|
In 1922 Seaview businessman Richard Newell, owner of Seafield Garage, introduced
a bus service between Seaview and Ryde using a converted wartime ambulance.
At the time the service ran under the name of ~Newell's Express Motor Service',
but the company was later to become known as Seaview Services. Towards the end
of the decade fierce competition on the route made it necessary for Newell to
increase and update his fleet of vehicles and also expand his operations to
include excursions from the village to various locations in the Isle of Wight.
The development of holiday camps at Puckpool and St. Clare in the late 1930's boosted business considerably on the bus route as well as providing additional excursion work. The extra revenue generated from the camps funded the purchase of some modern coaches. During this period a limited company, Newells (Seaview) Ltd. was registered in July 1939, but three years later on 17th July 1942 the name was changed to Seaview Services Ltd. After the end of the war trade increased rapidly particularly in connection with the holiday camps and in 1950 the company purchased a pair of new Leyland Titan double-deckers to help cope with the passenger numbers. By this time the company was being run by Richard Newell's son-in-law John Higgins. In 1980 it was taken over by Albert and Mary Robinson and the following year the company name was changed to A & M.A. Robinson Seaview Services Ltd. A decision was made in 1992 to dispose of the bus service to Southern Vectis in order to concentrate solely on the coaching side of the business. Today the company is no longer based in Seaview, as the former garage site was sold off for re-development in 1989. The new premises situated in Sandown, were completed in early 1990 and have been fittingly named Seafield Garage after the original depot. |