Grey-Green (Ewer Group)

July 1972 – Yelloway and the London based Ewer Group also worked together very closely over the years. (Charting for bookings made by southern area booking agents were charted by their staff at the Stamford Hill offices. There was a dedicated telephone line which was answered ‘Yelloway’). Passengers from the north heading for the Kent and Sussex seaside resorts would connect with Ewer Group services in London and in the 1960s this led to formal through services being established from the north to Margate/Ramsgate and to Brighton/Eastbourne operating Friday overnight south/Saturday daytime north. Yelloway normally covered the runs but at busy times Ewer Group vehicles would come up to Rochdale to cover duplicates. Orange Luxury Coaches Limited JHV 499D, a 1966 Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard, was parked on spare ground in Penn Street (between Smith Street and Baillie Street) late Friday afternoon before working one of the Friday night south duplicates.

Sept 1973 - One of the Yelloway coaches had broken down on the London service the previous day and had been substituted by Grey-Green Coaches JHV 498D, a 1966 Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard. The coach returned to London on the 0920 service via Derby etc driven by Ray Slater (no relation to me). Ray was at the wheel completing his paperwork at before setting out from Weir Street.

September 1973 – A poorer than poor photograph but I wanted to share it. One of the Yelloway coaches had broken down on the London service the previous day and had been substituted by Grey-Green Coaches JHV 498D, a Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard. The coach returned to London on the 0920 service via Derby etc.

Sunday 22 July 1984 – Red Lodge on the A11 road in Suffolk had a number of catering establishments frequented by coaches. This one (which I think included ‘Road House’ in its title) occupied the site where the Doctor’s Surgery was built in later years. Directly across the road was another popular café, the Suffolk Punch (later re-named Sanara Services). Having two such places across the road from each other created some hair raising moments as people ran across the road between the two. In this Sunday evening photograph there are four coaches taking a break including a Duple Dominant coach of London based Grey-Green Coaches probably heading back to the capital from the seaside.

June 1980 - George Ewer's Grey-Green Coaches was based in Stamford Hill, London and operated coach services from the capital to most coastal resorts in the south-east and south-west of England including those to Great Yarmouth and Felixstowe via Ipswich where a small coach station/garage was located. The property sat between St. Margaret's Street and Old Foundry Road with doorways to both those thoroughfares. This view is the latter which featured one doorway, the former had two through which can be seen an Ipswich municipal bus passing by. The property still exists along with the large lettering of this once famous company.

Saturday 17 December 1983 - George Ewer's Grey-Green Coaches was based in Stamford Hill, London and operated coach services from the capital to most coastal resorts in the south-east and south-west of England including those to Great Yarmouth and Felixstowe via Ipswich where a small coach station/garage was located. The property sat between St. Margaret's Street and Old Foundry Road with doorways to both those thoroughfares. This view is the former which featured two doorways, the latter had only one. The property still exists along with the large lettering of this once famous company.

Friday 21 June 2019 - George Ewer's Grey-Green Coaches was based in Stamford Hill, London and operated coach services from the capital to most coastal resorts in the south-east and south-west of England including those to Great Yarmouth and Felixstowe via Ipswich where a small coach station/garage was located. The building was sold by the company over thirty years ago and has survived in use by a taxi business and a car valeting business etc. The large lettering of the once famous coach company remains intact over what was a much larger doorway when used by coaches. Standing between St. Margaret's Street and Old Foundry Road there are doorways to both those thoroughfares. This view is the latter. To see a photograph from June 1980 please follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/40879368

Friday 21 June 2019 - George Ewer's Grey-Green Coaches was based in Stamford Hill, London and operated coach services from the capital to most coastal resorts in the south-east and south-west of England including those to Great Yarmouth and Felixstowe via Ipswich where a small coach station/garage was located. The building was sold by the company over thirty years ago and has survived in use by a taxi business and a car valeting business etc. The large lettering of the once famous coach company remains intact as does the lamp bracket.

