Seaview Services
Encyclopedia
Seaview Services is a coach and tour operator operating on the Isle of Wight
, England
. The company formally was a bus operator on the Isle of Wight, operating a route between Ryde and Seaview, however in 1992 sold its bus business to Southern Vectis
.
called Richard Newell, the owner of Seafield Garage. Its first operation was a bus service between Seaview
and Ryde
using a converted war-time ambulance. Towards the end of the decade fierce competition on the route made it necessary for the fleet to be increased and updated as well as expanding operations to include excursions from the village to various locations on the island.
The development of holiday camps at Puckpool
and St. Clare in the late 1930s boosted business considerably on the bus route as well as providing additional excursion work. The extra revenue created from this was used to fund the purchase of new coaches. During this period a limited company, Newells (Seaview) Ltd. was registered in July 1939 Three years later, on 17 July 1942, the name was changed to Seaview Services Ltd. After the end of the war trade increased rapidly particularly in connection with the holiday camps. In 1950, the company purchased two new Leyland Titan double deck buses to cope with the increased passenger numbers.
In 1980 it was taken over by Albert and Mary Robinson and the following year the company name was changed to 'A & M.A. Robinson Seaview Services Ltd.' The company continued to run its route 12 from Ryde to Seaview under "Redlynx" branding, and in May 1986, (several months before deregulation day) extended this route to Nettlestone, St Helens, Bembridge and Sandown. However this move encouraged Southern Vectis
to compete against Seaview Services with a minibus service to Seaview, leading to "chasing" between the two firms. After this period of initial competition, in May 1987 Seaview Services went back to its previous Ryde-Seaview route and Southern Vectis also withdrew its competing service. In 1992 the entire bus side of the business was sold off to Southern Vectis
and the company has since concentrated solely on Coaches and Tours.
In 1989 the former garage site was sold off and Seaview services left its base at Seaview. The new premises situated in Sandown
, were completed in 1990, and named Seafield Garage, after the original depot.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The company formally was a bus operator on the Isle of Wight, operating a route between Ryde and Seaview, however in 1992 sold its bus business to Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis
The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches...
.
History
Seaview Services first started operations in 1922 under the name of 'Newell's Express Motor Service'. It was started by a businessman from SeaviewSeaview, Isle of Wight
Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.The village is popular with tourists and is only a 15-minute drive from the town of Ryde, where most tourists reach the island by ferry or hovercraft...
called Richard Newell, the owner of Seafield Garage. Its first operation was a bus service between Seaview
Seaview, Isle of Wight
Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.The village is popular with tourists and is only a 15-minute drive from the town of Ryde, where most tourists reach the island by ferry or hovercraft...
and Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
using a converted war-time ambulance. Towards the end of the decade fierce competition on the route made it necessary for the fleet to be increased and updated as well as expanding operations to include excursions from the village to various locations on the island.
The development of holiday camps at Puckpool
Puckpool
Puckpool is a small coastal settlement on the outskirts of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The area is best known for Puckpool Park, a park with an 18 hole putting green, 15 hole crazy golf, two tennis courts and three bowling greens...
and St. Clare in the late 1930s boosted business considerably on the bus route as well as providing additional excursion work. The extra revenue created from this was used to fund the purchase of new coaches. During this period a limited company, Newells (Seaview) Ltd. was registered in July 1939 Three years later, on 17 July 1942, the name was changed to Seaview Services Ltd. After the end of the war trade increased rapidly particularly in connection with the holiday camps. In 1950, the company purchased two new Leyland Titan double deck buses to cope with the increased passenger numbers.
In 1980 it was taken over by Albert and Mary Robinson and the following year the company name was changed to 'A & M.A. Robinson Seaview Services Ltd.' The company continued to run its route 12 from Ryde to Seaview under "Redlynx" branding, and in May 1986, (several months before deregulation day) extended this route to Nettlestone, St Helens, Bembridge and Sandown. However this move encouraged Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis
The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches...
to compete against Seaview Services with a minibus service to Seaview, leading to "chasing" between the two firms. After this period of initial competition, in May 1987 Seaview Services went back to its previous Ryde-Seaview route and Southern Vectis also withdrew its competing service. In 1992 the entire bus side of the business was sold off to Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis
The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches...
and the company has since concentrated solely on Coaches and Tours.
In 1989 the former garage site was sold off and Seaview services left its base at Seaview. The new premises situated in Sandown
Sandown
Sandown is a seaside resort town and civil parish on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, England, neighbouring the town of Shanklin to the south. Sandown Bay is the name of the bay off the English Channel which both towns share, and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible...
, were completed in 1990, and named Seafield Garage, after the original depot.
External links
- Seaview services website - seaview-services.com