Companies past & Present
Companies past & Present
 This me now & Then
 
I born in1964 in Derby/Derbyshire, in 1990 when I started to collect yesteryear toy models my first model cost me 69p now I pay from £10 to £30 per model, when I visited some museum I thought about writing a book about companies the company I started with was Kelloggo's & I continued with the rest of the companies.
 I have being collecting Yesteryear Toy Models for over twenty years, My first model cost 69p now I pay upto £30 per model. I am writing a book about companies past & Present & the money from My book is going to my six Chosen charities , as well as writing a book I do voluntary work at Barnardo's Babington Lane  Derby,  please donate you unwanted good quality items, we are also be doing a fundraising at St Peters Church in Derby City Centre which have raised £563 & I help run a canteen on a Friday night with the local Boys Brigade which has finished for the winter session back there in September.
Here is part of my book I am writing about
 
 
 
The Kellogg’s story starts way Back in Missachies in the 19th century the Kellogg family lived. John Preston Kellogg was a farmer with his wife Anne and their family, they were Avoneon Christians. Their fifth son John Harvey was born on 26 February 1852; he will be come a beacon healthy living but he became ill almost died of acvoice he stayed away from school until he was nine. Soon after the family moved to Battle Creek, his father opened a successful broom factory and put John Harvey to work at the factory when he was eleven but he didn’t want to work at the factory. He decided to become a teacher; his family became part of the seventh day anarchist. In 1864 when he was twelve the white gave him a job printing plantlets, which he enjoyed. In 1866 the seventh Day group opened a converlession home. In 1874 after he obtained a loan from the whites, he enrolled at the Bellmore Medical Hospital. Under two years he was awarded a degree in medicine. In 1877 John Harvey launched the sanatorium Health food Company, he and his brother Wilks Keith spent most days in the kitchen to try out different kinds of healthy foods. He has been married to his wife Helen for over forty years; he and his wife Helen adopted forty orphans.
 
In 1906 the man who helped organise the very first breakfast cereal turning his whole attendation on to producing this connivance food. One appetising taste led to another. Introducing corn wheat and rice cereals, Kellogg Company grew in both sizes and popularity as the better-to-eat cereal industry, not just in America but also throughout the world. The first supplies of cornflakes and all-brand arrived in Britain from Canada in 1924. In 1928 Rice Krispies was added, and in 1936 work began on building a factory in Trafford Park, Manchester. A Nottinghamshire housewife who invited to every other important company event from that onwards opened this in 1938. A plague at the entrance to the factory commutates this event. With the increasing demand for cereals in 1978. This unit at Wrexham North Wales was designed to set new high standard for food production. Factories all over the world, making a range of cereals. Between 1902 and 1904, forty-two companies were set in Battle Creek area to manufacturer cereal foods and beverages shown is the ultra – comparative Battle Creek food boom cartoon, as carried in a Chicago newspaper. And upto pleasant there is now well over 35 different brands.
  
                                                                
 
