Partners in business

“This month sees the 50th anniversary of the takeover of a well-known bus company,” writes Graham Martin-Bates of St Madoes.

“The firm of F. and J. Mitchell started trading at Luthermuir by 1927. Certainly by 1931 there were five bus services being operated in the area and tours from Brechin commenced in 1935. Over the years, further bus services were added.

“According to PSV Circle research, licences for services from Edzell aerodrome to Dundee and to Aberdeen were all granted in April 1952. The Dundee and Glasgow services were withdrawn in March 1954 and August 1957 respectively. A Brechin local service was also operated, but this ceased in March 1965.

“In the 1930s the partners in the business were Frank, James and John Mitchell. This changed to Frank and John in 1956 and then to John only from March 1961. The livery was red and cream. The business, along with 11 buses, was sold to W. Alexander & Sons (Northern) Ltd on October 1 1967.

“The photograph below left shows one of Mitchell’s vehicles and its crew. I think it is CVD 676 which was a Leyland PS1, new in 1947 with a 33-seat body built by Duple.

“The conductress was Rose Burns. She is holding a ticket machine known as an Insert Setright. She would take a pre-printed ticket and put it in the slot at the front. Having set the dials, she would turn the handle and the details of the journey and fare would be printed on the ticket. There are no details given about the driver.”

He duly dialled and was given five options to select. He chose the relevant one – and got another five options. Having selected, he got yet more options, the final one advising to hang on to speak to an advisor. Eventually, for the first time in this electronic trek, a phone rang at the other end and a voice answered – to say that as the IT was down, advisors could not help.

So, after several pointless minutes on the phone – for which he was paying, my reader reminds us – he wonders why this “planned” maintenance could not have included in its initial announcement a mention that there was actually no point in phoning the number quoted.

A line drawing of the Royal Arch in Dundee. See left for more information.

Conductress Rose Burns and her bus driver colleague, who worked for F. and J. Mitchell. See above for details.