1924 - 2001
Smiths Imperial Coaches Ltd of
The company was founded in 1924 in Imperial Road (hence the name) by
William Sampson Lloyd Smith. It moved to the
During World War 2 three of the coaches were requisitioned by the army
at a rate of £60 per week to transport troops and when returned in 1946 still
had the gun mountings on the roof. After
the war coaches were almost impossible to purchase so William Smith built seven
coach bodies at a premises in Golden Hillock Road opposite the old B.S.A.
factory. These bodies were designed by Mr Smith's son, also William and were
built under the name of Gordons Coachcraft - Gordon being his middle name. When coaches became easier to purchase in the
50's the premises in Golden Hillock road were sold and more land in Farm Rd.
next to their existing garage was purchased in 1962.
Smiths Imperial Coaches pioneered Coach Holidays for the Over 50s' -
actually refusing to carry passengers under the age of 50 on their tours. These
tours were extremely popular and the programme was often sold out. Over the
last few years the title 'Holidays for the Over 50s' was dropped to attract a
wider clientele. Day trips had always
been an important part of Smiths work and in 2000 they carried over sixteen
thousand passengers on excursions to all
parts of Britain and the near continent including Dublin, Calais, Bruges,
Edinburgh & Stratford ! But Weston Super Mare still remained the number one
choice for Birmingham people. Private hire made up the balance of work, the
furthest operated being Istanbul, but school services were never operated.
A full history of the company has been compiled into a book, It's a pleasure - It's
Smiths - a pictorial history of Smiths Imperial Coaches Ltd. and is available
by post or from most good book shops.
The site on Stratford Rd. has been sold and the familiar 'Flunkey' with
the saying "Your coach is here Madam" has disappeared - he was due
for retirement anyway as he had been standing on the forecourt for well over 50
years (no holidays, just the occasional break for a face-lift). - He was stolen
once but returned after a reward was offered for his safe return.
Roger Smith said of his
retirement that he was looking forward to not getting up at the crack of dawn
most days but said he would probably miss the tension of wondering if all the
drivers were going to turn-in for their shift !
THE COMPANY NAME HAS BEEN RETAINED BY ROGER SMITH.
Favourite Links
www.brewinbooks.com (Publishers of 'It's a pleasure - It's SMITHS')
www.registrationnumbersclub.org.uk(Nos. Club for enthusiasts)
www.astonbrook-through-astonmanor.co.uk(local history links)
www.altondouglas.co.uk(Lots of books on Birmingham life & more)
Contact
Information
roger@smithscoaches.co.uk
Any questions answered or advice given with pleasure.
Office phone (answer machine)
07814 171735
August 2020 (c) Roger Smith