Rees
& Williams Ltd and West Wales Motors Ltd
‘The Friendly Rivals’
The convoluted history of
‘The Friendly Rivals’, Rees & Williams, and West Wales Motors, can only be
told together, due to their close alliance and extraordinary relationship
between the shareholders.
The humble beginnings of
Rees & Williams can be traced back to 1913, when Lewis Llewelyn Rees, and his
nephew David John Rees, both coal miners at Pantyffynnon Colliery, started a taxi
business at Pontardulais Rd, Tycroes. The colliery manager arranged their
shifts so that there was always someone available to drive the taxi, and when the
business prospered in 1916, they left the colliery to focus on their transport
business, which expanded to include haulage and motor vehicle repair garage.
Another local collier,
C.B. Williams joined them in their business venture in 1920, from whence it
became known as ‘Rees & Williams’. Their first omnibus arrived in 1920, and
the company was registered in 1926.
C.B. Williams left the Rees
& Williams concern in 1928, and formed a syndicate to establish West Wales
Motors Ltd, initially at Llanelli, but retained his shareholding at Rees &
Williams.
West Wales Motors ran
services that were common to Rees & Williams, with co-ordinated timetables
and inter-availability of return and season tickets.
With the threat of
nationalisation in post war times, West Wales Motors formed a subsidiary
company, West Wales Coach Services Ltd, in 1946, in order to safeguard
themselves in the event of losing their stage services to nationalisation.
In 1977, West Wales
Motors absorbed two services from ‘Pathlin Ltd’, a company ‘set up’ by the
notorious Peter Smith Bus Services, Garnswllt, which is also included in this
publication.
West Wales Coach Services
Ltd was wound up in 1983, and West Wales Motors were absorbed by ‘D Coaches
Ltd’, Morriston, Swansea in 1984, who also purchased the Rees & Williams
business in 1987, finally amalgamating both companies, with the title ‘Rees
& Williams/West Wales.
The title was dropped in
1996, when First Bus PLC absorbed that part of ‘D Coaches’ business, but were
compelled to retain the ‘Rees & Williams’ title for two years.
This 250 page publication
gives a succinct history of the businesses, which has previously never been
told. Illustrated with over 350 photographs and other informative memorabilia
covering the period, it has been produced to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the first bus service in Tycroes.
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I was looking forward eagerly to receiving Vernon Morgan’s Rees & Williams and West Wales -The Friendly Rivals. When it arrived I was not disappointed. The cover is an intriguing introduction to the contents - placing a colourful example of the subject with which the book deals in an evocative local context. Who with connections with the area, does not remember the Rees and Williams buses, the clock above Edwards’ Shoe Shop, and the modernity of the façade of Shepherd’s Ironmongery shop in Ammanford? The book itself tells the story of two bus companies based in the small village of Tycroes in Carmarthenshire. This it does with great success, using copious illustrations that will delight far more than just those whose interest is centred on transport history. From the charm of the early charabancs to the comparatively facelessness of modern vehicles, there is a wealth of material. The subject has been comprehensively covered, with meticulous attention being given to chronicling the vehicles in the fleets of both companies. Painstaking attention to detail is also seen in the historical accounts of the people involved in running the companies. The book has obviously been fastidiously researched – the author is to be congratulated on producing a publication that will be admired for its punctilious attention to detail. It will also be admired for placing on record a subject that is an intrinsic part of local history. It would make a delightful Christmas present!
ReplyDeleteDonald Treharne
Thank you very much Donald, for your fantastic review and comment regarding my recent publication 'Rees & Williams Ltd and West Wales Motors Ltd' - 'The Friendly Rivals'.
ReplyDeleteHaving previously purchased the James of Ammanford book to further my interest in buses in South Wales, in particular the independents, and to assist in producing models of the same, I eagerly awaited the Rees & Williams / West Wales Motors publication. The book arrived within 48 hours of ordering, and I was not to be disappointed, it is superb, lots of details, excellent illustrations and superb value for money. I can not recommend this book highly enough.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your excellent comment Doug. It was so nice of you to remark upon my 'labour of love'.
ReplyDeleteI have now readyour new book, and I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed it. Having read all of your fleet histories, I think they are some of the best I have ever seen. So many books are just a collection of photos with captions, but yours include a terrific amount of research into the companies histories as well as the pictures and memorabilia. Looking forward to your next book!
ReplyDeleteI have now read your new book, and I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed it. Having read all of your fleet histories, I think they are some of the best I have ever seen. So many books are just a collection of photographs with captions, but yours includea terrific amount of research into the companies histories as well as the pictures and memorabilia. Looking forward to your next book.
ReplyDeleteHi Vernon, This is just to let you know that the book has arrived safely in Birmingham. My sister has sneaked a peck and in her words "what a gem!". She was thrilled to see an aerial photograph of the West Wales Motors garage, which includes my brother-in-law's childhood home and garden. How wonderful that you have created such amazing books. I share your passion for social history, and I think Wales has such a rich culture it deserves to be documented. Thank goodness for people like you who actually make it happen. With many thanks. Kind regards, Mary Roda.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the book. It was a fascinating read, especially for my husband David, who is the great nephew of Mrs M.J. Williams (auntie Maggie), the MD of West Wales Motors Ltd. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember her, as he was only two when she died, but remembers her sister and her sister's two sons, Aled and Ieuan Davies. Your book has answered a lot of questions as to the who's who of transport in South Wales at the time of auntie Maggie's death. Once again, thank you for the family heirloom.
ReplyDeleteJunette Gethin.