1792    Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna opened small   newsvendor  in  Little Grosvenor Street,London.Henry Smith died a few months later. Leaving Anna to run the business.
                Anna Smith went into partnership with Zaccheus Coats until his death in 1812.
1816       Anna Smith from HMS Pinafore, trading now as newsagents and stationers, was passed two her two sons, Henry Edward and William Henry Smith.
1828       William Henry Smith was the more capable businessman of the two brothers and the concern became known as W.H. Smith.
1846       The enterprise changed its name to W.H. Smith & Son when William Henry’s son, William Henry also, taken into partnership on his 21st birthday.
1848       W.H. Smith opened its first bookstall at Euston on 1 November. Other station bookstalls followed, taking advantage of “railway mania” in England. These bookstalls became outlets for cheap editions of other publications, which were produced for railway travellers the popular “Yellow backs”. In 1860 W.H.Smith started another venture – the lending library which lasted until 1961, when changing social habits brought it to an end.
1850       W.H. Smith & Son, now recognised as the principal newspaper distributor in the country, acquired wholesale distribution warehouses in Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. A substantial network of newspaper distribution was established across the country.
1857       Mr W.H.Smith I retired. William Henry Smith II succeeded as head of business.
1860       The firm acquired its own printing works.
1864       Mr W.H. Smith II took a partner, barrister William Lethbridge, so he could devote more time to policy.
1868       Mr W H Smith II became an MP.
1874       Mr W H Smith II retired from active partnership and devoted his time to policy. The Gilbert & Sullivan song with the famous line “now I am the ruler or the Queen’s Nav-ee” from HMS Pinafore was aimed at his appointment as First Lord of the admiralty.
1891       Mr W H Smith II died. His widow was created Viscountess Hambleden and his eldest son, who became the second Viscount Hambleden in 1913, became the head of the business.
1894       Superannuation Fund for clerical workers was founded.
1895       Pension Fund for manual workers was introduced.
1903       First overseas branch opened in Paris.
1905       A dispute with the railways over book stalls rents resulted in contracts for station sites on the Great Western and London and North-Western Railways being lost. The firm reacted rapidly by opening shops near stations. In three months, by 1 January 1906, 150 new shops came into being shop fitting (Estate) Department established.
1911       Publicity Department started.
1914`     World War I saw more than 4,000 W.H.Smith people serving their country. The new Head Office, Strand House in Portugal Street, was used as the postal censor’s office in 1918.
1920       English bookshops opened in Brussels.
1923       Acquired Truslove & Hanson Bookshops in London.
1928       Second Viscount Hambleden died and was succeeded as head of business by his son, the third Viscount. The death duties payable necessitated the information of 1929 of a private limited liability company in which all partners became directors.
1933       Bridge House, Lambeth, was purpose-built to house the Bookbinding works and stationery Department.
1939       World War II – more than 5,000 men and women from W. H. Smith went into the forces.
1941       In the “blitz” the first travelling bookstall appeared to replace bombed-out Bookstalls.
1946       Acquired Serrate & Huges Bookstalls.
1949       Following the death of the third Viscount Hambleden in 1948, another change in the company’s constriction took place. As Viscount      Hambleden owned all the ordinary shares and the death duties were so heavy it became necessary to form a public holding company to buy up all the share capital of W.H. Smith & Son limited. The shares of the holding company were subscribed by the family, staff and public. On 1 September 1949, W. H. Smith & son (Holdings Limited was formed. It Governing Director, and later first Chairman, was the Hon. David Smith, brother of the third Viscount Hambleden.
1950       W.H. Smith expanded in Canada (subsidiary incorporated sale in 1949).
1951 – Date
1953       Acquired Bowes & Bowes bookshops.
1956       Book Department moved to Bridge House, Lambeth from Strand House, Portugal Street.
1966       W.H. Smith and American Publishing firm, Doubleday, establish Book club Associates, the biggest book club operation in Britain.
1967       Centre of book and stationery destruction moved to Swindon from Bridge House, Lambeth.
1973       First W.H.Smith Travel Agency opened. Brown & Orange identity developed.
                1977       Peter Bennett became head of business from outside the Smith family.
                1979       Acquisition of ICP Home Centres, later to become W. H. Smith Do It All.
                1982       Sir Simon Hornby became Chairman.
1983       Cable Services, later to become Television Services Division was established, involving W. H. Smith in the growing Cable and Satellite TV industry Screen Sports was launched in 1984.  Lifestyle was first transmitted in 1985.
1985       Epson’s Holding Inc, later to become W. H. Smith Inc, acquired in the United Sates – a retail business for the travelling public. Over 300 stores and shops operate.
                Acquisition of Our Price Music recorded music chain. In 1988 disposal of Book Club associates. A heathcote book, Britain’s biggest distributor of paperback books to the bookselling trade, was established in Warwick by W.H. Smith.
1989       W. H. Smith, by a Programme of targeted acquisions, established an office supplies division, W.H. Smith Business Supplies. Companies acquire were Pentagon Group, Satex, Sandhurst Marketing, Cartwright Brice, H.J Chapman and W H Hayden.
 The bookshops of Bowes & Bowes, including City Centre Bookshops, Truslove & Hanson and Sherratt & Huges were extended with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Waterstone’s, forming Waterstone’s Booksellers Ltd,. The largest chain of specialist Bookshops in the UK.
                Acquisition of Wee Three, 19 recorded music shops in Pennsylvania, USA.
                Disposed of 86.5% shareholding in W.H. Smith Canada.
1990       The Boards of Boots and W.H. Smith announced the formation of a Joint Venture in the UK DIY retail market.
                The Joint Venture acquired the Payless (Boots) and Do It All (W H Smith) businesses, to trade under the name Do It All Limited.
1991       W. H. Smith disposed of W. H. Smith Travel and Television Services Divisions. Waterstone’s opened in Boston, USA.
1992       W. H. Smith Group celebrated its bicentency. W. H. Smith Group acquired 50% of Virgin Retail Ltd to operate its chain of 14 megastores and 12 Computer games centres.
                W.H. Smith Music Inc. acquired 59 stores from Record world and 20 stores from National Record Mart The music retailer was formed.
1994       The businesses of Our Price and Virgin retail were merged, with W H Smith establishing a 75% share of the business. Jeremy Hardie became chairman.
                Proposal for rationalisation of the company’s ordinary share capital to equalise the voting rights of the A and B ordinary shares were announced.
1995       Waterstone’s 100th branch in reading.
1996       Bill Cockbarn appointed as Group chief executive and started a major statistics review resulting in the sale of W H Smith 50% Holding in Do It All to Boots PLC. Also paperchase and Heath cote were sold. Hon Philip Smith stood down from the Board, ending the Smith family involvement with the management of the company.
1997       Executive Richard Handover was appointed three months later. W H Smith announced that it was to focus on a core of integrated businesses  comprising; W H Smith High Street, W H Smith Europe and International Travel Retail, W H Smith News and that there would be a demerger of Waterstone’s and a divestment of interest in specialist music retailing, namely Virgin our Price and the Wall. It was sold to Camelot music Inc. for £28m.
1998       Waterstone’s sold to a company jointly owned by EMI Group and advert international for £300m and our 75% share in Virgin Our Price was sold to Virgin Retail Group Ltd for £145m.
                W H Smith purchased the John Menzies retail chain and the leading European Internet bookshop, www.bookshop.co.uk
1999       W. H. Smith purchased Helicon, the leading Specialist Publisher of Consumer and educational publisher. W H Smith Online,
launched.
                Jeremy Hardie retired and Martin Taylor was appointed as Chairman.
2000          W H Smith acquired Hazelwood Enterprises Inc. for $19m and the Benjamin Company Inc. for $19m. Carlton.
   
