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                              A Brief History

 

  Gibson's was the brainchild of two brothers, Walter & Edward Gibson. The two miners first came up with the idea of buying a bus in 1919. They used it to ferry themselves, and work mates, to and from the local coalfields, often parking it up and doing their shift before taking  their colleagues home covering both the night and day shifts.
 

  The first bus was nicknamed "Misery" because it didn't like to go up steep hills, which meant that the passengers had to get out and push, and also for it's lack of comfort. In time they purchased a newer, better second bus which became lovingly known as "Comfort" because it was more luxurious and comfortable than the first and hence the trademark of "Comfort Buses" was born.
  

  In time the brothers decided to expand, and in 1922 they decided to run a bus service for the public. They purchased a brand new bus and began running a 3 day a week service to the "Blue Boar " public house in Southgate Street, Leicester, picking up in Newbold Verdon and Desford along the way. Over the years the service became more popular and by 1928 the service, now running to Castle Street in Leicester, had expanded to 3 more villages, Carlton, Bardon & Nailstone, running every day of the week, buying more buses along the way to increase the fleet, and running their now small business from their house in New Street in Barlestone.
 

   In 1931, feeling that the new era introduced by the Road Traffic Act demanded a new approach to management, the brothers engaged Mr. T. H. Mills, who was then with the Trent Motor Traction Co Ltd,  to manage the company.

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  In September 1932 Gibsons owned a 6 seater Morris saloon car(reg No VP 5623) that was licensed as a "stage carriage"(taxi), and then in February 1935 the ever expanding fleet received a new bus, (fleet No 14) one of only two made, designed by Mr Mills who later became a director,  in an "Art Deco" style. The bodywork was made at the "Willowbrook Coachworks" in Loughborough at a cost of £500. During this time another service was provided for the villagers where two local men would ride into Leicester on the buses picking up supplies for the other locals and delivering it to them on their return.

 

  During the second world war Gibson's became P.S.V. Ltd based in the old telephone exchange in Rutland Street, Leicester. They were used for transporting troops and mail as far as Scotland. These were the days of the "Utility buses" with hard wooden slatted seats instead of upholstery.

 

  In 1949 the first "Double Decker" came to Gibson's, it was a second hand ,ex London Transport, one purchased from a depot in Stratford-on-Avon. The company went on to purchase several more ex London Transport double deckers over the years as well as purchasing one or two brand new ones.

 

  By 1952 two more services had been added to their routes, a Wednesday and Saturday service from Market Bosworth to Leicester via Peckleton, and also a Friday service from Newbold to Coalville via Bagworth and Ellistown. By this time they were also delivering parcels, dropping them off at selected points along the route and also delivering villagers laundry to their two dry cleaning shops called "Wonday" in Leicester, returning it when it was clean.
 
  In May 1963 Gibson's purchased a "one off" special to try to outdo their local rivals "Browns Blue" of Ibstock. It was a six wheeler Bedford bus with a Yeates body (Reg No 179 CNR). It had a radio, vanity mirrors and a sunroof. There was so much glass that the seats had faded after just two years and the four wheel steering system ate away the tyres. This bus was one of the first one man operated buses and they had to obtain a special licence to do so at the time. In 1965 the firm of Gibson Brothers became a Limited Company.

 

By the early 70's Gibson's had a fleet of 13 buses employing 17 people at their Barton Road garage in Barlestone. It was sold to Leicester City Transport in July 1979. It was still based at the Barton road garage, running under the Gibson name as a subsiduary, until Midland Fox bought it and closed the garage in 1993 so ending the local history of Gibson Brothers of Barlestone (Comfort Buses).