Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Maurice Milton WATKINS,1911 - 1977

Maurice Milton WATKINS,1911 - 1977 (reply)

Jefff — Sat, 28 May 2011 12:37:37 +0000

Thanks gents, I thought so judging by the picture quality of the photos, the bus looked to be of that generation but some of these vehicles had very long service lives indeed !. In my latter years c1977 at RFDGS our school bus from Beard's of Cinderford looked very similar to these indeed, curved prewar lines with a sliding door midway along the relatively short bus, only 36 seats or so. I think this was very much a "reserve" bus !. Seemed quite a comedown as in my first year there we enjoyed much higher tech Roy Grindle's 52 seat coaches including this one which was almost brand new then, I remember the snazzy roof "pennant" very well. Great to see it still running.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/fod_variety_1/pages/page_69.html
For us first years "the" seat to have was the single one immediately behind the door, from there could reach to open & close the door at the stops if the driver was friendly enough. Obviously the back seats were the exclusive domain of the "big" 5th & 6th formers who had more "adult" pleasures on their minds !.

Anyway, re Maurice Milton Watkins, he's clearly a generation before my father who was very much Maurice Anthony's age. That said my father would most definitely have known Maurice M who maybe even taught him to drive the buses he loved ?.

Many thanks for the memories !

Maurice Milton WATKINS,1911 - 1977 (reply)

slowhands — Sat, 28 May 2011 05:39:26 +0000

picking up from http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=7718

Name: Ernest Watkins
Name: Elizabeth Ann Jones
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1896
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 891

1901 The Square Ruardean
Ernest Watkins abt 1875 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head Ruardean, Herefordshire
Elizabeth Ann Watkins abt 1878 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Ruardean, Herefordshire
Gilbert Ralph Watkins abt 1897 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Herefordshire
Daisy Millicent Watkins abt 1900 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Ruardean, Herefordshire

Name: Maurice M Watkins
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1911
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hereford and Worcester
Volume: 6a
Page: 434

1911
WATKINS ERNEST M 1875 36 Ross Herefordshire
WATKINS ELIZABETH ANN F 1878 33 Ross Herefordshire
WATKINS MAURICE MILTON M 1911 2 MONTHS Ross Herefordshire
WATKINS AUDREY MILDRED F 1902 9 Ross Herefordshire
WATKINS DAISY MILLICENT F 1901 10 Ross Herefordshire
WATKINS GILBERT RALPH M 1897 14 Ross Herefordshire
WATKINS WILLIAM JOHN M 1905 6 Ross Herefordshire

Name: Ernest C Watkins
Mother's Maiden Name: Jones
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1912
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hereford and Worcester
Volume: 6a
Page: 802

Name: Bessie E M Watkins
Mother's Maiden Name: Jones
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1914
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hereford and Worcester
Volume: 6a
Page: 830

Name: Denis V Watkins
Mother's Maiden Surname: Jones
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1916
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 789

Name: Maurice M(ilton) Watkins
Spouse Surname: Linda G(ertrude) Morgan
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1932
Registration district: Ross
Inferred County: Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 1289

some siblings ?
Maurice A Watkins Apr-May-Jun 1933 Ross Shropshire
Heather Watkins Jul-Aug-Sep 1934 Ross Shropshire
Bryant T Watkins Jul-Aug-Sep 1935 Ross Shropshire
Michael E Watkins Jan-Feb-Mar 1937 Westbury S Gloucestershire
Pearl Watkins Jul-Aug-Sep 1940 Forest of Dean Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Barbara A Watkins Jan-Feb-Mar 1942 Forest of Dean Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Name: Maurice Milton Watkins
Birth Date: 6 Feb 1910
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1977
Age at Death: 67
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 22
Page: 1529

Maurice WATKINS, Edwards Bus Driver (reply)

admin — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:24:49 +0000

The Bus Drivers photos are of Maurice Milton WATKINS who was born 1911 and died 1977.

Maurice Anthony WATKINS is a son of Maurice Milton WATKINS.

Maurice WATKINS, Edwards Bus Driver

Jefff — Fri, 27 May 2011 23:17:08 +0000

I'm still in awe of the great Watkins Family Tree website, well done all!
While enjoying it I spotted the photos of Maurice Watkins in some Edwards buses. Please can you confirm whether this was Maurice Milton or Maurice Anthony ?

I ask as I'm trying to put an approximate date to the photos.

I'm always on the lookout for any information at all re Edwards Bus Company, as my father William (Bill) Jones from The Reddings Joys Green also worked there, as a young man pre war right thro' til the early 70s. As I understand it he was a driver who also progressed up into management, the company was a major part of his life. In later years if he spotted a bus driver locally, perhaps a Ranks works bus, he might moan a little that he wouldn't let them work for Edwards in previous years (no don't mean Maurice!), they couldnt even double-declutch the old double deckers!. During the really heavy winters in the 50s/60s he took it on himself to take one of the older,heavier, buses out first in the very early hours as they were best to help clear the snow. After Edwards he worked for Red & White for a few years, then a few at Ranks before retiring in the early 80s. They enjoyed 3 or 4 summer holidays touring abroad with the Grindles, Beards & Cottrells. I think he loved being with the buses & drivers as much as the Alpine scenery !. I recall visiting Ken Beard's yard with him when deciding what holiday to book, he knew all the owners & they'd happily show him the buses & try the seats as part of "selling" the holiday. He'd happily pay more compared to the "big" national companies for this friendly local service, plus a look under the bonnet. Sadly this retirement was cut very short so I was never able to quiz him properly re the days he really enjoyed at Edwards.