   
1905
A group of motoring enthusiasts met at the Trocadero restaurant in London’s West End on 29 June to form the Automobile Association – a body initially intended to help motorists avoid Police Speed Traps. As motoring became more popular so did the AA – 100 members in 1905 grew to 83,000 by 1914. As the AA membership expanded, so did its activities.
 
1906
 
In 1906 it began to erect the country’s first effective danger and warning signs the AA has been committed to promoting road safety ever since. The AA continued to be responsibility for all signposting until the early 1930s when it became a local authority responsibility AA sign’s distinctly yellow and black signs for special events remain a common sight at the roadside.
 
 
To cater for the increased popularity of touring by car, the AA appointed agents and
Repairers throughout the UK, listing them all in the members, special Handbook, which first appeared in 1908.
 
In 1909 the AA introduced its free legal system for drivers summoned to appear in magistrates Courts. The AA still supports members involved in legal test cases.
 
The first AA routes were introduced around 1910 with hand-written details by 1929 the AA was issuing 239,000 routes a year. The AA has downing produced routes and travel guides, business activities which has grown rapidly in the last two decades AA Publishing is now the UK’s largest travel publisher, it produced more than 10 million books last year.
From 1912 the AA also started to inspect hotels, and those receiving the AA’s famous star classification, were included in subsequent editions of the Handbook.
 
1920s
 
In the early 1920s pre-purchase and post-accident repair checks were introduced, a service which contains today as AA Vehicle Inspections.
 
1930s
 
By 1939, 2 million cars were on UK roads and 75,000 motorists had joined the AA. After the Second World War, the AA led the protest against petrol rationing, which was finally lifted in 1950. It was a campaign that reflected the AA’s traditional role of championing motorist’s rights. Since that time the AA has led a number of major campaign’s including the compulsory wearing of seatbelts, which became law in 1983, and the introduction of lead-free petrol. In recent years, the AA has lobbied successive governments of unfair motoring taxes and the lack of investment in transport.
 
1940s
 
The AA has always been innovative in harnessing new technology. The introduction of two-way radio after the Second World War saw the 1949. Launch of a night time breakdown service in the London area, which was gradually extended to cover most of Britain. Paper-based operations began to be replaced by an AA computer system, command and control from 1986.
The system’s award-winning successor, AA Help. Together with automatic vehicle Location technology, using global positioning satellites has been key to achieving the AA’s Current speed of response at the roadside.
 
1960s
 
Although the AA began selling motor insurance in 1907 23 years before UK motorist were obliged to have it did not establish its current AA Insurance under writing service until 1967. After a number of cut-price companies had crashed in the 1960s, motorists wanted an absolutely secure motor insurance cover from an organisation that they could trust. They turned to the AA in there thousands. Today, AA Insurance which also sells home cover is the UK’s largest motor insurance intermediary. Persona; loans and instalments Payment facilities are available to members and customers through AA Financial Services.
 
1970s
 
AA Roadwatch, Europe’s biggest traffic broadcaster, came into being in 1973 with the advert of commercial radio in the UK. Fast and accurate collation of road and traffic information is universally recognised as key to the future of motoring and, in 1997, the AA won the first telemetric contract in the UK to provide in-car breakdown route- guidance, and accident and traffic information.
 
Motorcycle combinations for AA patrols – introduced 1920 together with roadside telephones had been replaced by four-wheeled vehicles by 1968, but solo motorcycles were re-introduced in 1972 to combat urban congestion. Then, in October 1973, AA Relay was introduced, guaranteeing to transport a seriously broken-down vehicle – together with driver, passengers, luggage and trailer or caravan to any destination in Britain. 1973 also saw the AA moved its headquarters from London’s Leicester Square it had moved to the area in 1908 and occupied premises in New Country from 1929 to Fanum House in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The AA moved to its current Basingstoke Headquarters, Norfolk House in 1994.
 
