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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Finch Coaches...Ince

19 Comments

Pub Trip To The Races
Pub Trip To The Races
Photo: Ray
Views: 3,533
Item #: 29426
I did a bit of part time coach driving for
Finch Coaches at Ince. The photo is 2 of their
Bedford coaches at Thirsk Racecourse in the late
1970s. The driver on the left was a Finch driver
the chap on the right was a coach driver from
Gateshead, standing in front of the 29 seater
MNJ 853F,that I had driven that day.

Comment by: Ray on 10th June 2017 at 18:11

From memory,my coach party on this day was 25 beerdrinkers
from a pub on Atherton Road,Hindley.I cant recall the name
of the pub,but it was where George Street meets Atherton Road,and I believe it is now a Bar/Restaurant called Anishas
I am sure some Hindley locals will recall the pub name.

Comment by: irene roberts on 11th June 2017 at 11:38

I think it was The Plough, Ray. Where in Ince was Finch's Coaches, please? I remember Walls's Coaches, (now Grayways), and one in Spring View, (Hurst's??), but I can't recall Finch's.

Comment by: Ray on 11th June 2017 at 13:57

Irene, Finches Coaches are in Moat House Street,and next to
Grayway. The vehicles are now mainly double deck buses on
school contract work,with Brian Finch in charge. In my day
Fred Finch was the owner,with his son Raymond, Brians brother.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 11th June 2017 at 16:40

Irene - the coach firm/ undertakers in Spring View was Jackson's. Their garage was off Taylors Lane. Hursts were, I think, from Goose Green - but now garage their buses off Cricket Street, Miry Lane area.

Comment by: Ray on 11th June 2017 at 16:41

At the forward end of the 29 seat Bedford coach,on the drivers side,is the signwritten words,"QUO VADIS". this
was the "Trademark" of Finch Coaches back then. It is Latin
and it means "Where are you going".

Comment by: irene roberts on 11th June 2017 at 18:18

Thankyou Ray and Rev. Long.... Rev. Long, of course, it was Jackson's in Spring View! Hurst's didn't sound right, but I couldn't recall the correct name.

Comment by: AH on 12th June 2017 at 07:44

what happened to UNSWORTHS coaches I think they had an office on warrington rd goose green

Comment by: Garry on 12th June 2017 at 11:50

A 1968 Bedford coach.

Comment by: Ray on 12th June 2017 at 12:27

The going rate for a days coach driving in the mid 1970s was between £7.00 and £10.00,(Cash in hand). If you looked
after your coach party of about 40 drinkers/racegoers,they
usually had a "Whip Round" on the way back,and if each one
put in 50pence,a good day was had by all. Happy Days.
Don't tell the Inland Revenue.

Comment by: DerekB on 12th June 2017 at 13:55

AH - don't know what happened to Unsworth's coaches but you are right in saying that they had an office in Goose Green and they garaged their coaches on land going towards Ashton just before the M6 access roundabout. I worked at Levertons in Bryn in the early 60s and we always used Unsworth's coaches for works outings.

Comment by: Philip Hammond. on 12th June 2017 at 20:39

Hi Ray, many thanks for being open and honest about your undeclared income during the 70's. This missive is to inform you in advance that a member of my team from HMCIR, ( Historic Revenue Evasion Department ) will be paying you a visit in the forthcoming weeks. It would be most helpful therefore if you could make whatever arrangements are deemed necessary for your accountant to have your fiscal records for the years 1969 to 2009 available for their scrutiny. Thanking you in anticipation. Incidentally, that coach has a Brighton registration, I know, because that's where I live.

Regards. Philip.

Comment by: Gerry on 13th June 2017 at 09:22

I remember going to the "Luminations" on Fred Duddys coach. About 1957 Based around Darlington st east somewhere

Comment by: Ray on 13th June 2017 at 10:51

Hello Philip Hammond, Thank you for your comments,and thank
you for the "Heads Up" regarding a visit from HMR&C. Regarding the NJ registration,up to 1974,the issuing authority for NJ was "East Sussex",It then became a Brighton
registration. Similarly,and on a local level,the letters for
Wigan were EK and JP,and from 1974 they became Warrington
Kind Regards, Ray.

Comment by: Jack on 13th June 2017 at 16:13

DerekB Their full title was Unsworths Gaytime Tours.

Comment by: AH on 14th June 2017 at 09:06

ray :warrington reg: was ED

Comment by: AB on 14th June 2017 at 10:04

Garry Fred Duddy was a partner In D B Transport ( Duddy Brothers) Their garage was at the bottom of Cambridge St
in the forties.I think Fred got a coach later.

Comment by: Ray on 14th June 2017 at 12:28

Hi AH, Yes Warrington was ED,and was joined by EK & JP in
1974,As mentioned above. Cheers, Ray.

Comment by: AH on 16th June 2017 at 08:59

ray :thanks for that ; I did not know they joined together in 1974

Comment by: Mr X on 28th June 2017 at 19:34

I used to remember travelling on the Finch's ex Stockport double decker bus MJA893G at school coming home from Robin Park after playing football.

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