28th September - Simonds Coaches

Martyn Simonds and Adrian Tant - report by John Day

The 2009/2010 meeting season got off to a fantastic start, same location but a new night and the Monday evening attendance was very encouraging. Due to illness a late change of speaker from the previously advertised programme saw us welcome Simonds MD Martyn Simonds and Adrian Tant, Engineering Manager. We were told that Martyn was third generation in a family run business started by his grandfather Roland Oswald Simonds in the 1920s. Currently the company has over 85 members of staff and a fleet in excess of 40 vehicles with some of the latest state of the art custom finished vehicles used on the European tour circuit. As well as the European tour market much private hire, local bus services, school and factory contracts form the operating business. Formerly based in Botesdale the company now operates from a purpose built five-acre site in Diss that is equipped with the latest technology to allow the fleet to be maintained efficiently and to the highest possible standard. Such is the modern approach to the business the company is able to offer its expertise and facilities to all of its customers, including military organisations, as well as having an excellent working relationship with other operators.

Martyn Simonds opened the digital presentation by going through a brief history of the company that started in an old WW1 aircraft hanger dealing mainly with agricultural vehicles and bicycles. We were then enthralled with descriptive views of some of the original buses in the Simonds fleet, many brought second hand and going through the additions year on year to bring the fleet up to date. Vehicles like a Maudsley bodied 41 seat petrol engined vehicle (GBJ 667) and a rare Yates bodied CBJ registered vehicle that, to quote ‘ran until it dropped’. One vehicle that was working a special to Clacton became one of the fleet’s early remodelling attempts – it had an argument with the bridge by Manningtree station on its way to the Essex resort. A superb shot was shown of one the fleet’s three Guy Arab double deck buses ex Southdown. Another trio of vehicles were UUB 402/403/404, ex Wallace Arnold Commer’s, one of which remains in the collection and hopefully will be restored to working order in the future. Other vehicles illustrated were Duple Corinthians, Bedford OBs and the first new coach purchased a Ford WDX 663X that was much used on tours to France, Belgium and Switzerland. Volvo 98 TNO provided a narrative aside when we were told that it was hired by Lotus to transport some of that company’s famous name racing drivers to events. The vehicle illustrations then moved toward the modern fleet, far too many to mention individually, but describing the various liveries and identities that adorned the vehicles.

Other stories related were how in the 1970s coach builders were offering ‘two for the price of one’ deals hence a pair of Ford’s YPV314/315L being purchased. Also Bus Grants were offered that could go up to 50% of the cost of a vehicle if used on local services, this accounted for Ford Plaxton and Willowbrook bodied vehicles joining the fleet. Services taken on when ‘Dr Beeching’ decimated the railway network still operate to this day, generally unchanged. This work started on 6th November 1966 when the company purchased 8 ex Maidstone and District vehicles, of course the vehicles have changed since then! After Flordon Station closed resident Annie Simmons started riding Simonds buses, she still is to this day and in recognition of her valued custom Simonds graciously presented Annie with a free pass. Several statistics were related and an image was shown of the company’s first school contract, dated for 1949 with income being £2.00 per day, now the company runs some 20 – 25 vehicles at £180.00 at about per day per vehicle. Buying today is also very expensive, new vehicles costing about £300K, whilst second hand come at about £175K.

The final segment of the presentation was put in the capable hand of Adrian Tant, billed as a celebrity, having been awarded ‘Coach Engineer of the Year’ at the Coach Industry Awards in 2006. Adrian explained the body refurbishment process and programme and the amount of contracted in work they do. De-icer’s for USAF Mildenhall, private coach and bus refurbishment for the industry and preservation/enthusiast markets. Commenting on the quality of fittings Adrian emphasised that those from the bygone era were much better than those available today. We then had a ‘virtual’ tour of the engineering buildings at Diss with details of the working bays and pit area’s that allow all aspects of the business to be carried out to the highest quality in the safest of environments.

The author of this report proposed the vote of thanks saying how refreshing it was to see a family business not only surviving but investing and developing into a prestigious organisation with eyes on the future. The presentation was put over in such a way that even the author could understand and despite copious notes as a reminder of the evening the above report is only a generalisation of the whole very enjoyable evening.