Saturday 5 January 1991 – Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) E893 KYW, a Duple 320 bodied Volvo B10M new in May 1988, seen on the way from the garage at Waterbeach to Cambridge city centre operating on hire to Cambridge Coach Services. CCS had a very busy day today as Cambridge United Football Club were playing in the F A Cup round at Wolverhampton which resulted in many of their own fleet being required to take supporters to the West Midlands. (Cambridge won the game). To cover other work on the day six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green which were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). The coaches were driven by CCS drivers. I drove E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. I enjoyed the change of vehicle although have to say that the luggage space was rather minimal. The rear boot was small and there was just one side locker on the nearside but this contained the cleaning equipment used by the regular Grey Green driver. The coaches were used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. As a result they were not normally used over the weekends so from time to time CCS loaned them. E893 KYW had operated the 1645 service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester, the previous evening. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday 5 January 1991 – Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) E893 KYW, a Duple 320 bodied Volvo B10M new in May 1988, seen on the way from the garage at Waterbeach to Cambridge city centre operating on hire to Cambridge Coach Services. CCS had a very busy day today as Cambridge United Football Club were playing in the F A Cup round at Wolverhampton which resulted in many of their own fleet being required to take supporters to the West Midlands. (Cambridge won the game). To cover other work on the day six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green which were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). The coaches were driven by CCS drivers. I drove E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. I enjoyed the change of vehicle although have to say that the luggage space was rather minimal. The rear boot was small and there was just one side locker on the nearside but this contained the cleaning equipment used by the regular Grey Green driver. The coaches were used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. As a result they were not normally used over the weekends so from time to time CCS loaned them. E893 KYW had operated the 1645 service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester, the previous evening. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday 5 January 1991 – Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) E893 KYW, a Duple 320 bodied Volvo B10M new in May 1988, seen in Emmanuel Road by New Square in Cambridge operating on hire to Cambridge Coach Services. CCS had a very busy day today as Cambridge United Football Club were playing in the F A Cup round at Wolverhampton which resulted in many of their own fleet being required to take supporters to the West Midlands. (Cambridge won the game). To cover other work on the day six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green which were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). The coaches were driven by CCS drivers. I drove E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. I enjoyed the change of vehicle although have to say that the luggage space was rather minimal. The rear boot was small and there was just one side locker on the nearside but this contained the cleaning equipment used by the regular Grey Green driver. The coaches were used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various Essex outposts. As a result they were not normally used over the weekends so from time to time CCS loaned them. E893 KYW had operated the 1645 service 197 from Millbank to Stanway the previous evening. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday 6 January 1991 – Cambridge United Football Club had played (and won) in a F A Cup round at Wolverhampton the previous day and the increased need for additional coaches made it a very busy day for Cambridge Coach Services. To cover the extra requirements six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) which would normally have been parked up all weekend as they were normally used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon. The six coaches were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). Right to left to right in this view B860 XYR, E894 KYW and C876 CYX (D879 FYL is parked alongside the latter). On the edge of the photograph is E893 KYW which I had driven the previous day on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. On the Friday evening it had operated the 1645 Grey Green service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester. The sixth vehicle (E891 KYW) was parked alongside E893 KYW.

Sunday 6 January 1991 – Cambridge United Football Club had played (and won) in a F A Cup round at Wolverhampton the previous day and the increased need for additional coaches made it a very busy day for Cambridge Coach Services. To cover the extra requirements six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) which would normally have been parked up all weekend as they were normally used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon. The six coaches were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). Left to right in this view are B860 XYR, E894 KYW, C876 CYX and D879 FYL. The other two vehicles (E893 KYW and E891 KYW) were parked in front of the latter two. The previous day I had driven E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. On the Friday evening it had operated the 1645 Grey Green service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester.