1990s
 
In 1992, the AA Driving School was launched. It is only nationalised body to employ fully qualified instructors and today employs more than 1,000 franchises. In November 1994, AA Membership reached a record 8 million.
Today it stands at 9.5 million, of whom 4.4 million are Personal members.
 
A year long review of the AA’s activities began in 1997. At the end of the year, the AA committed to three main Strategic planks to be pre-eminent at the roadside to manage it’s the AA portfolio of other businesses to achieve excellent financial returns, and to re-establish the AA as, unmissably the motorist’s organisation. In August 1998, the AA announced that it was pulling out its retail network of 142 shops, insurance underwriting, and home assistance services. In January 1999, the announced the centralisation of its deployment operations at three sites in Halesowen, Tatcham, and Cheadle.
 
In 1998, the AA reduced its call-to-arrival time at breakdown to 35 minutes, 84 per cent of member’s vehicles were fixed in under an hour- nearly 10 minutes faster than in 1997. In addition AA call handlers responded to 93 per cent of emergency calls within 15 seconds and 81 per cent of non-emergency calls within 20 seconds. In 1999, the AA received further independent confirmation of its vastly improved service levels when it set a new standard for breakdown and recovery industry and came first place in the annual JD Power Survey of 25,000 drivers.
 
 
 
John Reith, the BBC’s founding father, looked westwards in the 1920s to America’s unregulated, commercial radio, and then east to the fledgling Soviet Union’s rigidly controlled state system.
 
Reith’s vision was an independent British Broadcaster able to educate, inform and entertain the whole nation, free from Political interference and commercial pressure.
 
The innovation of a Post Office licence fee of ten shillings (50p) of which half went to the BBC ensured that the BBC was not financially dependent on the Government of the day or on advertising revenue.
 
The British Broadcasting Company as the BBC was originally called was formed on 18 October 1922, by a group of leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi.  Daily broadcasting by the BBC began in Marconi’s London studio, 2LO, in the Strand, on November 14 1922. This was followed the next day by broadcasts from Birmingham and Manchester.
 
Reith, a 33-year old Scottish engineer, was appointed General Manager of the BBC at the end of 1922. Within a year the fledgling BBC had broadcasting plays, concerts of popular and classical music, talks and variety Programmes. There was some news but in the early days only after 7 pm to avoid upsetting the sales of newspapers.
 
Reith defined the BBC’s role as “to bring the best of everything to the greatest number home”. He was sufficiently visionary to see immediately the potential of broadcasting.
 
“Listening in” to the wireless in United Kingdom quickly became a social and cultural phenomenon as the BBC in London and regional stations around the country gave birth to a new form of mass communication.
 
The Big Ben time signals and the Greenwich “pips” entered the national psyche in 1924.
 
The monarch could speak to his people as never before King George V was first heard on radio during a broadcast from the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924. The speech was relayed on Loudspeakers outside major department stores and the crowds were so large that they stopped the traffic in the road.
 
At home people first listened in on primitive ‘Crystal’ sets with the help of a cat’s whisker (a fine wire) that was moved until it made best contact with a crystal. The radio signal could then be picked up on earphones. More advanced value sets followed. By the Thirties there were mains power sets contained in the familiar Bakelite cases.
 
The opening of the first Long-wave High – power transmitter at Daventry in 1925 made it possible for nearly all of Britain to hear the BBC. By 1926 there were two any a quarter million Licences, for more than anyone anticipated. That figure increased to eight and a half million by 1938. By that time 98% of the country’s population could listen in to the BBC’s radio services.
 
The General Strike of 1926 brought the BBC its first serious confrontation with the Government over editorial impendence. With no regular newspaper s being published, the country turned, not for the last occasion in times of national turmoil, to the BBC. Winston Churchill, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, favoured the BBC being taken over by the Government, but the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Reith resisted this. Although the BB
C’s \courage of the strike was cautious and far from comprehensive, histories consider that is was reasonably fair.
 
In 1927 the British Broadcasting Company became the British Broadcasting Corporation. When it was granted its first Royal Charter and Reith was knighted...
 
BBC is established by Royal Charter
 
The Royal Charter transforms the BBC into a public service corporation, deriving its authority from a Royal Charter not from a parliamentary statute. This is an important distinction in terms of future voice and autonomy, creating an invaluable future broadcast model.
 
First BBC Prom from Queen's Hall
 
Inaugurated in 1895, the Proms are running at a financial loss when the BBC takes them over in 1927. Their reinvention via broadcasting gives new access to classical music for many, and in the words of their founder Sir Henry Wood 'truly democratised the message of music'
 
The 1930s
 
The BBC expands with real confidence in this decade, symbolically marked by the construction of Broadcasting House, the first ever purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK
 
Innovation follows innovation, as the BBC pioneers an ever expanding range of radio broadcasts across arts, education and news, launches the Empire Service (forerunner of the World Service), and experiments with the world's first ever regular TV service under John Logie Baird.
 
