Where Is This? No.88

Published on: 18 Dec, 2013
Updated on: 18 Dec, 2013

By David Rose

All those who replied to last week’s vintage picture, including some who were not sure, correctly identified it as being Manor Road in Stoughton.

And the brick arches in the quirky photo are indeed at Millmead. “The bridge leading to GBC at Millmead” as Bernard Parke commented. Or I guess it could be “leading from the council offices, depending on your thinking.

The Stanniforth brothers made their regular speedboat prize plea. Perhaps I shouldn’t include images that feature water!

Thanks again to Brian Holt for his comments about Stoughton Road and the late Joe Dawson. Click here to see last week’s post and all the replies at the foot of it.

I had the good fortune of meeting Joe over a decade ago, and he kindly allowed me to copy a number of photos he had of Stoughton’s Yellow Bus Services (YBS).

Where is this and any details of the bus?

Moving on to this week, so here is one of those YBS photos. I think the occasion is the procession as part of Guildford’s celebrations for the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

Shouldn’t be too hard to identify the exact location. And I’m hoping our bus and coach experts can add a few more details.

Where is this roughly and what is it?

Here is this week’s quirky photo. Unfortunately, it is another one with a watery connection. But you wouldn’t want to get tangled up here. As a clue, it’s not that far away from the location of last week’s picture. I must get out and take some new ones!

If you know the answers to this week’s, and perhaps have some comments to make, please leave a reply in the box below. All replies will be posted at about the same time next week, along with a new post with the answers to this week’s vintage photo and quirky picture, and the next pair of images.

Responses to Where Is This? No.88

Norman Hamshere Reply

December 18, 2013 at 10:56 am

Photographed in the High Street is “Queen of the Highway”, the Yellow Bus Services entry for the 1953 carnival procession. Designed by George Yates of Maison George, hairdressers in Worplesdon Road, it consisted of a huge swan and floral gondola and conveyed conductress Marjorie Nash majestically through the streets of Guildford. It was awarded first prize from the 132 entries on July 9th 1953.

The vehicle, a Dennis Lancet J10 with 39 seater Gurney Nutting coach body, was just two years old at the time but unfortunately did not make it into preservation.
Carol Norris Reply

December 18, 2013 at 3:15 pm

Picture 2 : Weir on River Wey roughly opposite to Shalford Meadows.
John Lomas Reply

December 18, 2013 at 4:45 pm

1952 according to “Happy Family” The story of Yellow Bus Services. by N Hamshere and J Sutton.

Top of the High Street, traffic light junction with North St visible to the right of the photo, beyond the FRYCO truck, Abbot’s Hospital on the left of the photo/beyond the bus.

The bus is a Dennis Falcon J10 reg# PPA 649 Queen of the Highway, which gained 1st prize out of 132 entries.

Design inspired by Swan Vesta match box, and constructed by George Yates of “Maison George” hair dressing salon. The design couldn’t get under the Wooden Bridge bridges and had to find an alternative route into town to join the carnival parade.

I think the quirky photo is part of a sluice control, perhaps Tumbling Bay or one of the locks.
John Lomas Reply

December 18, 2013 at 4:57 pm

I think the quirky photo is part of a sluice control, perhaps Tumbling Bay or one of the locks.
Dave Peters Reply

December 21, 2013 at 12:26 am

1 Top of High Street by Abbot’s Hospital.

2 The weir opposite the rowing club
Brian Holt Reply

December 21, 2013 at 10:31 pm

This is the 1952 carnival with Abbot’s Hospital in the High Street on the left.
The in book Happy Family, the story of the Yellow Bus Services Stoughton, Norman Hamshere and John Sutton write the following:
“Whilst attending the Commercial Vehicle Show at Earls Court in 1950, Mr Hayter was impressed with the new Gurney Nutting 39-seat coach body which he had seen fitted on the new Dennis Lancet J10 chassis to the now permitted dimensions of 8ft width and 30ft in length.
In 1951 he took delivery of two of these, PPA 639 [which is in the photo] and PPC 105.
“They were certainly fine machines and few would disagree that they were the most impressive coaches ever operated by Y.B.S.
“They were intended to help boost the private hire work and it was a pity that they should ever be used for stage carriage services-however they no doubt had to earn their keep though the design was not suited for it.
“Shortly after they was purchased they was both down seated to 35 as with such luxurious seats there was not enough leg room for 39 seats.
“A coach was always entered for the annual Guildford Carnival procession of decorated vehicles.The decorating was done bt the staff and consisted of bunting and sprays of flowers adorning the sides of the latest vehicle-always a Dennis-and this had been the pattern for several years since the war. Ernie [Glew] however, had remembered seeing some rather elaborate Christmas displays in a shop window and approached the proprietor, George Yates to see if would be interested in preparing something for the Y.B.S.
“It so happened at the time he was lighting a cigarette and glance down at the matchbox in his hand-“Swan Vesta”. Scaffolding had to be used in the garage to get it on the roof and fix it.
“A small crowd had gathered to see the vehicle depart for the carnival and they waved it on its way down the Worplesdon Road. Unfortunately after turning onto the by-pass it was found to be too tall to pass under the railway bridge, so with help from the police to control the traffic, the vehicle was reversed and driven by an alternative route.
“Despite this early setback, all went well and “Queen of The Highway” consisting of a hugh swan complete with floral gondola, conveyed Yellow Bus Service own queen, conductress Marjorie Nash majestically through the streets of Guildford.
“There was 132 carnival entries that year, “Queen of the Highway” was awarded first prize.”
Chris Townsend Reply

December 22, 2013 at 6:48 pm

The bus photo shows the top of High Street by Abbot’s Hospital. On the far corner of Chertsey Street was Massey’s chemist’s, demolished when Upper High Street was widened in the 1960s. I remember a carnival procession about that date, but can’t be sure it was Coronation year. From memory, I watched from Onslow Street, by The Quadrant.

The quirky photo probably shows part of the weir and sluice gates on the river upstream from Millmead at Tumbling Bay.
Brian Holt Reply

December 22, 2013 at 11:31 pm

This weir is just pass the Guildford Rowing Club, on the opposite side (opposite Shalford Meadows).
Jeff Hills Reply

December 23, 2013 at 3:01 pm

The yellow bus is photograped at the top of the High Street outside of Holy Trinity Church.

The other photo is on the river Wey and near the rowing club to your right. It is an overflow sluice gate wich is manualy operated.

Thank you David.
Doug and Bill Staniforth Reply

December 24, 2013 at 9:27 am

The picture is at the top of the High Street by Abbot’s Hospital

The other picture is the weir opposite the rowing club. This is of course is a very dangerous area for speedboats. But we don’t have to worry too much as we don’t plan to go boating on a magazine. Maybe a caravan would be safer?

Have you not heard of origami? I am sure there is enough paper in that magazine for a the power boat of your dreams. Ed
Ray Springer Reply

December 24, 2013 at 11:46 am

Opposite Holy Trinity Church in front of Abbot’s Hospital with the Three Pigeons pub to the right of the picture
Colin & Linda Jackson Reply

December 26, 2013 at 4:27 pm

The first photo looks like one of the yellow buses which started up in 1920s. Their garage was next to The Royal in worplesdon road, the bus route was for the stoughton area.
The second photo is of the weir bridge by the tow path opposite the rowing club.