Scurr’s Motor Services – 5545 UP. A.E.C Reliance Plaxton B47F. 1963. Arriving in Stockton. 
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A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Scurr’s Motor Services – 5545 UP. A.E.C Reliance Plaxton B47F. 1963. Arriving in Stockton.
I agree with the last post. As I mentioned elsewhere on this site some years ago now, my mum worked at Ideal Decorations for many years with Nora Black.
The street which was first on the right in Bishopton Lane coming from the High Street was Allison Street & it is definately Bishopton Lane in front of the Ideal Decorators shop and the Board Inn.
I think this is Bishopton Lane with the now demolished Board Inn in the background.
My father, now 79, was a driver for Scurrs and worked for them from when he was 14 until around 1965-66. I have a number of photos of their buses and coaches and some of the drivers and mechanics. My dad lived in Stillington from when he was born in 1931 until last year when, due to illness, he moved to live with my sister. Sadly my mum, who came from Stockton, died in 2008. I lived in the village until I left for university when I was 18, in 1979.
I am reading this comment several years after it was written. I remember the names of two regular drivers when I travelled to school and back from Carlton between 1966 and 1968.. At some point the service was operated by TMS. The drivers’ names were Wilf and Percy. I still remember with shame being told to stand up by Wilf because I was on a bus pass and my seat was needed by a fare-paying adult. I also remember a conductress who, I think, was called Jean, maybe Maureen.
Hi I am just starting to look into the history of Stillington to document it for my father. Would there be any chance you could let me have a copy of the photos that you have and any other memories. The bus company used to be opposite where we lived. It would be much appreciated if you are able to help. Thanks. Bev Wilkinson (Drury)
Hi Bev, I’ve got a colour picture of a Scurr’s Bedford bus LUP692D that I took in the late 60s on West Street, Stillington outside the Cassidi Memorial Hall. I was only around 12 at the time and didn’t think carefully about composition, there is a tree trunk completely obscuring the “Scurrs” signwriting on the side. If you send me your email address, I’d be glad to forward it. Cheers, Peter Rowbotham.
Peter are you related to Michael Rowbotham who I was at school with at SS Peter and Paul’s? If so I remember going to a birthday party at your house with John Allinson.
Hi Brian, yes, Michael was my eldest brother but sadly he died in an air accident in 1976 only a couple of years after he qualified as a dentist. He had a post at a dental practice in Wick in the very north of Scotland. Michael was flying solo from Aberdeen to Wick when he was advised to return to Aberdeen as Wick was fogbound. I believe that then the weather closed in at Aberdeen and he became disorientated and flew into a hill.
I was 4 years younger than Michael and after my first year at Stillington Primary School (now Cassidi?) I also went to St Peter & St Pauls then to the newly created St Bedes primary when the secondary school moved out to new premises on Bishopton Rd West. After that I followed Michael to St Mary’s College in Middlesbrough. I seem to remember that John Allinson’s family lived in Carlton on the road out to Thorpe Thewles. Another couple of friends of Michael and possibly John Allinson at that time were Julian Biwer and Jan Kasnowski.
Peter, so sorry about Michael he was a really nice person as is John Allinson.
If you are four years younger than him you may remember my brother Howard Parker who is four years younger than me and also went to St. Mary’s College coincidentally along with David Allinson, John’s brother. Howard has lived in Canada for the past twenty five years and is the father of four boys three of whom are triplets.
Re Scurrs; Hello, I don”t know if you are aware, but there is an extremely interesting history of Scurrs Motor Services, written by a Mr Peter J Cardno, and published in 2002. It should be easily available from either WH Smiths, or Waterstones. There is also a history available of Wilkinsons of Sedgefield published in 2003, and by the same author. also available from the same sources. Hope this is of interest to you.
To Robert Scurr The website mentioned is mine I am currently working on updating it, if you get in touch I possibly can tell you if you are related. (email link on the site) I am always happy to hear from any Scurr”s
I remember visiting Stillington frequntly as a child. I sometimes stayed there with an aunt and uncle, had loads of fun tromping through the fields..on the shoulder of my uncle Tony, great memories.
In the early 1940″s I lived with my parent”s in Letch Lane, and Scurr”s buses serviced us, on their way to Carlton, Redmarshall and Stillington. Although I was only a little boy, I have some memories of some hairy journey”s in the blackout!! In those days, their “terminus” was just up Bishopton Lane (can”t remember the street name, but it was 1st right after the High Street, just after the aromatic Hide and Skin works). I know that the last bus out of Stockton was always a crush, and I have a vivid memory of one particular black night….with masked headlights…that the bus set off with a few of the local chaps sitting outside, at least one astride each of the two old-fashioned headlights!!I seem to reacall that any one trying to catch the bus further along Durham Road, would have little or no chance of the bus stopping for them.
Hi Robert SCURR ,you can check if you are related at the following site. http://uk.geocities.com/scurronename@btinternet.com/
Scurrs Bus Commpany brings back memories. My wife Marie lived in Stillington so she had to travel on these buses every day to School and later to work. They used to terminate at the old Cattle Market near to Stockton Police Staion, and the last bus was 11 PM and what a crush to get on that bus at weekends. Tom Scurr was the owner of the Bus service and I met up with Tom and his wife Vera In Australia many years ago. Tom had two daughters who are good friends of ours in Australia, Maureen who married Peter Wells of Stillington, and Doris who also married a Teesside local boy.
I just maybe a relative of Scurr”s coach company. Cheers!