Sunday 6 January 1991 – Cambridge United Football Club had played (and won) in a F A Cup round at Wolverhampton the previous day and the increased need for additional coaches made it a very busy day for Cambridge Coach Services. To cover the extra requirements six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) which would normally have been parked up all weekend as they were normally used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon. The six coaches were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). The CCS yard at Waterbeach was adjacent to a sand and gravel supplier and some of the hired vehicles were parked on that area like B860 XYR seen here. Another Grey-Green coach and a CCS coach can be seen in the background parked within the CCS yard. The previous day I had driven E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. On the Friday evening it had operated the 1645 Grey Green service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester.

Saturday 5 January 1991 – Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) E893 KYW, a Duple 320 bodied Volvo B10M new in May 1988, seen on the way from the garage at Waterbeach to Cambridge city centre operating on hire to Cambridge Coach Services. CCS had a very busy day today as Cambridge United Football Club were playing in the F A Cup round at Wolverhampton which resulted in many of their own fleet being required to take supporters to the West Midlands. (Cambridge won the game). To cover other work on the day six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green which were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). The coaches were driven by CCS drivers. I drove E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. I enjoyed the change of vehicle although have to say that the luggage space was rather minimal. The rear boot was small and there was just one side locker on the nearside but this contained the cleaning equipment used by the regular Grey Green driver. The coaches were used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. As a result they were not normally used over the weekends so from time to time CCS loaned them. E893 KYW had operated the 1645 service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester, the previous evening. The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon.

Monday 29 October 1989 - Grey-Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) 133 (F133 PHM) seen Wilton Road, Victoria, London when operating service 24 (Pimlico to Hampstead Heath). Sister bus 116 was about to leap frog 133 operating the same service. Service 24 was the first central London LRT (London Regional Transport) route to be put out to tender and from 5 November 1988 Grey-Green began working the contracted service. Thirty Alexander RV bodied Volvo B10M-50 Citybus double deckers numbered 115-144 were delivered in readiness to take over the contract one of which was 129 (F129 PHM) new in October 1988. In the earlier days of the London contracts the ‘all red livery’ edict did not apply and the buses employed carried the operating company’s own livery.

Wednesday 25 September 1991 (approx 0815) – Two buses of Grey-Green (T Cowie PLC) seen in New Oxford Street, London when operating service 24 (Hampstead Heath to Pimlico). Nearest the camera is 145 (G145 TYT). Service 24 was the first central London LRT (London Regional Transport) route to be put out to tender and from 5 November 1988 Grey-Green began working the contracted service. Initially thirty Alexander RV bodied Volvo B10M-50 Citybus double deckers numbered 115-144 were delivered in readiness to take over the contract although thus bus was from a later batch of ten numbered 145-154. Delivered in February 1990. In the earlier days of the London contracts the ‘all red livery’ edict did not apply and the buses employed carried the operating company’s own livery. The Cowie Group’s main business was connected with cars and they owned numerous countrywide car dealerships. Grey-Green was their first venture into buses and coaches as a result of Cowie’s attraction to and subsequent acquisition of the Ewer Group. The Ewer Group had a car dealership network in the capital although had originated as a coach operator in the early days of coaching. The bus carries an advertisement for ‘Cowie Interleasing’, the Cowie Group’s car fleet leasing and fleet management company with whom I had daily dealings in my job for many years.

Thursday 22 April 1993 (approx 1630) - Grey-Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) 129 (F129 PHM) seen taking on passengers by the Cenotaph in Parliament Street/Whitehall, London when operating service 24 (Hampstead Heath to Pimlico). Service 24 was the first central London LRT (London Regional Transport) route to be put out to tender and from 5 November 1988 Grey-Green began working the contracted service. Thirty Alexander RV bodied Volvo B10M-50 Citybus double deckers numbered 115-144 were delivered in readiness to take over the contract one of which was 129 (F129 PHM) new in October 1988. In the earlier days of the London contracts the ‘all red livery’ edict did not apply and the buses employed carried the operating company’s own livery. A Reading Transport ‘London Line’ vehicle is across the road passing the end of Downing Street which is located between the tall building shrouded in blue covering and the lower building beyond.