Goodbye John Fishwick & Sons, Leyland

The shock announcement last week of the termination of local services between Leyland and Preston by independent bus operator, John Fishwick & Sons, was wholly unexpected. Commencing in 1907 this proud and distinctive independent was a local institution in the south Ribble area with its two tone green liveried buses serving communities around Leyland and south of Preston.

The longevity of the company made the sudden notice of closure (last Saturday) even more shocking for local communities and regular travellers on their services.

Interim replacement was arranged by Stagecoach Preston - until more formal arrangements and operator(s) could be put in place.

I never rode on the company's services; but my frequent visits to the Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland brought me into proximity with the unique colours of this operator. They not varied since the 1920s. Fishwick's vehicles were familiar sights over the years at the Fleetwood Tram Sunday event - and no doubt several will now end up in preservation.

This is another famous bus company disappearing into the pantheon of British transport history. Like Lytham St Annes Corporation and Scout Motor Services (not forgetting Ribble Motor Services and Standerwick's) this part of England will be the loser with removal of yet another distinctive bus fleet from our roads.

Blackpool is fortunate in having local authority arms length control over its buses (and trams) - allowing retention of a unique fleet livery and close oversight of its services for the benefit of the Fylde coast communities.

Goodye John Fishwick & Sons (1907 - 2015)