Gibson Brothers buses of Barlestone -
Comfort buses
Any comments or stories sent to me will be posted on this page
Posted 04/03 /2013
I just remember the name "Comfort".
This really is an excellent site, Darren. I only just remember the tail end of the operation having moved to Braunstone in 1979 at 9 years old. But I do remember the companies cream and red Plaxton bodied Bedfords operating down the Hinckley Road. Then after the LCT take over, their then brand new Metrobuses carrying the name GIBSON on the front dash.
Later on I went to college in Desford and to pubs there and in Market Bosworth, so I feel part of the area as I spent my earlier years there. Of course, by the time I went to college those same Metrobuses carried Leicester Citybus livery. However we still knew these buses as Gibson 1, 2 & 3. The name still featured on our Leicester County Council school bus passes.
We also had operators such as Reliant of Ibstock, Bayliss, Barton-in-the-Beans, Sandhurst Coaches, TRS Coaches, Pams Coaches, ABC Tours, ABC European, GH Watts and no doubt others I can't remember. Even today, nearly 20 years later, a lot of those names have disappeared into history. Thanks for sharing the history of your Grandfather's company online. Regards, John Nelson, Fontenay le Vicomte, France.
Aaah!, school bus passes, back seat of the bus, and GIRLS. I remember it well !!! ( I was on a Sandhurst ).
Regards, Darren.
Posted 04/03/2013
Great site, I worked for them as did my father, you have his photo on there, Jim Haines.
Phil Haines.
Posted 05/03/2013
A friend of mine in Essex (who is from Kirby Muxloe originally) mailed me the link to the site.
We had moved from Hinckley in 1979, just before that I started to get an interest in buses & coaches when I rode on D9's with my Mum when we took the 658 to go and see relatives in Leicester. After leaving college I worked at Midland Fox head office for 5 years... so I guess I am smitten.
On your site I read that Midland Fox bought the Gibson garage. This is the first time I've heard this, although I do remember the 8XX series of competition routes which resulted in Midland Fox taking over the route started by your family. I typesetted the leaflets! (Not really a claim to fame).
Even though I worked for the big bad Fox, I find it so sad that operations such as Gibsons have now disappeared. I hope your site will go a long way to keeping all those memories alive, you must have spent so much time gathering material for it.
For a few years now I have been toying with the idea of doing a site or a book (the site would be considerably cheaper!) about Midland Fox. I left the UK in 1997, just as the Arriva period started and had left the company in 1995 when it was still Midland Fox. My interest has always been pre-mid 1990's as living over here I've lost touch (and perhaps interest too) in everything that has happened in the bus world since.For now I am amassing 35mm slides to fill in gaps in my own photos. Then I'll have to consider how best to present them with a company history. Regards , John Nelson, Fontenay Le Vicomte, France.
Posted 06/03/2013
"An unusual package"
Sometime during the 40s, my Grandfather took a live goat kid (a present for me) to the bus stand on the Boulevard hoping to find my father, who was a conductor, but he wasn't there (Dad's day off) so he gave it to the crew saying 'drop this off at Tom Gibson's house' which they duly did and I got my present !!!!!
Joyce Bailey.
I look forward to viewing and being the first to comment on YOUR site John.
Regards, Darren.
This would never happen nowadays Joyce, what with all this "health and safety rubbish!!
Regards, Darren.
Posted 07/03/2013
"Impressive site"
Impressive site, you can see where your efforts have gone, very impressive and professional looking. I searched Google for "Gibson buses" and found it straight off. I also searched "Gibson coaches - Leicestershire" and found it. Well done, cheers.
Stuart Neal.
Posted 17/03/2013
"Oh what memories"
Oh what memories! grew up with Gibson's buses going back to the mid 1950s seeing them on the Hinckley road at LFE and waiting at the Western boulevard terminus in the city, particular favourites were HAY ??? the Leyland double decker KNR240 the royal tiger coach and the 2 Yates bodied VAL14,s When we got married in 1974 we bought our first house in Barlestone just round the corner from the depot the main reason being that it was at the end of the British shoe corporation bus route which was free to their employees where my wife worked, so never a day went by when I would glance into the depot to see if there were any new arrivals! It was quite ironic that in 1979 we moved Ashby de la Zouch only to find half the Gibson fleet had either followed us or came to Machins of Ashby who used the vehicles on their united biscuits and school contracts in the area one thing that always stuck in my mind if ever you travelled along the Gibson routes into Leicester there were always people waiting at the bus stops because they were always on time and reliable wish they were still around now!!
Steve Sanders, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicester.