First broadcast by BBC Symphony Orchestra
 
The orchestra is established and first broadcast under the leadership of Sir Adrian Boult. Its first concert consists of Wagner, Brahms and Ravel; later programmes champion leading contemporary British and international composers, which may not have been possible for commercially financed orchestras.
 
1931                                      First gardening broadcast
 
The first gardening programme to be broadcast to the nation is Mr C H Middleton's series in your Garden. About 3.5 million listeners tune into the BBC Home service every Sunday afternoon to listen to his horticultural tips. He also launches the Dig for Victory campaign on 10 September 1940.
 
1932    Construction of Broadcasting House
 
This is the first ever purpose-built broadcast centre in UK, and almost in Europe. Famously called 'the new Tower of London' (Architectural Review) in its day, it boasts cutting edge technology, design and infrastructure. It is now Grade II* listed, and is currently being reinvented as one of the largest live journalism centres in the world.
 
First Christmas message from a reigning monarch to the Empire
 
George V gives the first ever Christmas address by the monarch, creating a tradition that still perpetuates to this day. His speech is written by the novelist and poet Rudyard Kipling.
 
1933    First national announcement by a female announcer
 
Mrs Sheila Borrett appears with a great fanfare on the BBC as the first woman national radio announcer. However, her appointment is to be short-lived. Countless complaints (mainly from women listeners!) see her tenure in front of the microphone cut short. She is axed after only three months, but continues to do radio drama.
 
1936 World’s first ever TV service launched
 
The world's first public broadcasts of high-definition television are made by the BBC from Alexandra Palace in 1936. Two competing systems, Marconi-EMI's 405-line system and Baird's 240-line system, are installed, each with its own broadcast studio, and are transmitted on alternate weeks until the 405-line system is chosen in 1937.
 
First ever TV cookery programme broadcast
 
The demonstration is given by Moira Meighn, the subject: meals that can be cooked in 15-mins, on a single heating ring! It begins a long tradition of BBC cookery programmes, from the healthy and budget-conscious to the exotic and eclectic.
 
First ever TV cookery programme broadcast
 
The demonstration is given by Moira Meighn, the subject: meals that can be cooked in 15-mins, on a single heating ring! It begins a long tradition of BBC cookery programmes, from the healthy and budget-conscious to the exotic and eclectic.
 
Edward VIII abdication speech broadcast
 
This is the unique and memorable moment when a British monarch announces his abdication to his subjects via the airwaves. Introduced by John Reith himself, it causes a national and international commotion.
 
1937 First TV outside broadcast: King George VI's coronation 
 
George VI's coronation procession – but not ceremony as it is considered too sacred – is televised, including the first ever use of a TV outside broadcast van.
 
BBC develops first efficient, broadcast speech microphone
 
The BBC’s Research Department develops the world's first close-talking, noise-cancelling ribbon microphone for broadcast speech. It is called the L1, and transforms the sounds of broadcasting.
 
1938       First BBC foreign language service: Arabic
 
Initially created as an answer to Mussolini's propagandist broadcasts to the Middle East, Arabic is the first of an ever increasing range of foreign language services broadcast by the BBC – now numbering 32 (including English). Arabic is now broadcast across TV, radio and online.
 
The 1940s
 
The outbreak of World War 2 brings a pivotal role for BBC radio (the TV service closes during this period). Winston Churchill makes his famous inspirational speeches over the BBC airwaves, and BBC news becomes a lifeline for countless listeners in the UK and around the world, as the source of objective and independent journalism.
 
But Radio finds a lighter entertainment voice too -  through new music and variety formats; it launches some of its long-running programmes such as Woman's Hour and Book at Bedtime; and creates the groundbreaking Third Programme (later to become Radio 3).
 
Churchill's rousing speeches to the nation
 
In June 1940, Churchill uses the power of BBC radio to speak directly to the nation, in words that will become immortal: 'we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender ...'
 
First broadcast by De Gaulle to French Resistance from Broadcasting House
 
On June 18th 1940, four days after Paris had fallen; Charles De Gaulle makes his first broadcast on the BBC French service. He appeals to the 'Free French' to rally under his command, and urges the French nation to continue its resistance.
 
1942       First transmission of Desert Island Discs
 
Devised and presented by Roy Plomley, its format is enduringly popular. Castaways are invited to choose six records which they would like to take on a desert island with them, along with a book and one luxury. Comedian Vic Oliver is the first castaway. When Roy Plomley dies, he is replaced by Michael Parkinson, then Sue Lawley, and currently Kirsty Young.
 
1945       Dimbleby’s revelatory reports from Belsen concentration camp
 
Richard Dimbleby describes the scenes of almost unimaginable horror that greet him as he tours Belsen concentration camp shortly after its liberation by the British in April 1945. Dimbleby is the first broadcaster to enter the camp and breaks down several times while making his report.
 
