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Travel through time from ' over the hills and far away' to johnson's
Wilf Redfern used to operate down a lane in a muddy yard opposite Sherwood Hall Garage. His main contract was taking chicken 'pluckers' to and from work.
I was secretary of Thoresby Colliery F.C for 3 years and used Wilf when we needed a coach because he was cheap, even though at the time Morley's operated out of Edwinstowe.
I remember once I organised a trip to Manchester to see Aston Villa play Manchester United, rang Wilf for a coach and told him that there was only 15 of us, OK he said that will be £15, it was a long time ago.
My step father George Boden used to help Wilf with his contract runs (when shifts suited). He did this for a couple of years until the time when Alf and his Brother-in-law bought into Wilf's business. After about a year and a half Alf Chambers took over and moved to Lindley Street and really started to go places. At this point Wilf retired.
During this time my step father had worked part time for Harry Redfern at Farnsfield. Around 1966-67 George went into partnership with Harry. Early in 1968 saw mw learning to drive and in 1969 I left the Pit to go and work full time at Farnsfield, ( one of my first jobs for Harry , was to take his petrol bus to Redcar Races).
I remember while at Farnsfield we bought a brand new Bedford 330 mid engined 45 seat coach, I took it on hire to Redferns of Mansfield. Alf saw it it and said he had he was having some of them, not long after he did.
In 1978 saw me leave Farnsfield and go to Redferns of Mansfield.
That first year saw Alf buy 10 caravans and had them took to the South of Farnce, Esterel Caravaning at Agay, the following year saw 10 more purchased, but this time insisted he took them himself with his V8 Rover and Alf Mayle as his assitant.
We were mainly running Bedfords and ex-Barton deckers. Then more new coaches started to arrive, CTV332T CNU613T were 2 53 seat bedford 500's on plaxtons. Then JRB330V and JRB 331V 330 being a Bedfrord 500 on a plaxton again, but 331 being a Volvo B58M on a 12 metre plaxton executive body. Next came the Bedford 500 turbo's, 3 on Plaxton bodies.
At this time Alf made me a Traffic Manager and Director of the company. More investment meant placing an order for 3 MAN SR280 coaches to do our continental work and to go to the caravans. Alf and I flew out to Hannover to inspect them being built, but on our return we learnt that they would not be delivered on time so changed the order to 3 Vanhool Acrons with the same engine. We took delivery in 1984. Next came another Acron, soon followed by our first 57seat Astron. At the same time the Travel side expanded with 5 shops, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Mansfield, Sutton and Hucknall. Chesterfield Garage was opened and various vehicles to operate the Airport feeders for those booking holiday's through the shops.
In 1986 the time came when i had enough of Coach driving and decided to move on, leaving our Simon at Redferns learning the ropes.
In 2002 Alf was playing Squash and tragically collapsed and died. Julie with help from her dad Pete Smart tried to carry on the business, but struggled until Johnson Brothers of Hodthorpe came along and purchase the business including the caravans. They continued to operate out of Lindley Street until a new purpose built yard was opened on Debdale Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse. They still used the caravans until selling them only to use the sites on vans in 2011. Very few holidays to the South of France are operated now, bringing to a close 34 years of business.
I was secretary of Thoresby Colliery F.C for 3 years and used Wilf when we needed a coach because he was cheap, even though at the time Morley's operated out of Edwinstowe.
I remember once I organised a trip to Manchester to see Aston Villa play Manchester United, rang Wilf for a coach and told him that there was only 15 of us, OK he said that will be £15, it was a long time ago.
My step father George Boden used to help Wilf with his contract runs (when shifts suited). He did this for a couple of years until the time when Alf and his Brother-in-law bought into Wilf's business. After about a year and a half Alf Chambers took over and moved to Lindley Street and really started to go places. At this point Wilf retired.
During this time my step father had worked part time for Harry Redfern at Farnsfield. Around 1966-67 George went into partnership with Harry. Early in 1968 saw mw learning to drive and in 1969 I left the Pit to go and work full time at Farnsfield, ( one of my first jobs for Harry , was to take his petrol bus to Redcar Races).
I remember while at Farnsfield we bought a brand new Bedford 330 mid engined 45 seat coach, I took it on hire to Redferns of Mansfield. Alf saw it it and said he had he was having some of them, not long after he did.
In 1978 saw me leave Farnsfield and go to Redferns of Mansfield.
That first year saw Alf buy 10 caravans and had them took to the South of Farnce, Esterel Caravaning at Agay, the following year saw 10 more purchased, but this time insisted he took them himself with his V8 Rover and Alf Mayle as his assitant.
We were mainly running Bedfords and ex-Barton deckers. Then more new coaches started to arrive, CTV332T CNU613T were 2 53 seat bedford 500's on plaxtons. Then JRB330V and JRB 331V 330 being a Bedfrord 500 on a plaxton again, but 331 being a Volvo B58M on a 12 metre plaxton executive body. Next came the Bedford 500 turbo's, 3 on Plaxton bodies.
At this time Alf made me a Traffic Manager and Director of the company. More investment meant placing an order for 3 MAN SR280 coaches to do our continental work and to go to the caravans. Alf and I flew out to Hannover to inspect them being built, but on our return we learnt that they would not be delivered on time so changed the order to 3 Vanhool Acrons with the same engine. We took delivery in 1984. Next came another Acron, soon followed by our first 57seat Astron. At the same time the Travel side expanded with 5 shops, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Mansfield, Sutton and Hucknall. Chesterfield Garage was opened and various vehicles to operate the Airport feeders for those booking holiday's through the shops.
In 1986 the time came when i had enough of Coach driving and decided to move on, leaving our Simon at Redferns learning the ropes.
In 2002 Alf was playing Squash and tragically collapsed and died. Julie with help from her dad Pete Smart tried to carry on the business, but struggled until Johnson Brothers of Hodthorpe came along and purchase the business including the caravans. They continued to operate out of Lindley Street until a new purpose built yard was opened on Debdale Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse. They still used the caravans until selling them only to use the sites on vans in 2011. Very few holidays to the South of France are operated now, bringing to a close 34 years of business.