We wish also Steve, thanks for your memories.
Regards, Darren.
Posted 24/03/2013
"Patch"
Hi Darren, I've just shown this site to mum, your aunty Doreen, for the first time. At 86 years old this was quite something for her to see and I know you've put many hours into making it as good as it is; well done for making such a wonderful archive of Gibson Brothers buses. Mum looked at every photograph with great interest, especially those showing our grandad - and my dad Graham who I know would have loved to have seen this too as you've found a lot more photos in addition to those from his collection.
One memory which looking at this brought back to mum was that of "Patch" - uncle Reg's dog who used to get onto the bus by himself when it stopped at New Street, Barlestone and got off again at the bus garage half a mile along Barton Road to go into the office to see uncle Reg at work and get a lift home with him after work!! .
Congratulations on a great archive. Best wishes Julie x
Posted 31/03/2013
"Memories"
Always the best buses.
A lot of people in Barlestone have happy memories of the chapel outings, and always had a laugh with Graham Storer when I used to fetch my bus pass on a Saturday morning.
Julie Hamilton.
Posted 15/05/2013
"Great Memories"
Great to see the site expanding with more pictures and great memories , my time on travelling on the buses and coaches was 1974-83 so good memories , the CNR-K Willowbrook Expressway grant coaches could be hot as they had no air vents or opening windows , air vents were on the longer GNR -L batch of the Plaxton grant coaches OFP 88 and 89R were unusual in not having pantograph windscreen wipers and i always thought it a shame that when the LCT take over happened the Comfort livery couldnt be retained ! pity the 3 newest Bedford YMT were sold first but no doubt subsequent operators got good low mileage coaches there !
Mark Stoggall.
Posted 21/05/2013
Mr T.H.Mills
Fantastic memories, I have just seen a photo of my Grandad amongst the photo's. Thank you.
Christine Knott.
Posted 14/07/2013
"Standing room only!"
My uncle George Petcher and my great uncle Ernest Petcher were conductors for Gibson brothers. When them were conductors, I do not remember. I think it was in the 1950's and 1960's.
One memory I have is, in 1956/7 I had an accident and I had a plaster cast from my waist to my right knee and I had to go to the city general hospital regularly, the only was was by bus and, as I could not sit down, the conductors let me stand at the back of the double decker bus where the conductor used to stand, with an opening to get on and off the bus, which in those days did not have a door.
Clem Petcher.
Another one for the "healh and safety" busybodies I fear Clem!
Regards Darren.
Posted 18/03/14
"1 stop for a penny"
I remember these quite well from early 60s thro' to late 70s. Around 1962 (aged 9 )we would sometimes come out of the C of E Junior school ,almost opposite the garage, and jump on the 12 'o' clock service (bound for Leicester) and go 1 stop down to the Butcher's (opposite Bransons shop ) or sometimes the 2nd stop, which was closer to my home, (the stop was next to the mechanic's house, Jim Haines).The charge for this ride was 1 old penny.
First memories of going to Leicester was that it terminated in Western Boulevard. It would be good to have a photo of the 60s double decker in my album, if you find you could e-mail one , that would be brilliant. These buses and coaches used to "ship" us on a daily basis to the Market Bosworth Secondary Modern School. I remember Steve Parkinson (driver) he was my mate's Dad. There was a female conductor at onetime, long dark hair, quite attractive, think her name was Christine. Hey it's been brilliant.
John Wyatt.
Enjoy the pictures John
Regards Darren.
Posted 22/05/2015
"Willowbrook Expressways"
Hello, I've only just found your site and was delighted to see photographs of the 4 'Expressways' that were purchased in the early '70's . Very special for me as I was an apprentice at Willowbrook at that time and actually worked on one of the YRT's ( I was a coach-finisher ) .I remember vividly seeing all 4 when finished....great memories !!! Time has proved that the Expressway was not one of the best built buses , but I've always had great affection for them and have over a good number of years been attempting to collect photo's of all 150+ of them . Many thanks for sharing yours.....happy days !!!!
Colin Hook
Posted 27/05/2015
Love the photos!
Steve Zerachy
Posted 05/09/2015
"Bedford VAL - 407EAY"
I am currently building a model of this vehicle but I do not have a rear view of it. I have it built and painted but require à rear view for the lettering if possible.
After viewing your site I can say without doubt this is the best site I have seen. Its a credit to you and the info provider is first class. Please keep up the good work.
Richard Calvert
Thank you Richard, unfortunately all the pictures I have are on the site!
Sorry that i couldn't be of further assistance.
Hope your bus model turned out ok.
Regards Darren