Silver jubilee for Mervyn's buses (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Silver jubilee for Mervyn's buses

8:50am Friday 18th November 2011 in North Winchester By Warwick Payne

IT was 25 years ago that the first Mervyn’s Coaches bus service from Micheldever arrived in Winchester.

The route has now reached its Silver Jubilee and with much the same team that launched it in autumn 1986.

The first service had Mervyn Annetts – from who the firm takes its name – as conductor, and Linda Porter as driver.

Following in the wheel tracks of her mother and grandmother, who were also bus drivers, she is still going strong 25 years later.

Mr Annetts is also still working at the depot off the A33 in Micheldever at the age of 67.

He said: “I keep passing my medical, and I think as long as you’re happy doing what you’re doing, that’s the main thing.”

Keeping the 95, 95A, 96 and 96A routes running, while many other rural services have been cut, has not been easy.

“We don’t make a huge amount of money out of this, but we’ve tried to keep it going,” said Mr Annetts.

As well as providing services from Micheldever to Winchester, the firm also calls at East Stratton.

It runs buses every weekday rush hour, and throughout the day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The passengers include commuters, students, and senior citizens making good use of their free bus passes.

To keep the firm ticking over, Mervyn’s Coaches also runs excursions and provides coaches for hire.

Along with modern day models, the firm has two historic vehicles and work is underway to restore a third.

The vehicle currently in the workshop is a 1937 AEC Regal half cab coach, which could be roadworthy next year.

The firm, founded 30 years ago, already runs a 1937 Bedford WS 11-seater and a 1949 Bedford OB 29-seater.

The latter has featured in episodes of Poirot and Foyle’s War. It has also been used occasionally on the bus routes if other vehicles have not been available.

The company has seven staff including Mr Annetts, who lives beside the depot, and his wife, Carol, and son, James.

For more details about Mervyn’s Coaches visit home.btconnect.com/MERVYNS-COACHES/ or call 01962 774574.