Woman's Hour begins, the first radio magazine programme uniquely dedicated to women
 
It is first presented by a man, Alan Ivieson! The programme is scheduled at two o'clock in the afternoon - when morning chores and the lunchtime washing up will be finished and the children won't be home from school. Early items include "cooking with whale meat" (still a time of rationing), "I married a lion tamer" and "how to hang your husband's suit"!
 
1948       First television of Olympic Games, from Wembley
 
The XIV Summer Olympiad is held at Wembley and are the first games to be held since the end of World War 2 and the very first to be televised.
 
1948       Newsreel, the first regular TV news programme
 
Adapted from the traditional cinema newsreel form, Newsreel brings regular news as well as quirkier 'human interest' items, sports and cultural events to the growing TV audience between 1948 and 1954. The programme's opening title sequence, featuring a graphic of the transmission mast at Alexandra Palace with the title revolving around it, becomes a well-known image of the time.
 
1949       Book at Bedtime first broadcast
 
The first reading is from 'The Three Hostages' by John Buchan, and is read by Arthur Bush. The programme still continues, offering a range of fiction including modern classics, new works by leading writers and literature from around the world. It is one of the regular radio formats that has remained the same while adapting to each new generation.
 
First regular TV weather forecast
 
Launched just before World War 2 then abandoned, regular TV weather forecasts are revived in July 1949. They consist of charts, with a voiceover reading the weather bulletin. The big change to the modern format comes in Jan 1954, when a Met officer will interpret the map on screen.
 
The 1950s
 
This is the decade of television – triggered by the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, when 20 million BBC viewers watch the young queen crowned. Subsequent television innovations include Attenborough’s Zoo Quest, Blue Peter for children, the creation of daily news bulletins and analysis programmes such as Panorama, and the first ever British TV soap.
 
Radio in turn brings memorable comedy, the lyrical and unique Under Milk Wood, and the longest running radio soap drama in the world, The Archers.
1950 First radio and TV broadcast from House of Commons
This is done from the newly rebuilt Commons chamber. However, the debate will continue as to broadcast access to the House, and it will be 35 years before radio and TV are admitted again.
 
1950       First television broadcast from the air
 
Television takes to the air for the first time ever in 'Operation Pegasus', when cameras fly above St Paul's Cathedral in London. The technical difficulties on the test flights include effects of plane vibration on the camera, radio interference from taxis and lorries, and the transmission aerials breaking down or not having enough power.
 
1953 First total television of a coronation ceremony, Elizabeth II
 
For the first time ever the coronation moment is seen live! This event transforms the history of television, boosting the sale of black and white television sets. Over 20 million people across Europe watch the event, with many people clustered around friends and neighbours’ TV sets.
 
1954       Dylan Thomas’s poetic drama Under Milk Wood first broadcast
 
A milestone of unique radio drama, this fuses Dylan Thomas's intensely lyrical language with some of the most powerful Welsh acting voices of their generation.
The recording features Richard Burton as 'First Voice'.
  David Attenborough begins his broadcast exploration of wildlife with Zoo Quest
David Attenborough becomes a reluctant TV star with Zoo Quest! Originally the producer of the series, he takes over the role of presenter under duresse and thereby launches one of the greatest of TV educator careers. The series travels the world, collecting rare species needed by the London Zoo and filming their capture.
 
First daily TV news bulletin
 
Read by Richard Baker, it last 20 minutes and is introduced as an 'Illustrated summary of the news...followed by the latest film of events and happenings at home and abroad'.  For the first time, news begins to be really current and of the moment.
 
1955       First TV soap launches, The Grove Family
 
Named after the BBC's Lime Grove Studios, The Grove Family is Britain's first ever soap for adults. It shows a lower-middle-class couple who'd worked hard to build a home for themselves and their family after the war and are just beginning to feel comfortably off after years of hardship. By the end of the year, The Groves will have built up a following of nearly 9 million people, a quarter of the population.
 
1958   Innovative Radiophonic Workshop launches
 
Based in the legendary Room 13 of Maida Vale studios and using an often bizarre mix of objects, the Radiophonic Workshop creates a uniquely memorable sound – such as the Doctor Who theme music - and becomes one of the most significant influences on 20th century electronic music.
 
BBC researches and develops first video tape recorder
 
It is called VERA (Vision Electronic Recording Apparatus)! Demonstrated on Panorama, it is the first video tape machine ever used by the BBC. Unfortunately, its life is very short, being overtaken by the creation of the Ampex VR1000A from the USA.
 
Blue Peter begins, the longest running children's programme in the world
Running for 50 years and still going strong, it touches numerous generations of children with its intrepid presenters and characterful pets, it’s in studio 'makes', its charity appeals and its genuine engagement with younger viewers' lives and interests.
 
