Apex Leisure Complex and Arc shopping area. Where the coach is standing is where the town services bus shelter now stands.

Saturday 21 May 1994 - Shearings 918 (H918 DRJ), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in March 1991, turning from St. Andrew’s Street North to Risbygate Street in Bury St. Edmunds as it worked a ‘Clacton-on-Sea’ based tour. It was around 1125 so I think the clientele were perhaps on their way back home rather than just starting their holiday.

Tuesday 19 April 1994 – Shearings 955 (H955 DRJ) making a quick call at Emmanuel Street, Cambridge to set down homeward bound tour passengers. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1991.

Tuesday 18 March 1997 - Shearings 217 (J217 NNC), a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M new in January 1992, seen on a chilly and misty morning at the Marks Tey Hotel near Colchester.

Friday 26 May 1995 – Shearings 223 (J223 NNC), a Van Hool Alizeé bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1992, heading eastbound on the A11 at Red Lodge on a homeward bound tour feeder. In addition to displaying a ‘Worcester’ tour label (left) it also has a label listing the feeder point drop off locations which would have been posted at the interchange.

Saturday 3 April 1993 – Shearings 274 (J274 NNC), a Plaxton Premiere bodied Scania K93CRB new in February 1992, heading eastbound on the A11 between the Balsham/Fulbourn exit and Six Mile Bottom on a homeward bound tour feeder. In addition to displaying a ‘Torquay’ tour label it also has a label listing the feeder point drop off locations which would have been posted at the interchange.