The 1960s
 
This decade sees the confident expansionism of BBC TV and Radio, symbolised partially by the building of the first ever purpose-built TV centre in the world. From here come groundbreaking social drama (The Wednesday Play), sweeping adaptations of the classics (The Forsyth Saga) and the anarchic comedy of Monty Python's Flying Circus, while on BBC radio pop music is reinvented by the birth of Radio 1.
 
This era also witnesses momentous technological breakthrough, as the nation gasps at pictures of man on the moon and observes the transition to new colour television.
1960 Construction of Television Centre, the first ever purpose-built TV centre in world
 
Designed by Graham Dawbarn, its famous circular design becomes an iconic image of broadcasting. Countless famous shows are made here, including Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Blue Peter, Absolutely Fabulous, classic Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing. It also features the famous Blue Peter garden – loved by generations of child viewers.
 
1962       First live television from the USA by Telstar satellite
 
Telstar sends live pictures from Andover USA to the BBC station in Goonhilly UK, and the world suddenly feels a little smaller.
 
1963       Doctor Who begins, the longest running science-fiction series in the world
The mysterious alien time traveller known as 'The Doctor' in his space and time travelling ship, the Tardis, first appears on our screens. Doctor Who (now onto its 11th Doctor protagonist) will become a cult fixture of TV viewing and popular with all generations.
 
1964       The Wednesday Play begins, bringing innovative social drama to TV
This single drama format brings new voices and faces to screen drama, and launches the careers of writers Dennis Potter, Jim Allen, Mike Leigh and David Rudkin, and directors and producers such as Ken Loach, Peter Watkins and Tony Garnett.
 
1967       The Forsyte Saga launches, transforming classic TV drama
This 26-episode adaptation of the Galsworthy novels, revolutionises costume drama. On Sunday nights, when the Saga is on, social life stops. Dinner parties are scheduled around it, and evening service at some churches is moved to allow churchgoers to watch!
 
1967       Radio 1 starts, transforming popular music
Following the banning of pirate radio stations by the government, the BBC launches Radio 1. Its first DJ is Tony Blackburn, presenting Daily Disc Delivery, and the first record played is 'Flowers in the Rain' by The Move. It becomes hugely popular, commanding weekly audiences of up to 24 million listeners in the 60s and 70s.
 
1967       BBC Two launches colour TV in UK
Colour comes to television for the first time in Europe, as BBC Two shows Wimbledon tennis in its full colour glory! BBC One and ITV will both follow in 1968.
 
1969       First TV pictures of man on the moon
The BBC’s television coverage of the first ever moon landing consists of 27 hours of coverage over a ten day period. Colour is not yet universal, so the BBC2 sections are in colour but the BBC1 sections in black and white. The night of the actual moon landing is also the first ever all-night broadcast on British TV.
 
1969       Pot Black in colour revolutionises TV snooker
This UK televised snooker tournament is initially launched to show off the new colour BBC 2. Its success is immediate and phenomenal, and it becomes the second most popular programme on BBC2, launching snooker as a national pastime in the UK.
 
1969       Monty Python’s Flying Circus transforms TV comedy
This groundbreaking television series, conceived, written and performed by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, pushes the boundaries of anarchic comedy. It creates a new word in the British language and broadcast sensibility: 'pythonesque'!
 
The 1970s
 
The 1970s see yet more evolution in BBC broadcasting. Morecambe and Wise make the whole nation laugh, while The Family shows us ourselves as never before in the first fly-on-the-wall documentary, and Attenborough continues to reveal the natural world in new and revelatory ways. Drama expands to span both the dark and the literary, from Dennis Potter to the BBC Shakespeare Project.
 
New broadcast partnerships include the BBC's link with the Open University, which breaks new ground in universalising education.
 
1970       You & Yours broadcasts, long running series of consumer advice
Developed from the earlier Can I help you? (1939), You & Yours becomes the citizens' advice bureau of the air, offering key advice on every aspect of consumer affairs.
 
1971       BBC partnership with Open University launches
The BBC and Open University join forces to create a long-standing partnership which will transform access to university education and become an international model for distance learning. Over the years, it produces countless educational programmes, mainly shown at night/early morning.  
 
1972       The Question of Ulster debates national issues in the sitting room
The BBC brings all sides together to debate with clarity the situation in Northern Ireland. The programme airs, despite government attempts to control its content and ultimate transmission.
 
1972       I'm Sorry I Haven’t a Clue reinvents the panel game for a UK-wide audience  
The show is introduced as "the antidote to panel games" and parodies radio and TV panel games of the day.  Humphrey Lyttelton chairs the series from its inception through until his death in 2008, and it continues today as popular as ever.
 
1972       Newsround, the first ever news programme for children, begins
John Craven is chosen to present the show, sitting in front of a desk, not behind, so as not to remind children of a teacher! Newsround is the first genuine sustained attempt to give children a news service which they could call theirs. It famously breaks two major news stories: an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul and the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.
 
1973       Morecambe & Wise breaks viewing records with their Christmas specials
They become the highlight of the year for most viewers and in 1977 break all records when over 28 million viewers (more than half the population of the entire country), tune in to watch their show on the 25th December.
 
1974     The Family screens, the first ever 'fly-on-the-wall' documentary
This ground-breaking programme captures the tensions, chaos and humour of family life in the working class Wilkins family, and raises controversial issues about class, race and manners in 70s England. It initiates 'reality TV'.
 
1974     Regular CEEFAX service starts
Originally designed by BBC engineers to provide subtitles for the deaf, this is the first teletext service in the world. Its information is wide-ranging, including news, weather, travel reports and stocks and shares.
 
1978     Dennis Potter's Pennies from Heaven brings new dark writing to TV drama
Mixing the reality of drama with dark fantasy content, it famously reveals the inner life of its characters by having them burst into popular 1930s songs. Pennies from Heaven remains one of the edgiest, most audacious things ever conceived for television.
 
1978     The unique BBC Television Shakespeare project launches
The single most ambitious attempt at bringing the Bard to the small screen launches with Romeo and Juliet. It will conclude nearly seven years later with Titus Andronicus.
 
The 1980s
 
A war-torn world gives a renewed focus to the BBC, whether reporting the Falklands War or mounting the groundbreaking Live Aid concert. Meanwhile, one of the largest TV audiences ever is recorded for Charles and Diana's wedding, television finally colonises the House of Commons and even our breakfast tables, and the BBC launches its most popular TV soap of all time, EastEnders.
 
There is a serious rift with the government over editorial independence, this time around the Northern Irish issue - probably the most serious since the General Strike of 1926.
 
1980     First Children in Need telethon appeal
 
Created in 1955, it becomes a "telethon", whole evening event in 1980.  The new format sees a dramatic increase in public donations, raising £1 million for the first time ever and becoming a yearly event in the BBC’s calendar. Pudsey will make his debut in 1985.
 
1981     Prince Charles's wedding to Lady Diana Spencer is broadcast in 74 countries
Charles and Diana's wedding has an estimated global TV audience of 750 million, making it the most popular programme ever broadcast, full of iconic and memorable moments which mark a generation.
 
1981     Only Fools and Horses launches, to become one of the most popular TV sitcoms ever
After a relatively slow start, the show goes on to achieve consistently high ratings, and the 1996 episode Time on Our Hands holds the record for the highest UK audience for a sitcom episode.
 
1982     Brian Hanrahan's unforgettable news reporting from The Falklands War
 
In the midst of the war, he uses the memorable phrase "I counted them all out, and I counted them all back."  This is a clever ruse to get round reporting restrictions, so that he could say that all British Harrier jets had returned safely. It becomes a prime example of good reporting under pressure.
 
1982     The Boys from the Blackstuff, fresh-voiced social drama about unemployment
 
Alan Bleasedale's hard-hitting comedy has an immediate and striking impact on British society at large.  It shows how television drama, when at its best, has the potential to extend far beyond the borders of pure entertainment to influence the thinking of an entire nation.
 
1982     BBC Microcomputer introduced, changing face of computer literacy
 
The 'BBC Micro' inspires a generation of children and youngsters to use computers, as well as stimulating the new media and computer games industry in wider UK. Learning will never be the same again.
 
1983     Breakfast TV first launches
 
Presented by Frank Bough, Selina Scott and weatherman Francis Wilson, the show transforms early morning habits of the UK. The show will run until 1989, when it is replaced by BBC Breakfast News.
 
1985     At the Edge of the Union, a cutting edge documentary about Northern Ireland
This documentary innovates by seeking to air all perspectives on the Northern Ireland situation. Blocked by the government because it gives a platform to an alleged IRA terrorist, this leads to an outcry about censorship. British broadcast journalists unite in an unprecedented one-day blackout of all television and radio newscasts across the BBC. The programme is shown in slightly amended form later in the year.
 
1985       Live Aid broadcast, a new global campaign phenomenon
Live Aid, a multi-venue rock music concert, is organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for Ethiopia famine relief. It is one of the largest-scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time with an estimated 400 million viewers, across 60 countries, watching the live broadcast.
 
1985     EastEnders begins, to become the BBC's most watched programme ever  
One of Britain's most successful television soap operas, it reaches number one in the ratings within 8 months of its launch, and will consistently remains amongst the top 5 programmes after that.
 
The 1990s
 
BBC enters the digital age in this decade, developing a range of digital broadcasting and internet services. As it makes this transition, traditional genres are continually refreshed. Andrew Davies's Pride & Prejudice captivates the nation, Only Fools and Horses makes us laugh, and Teletubbies transforms programming for young children on a global scale.
 
News goes 24 hours, Princess Diana dominates the documentary headlines and, by the end of the decade, 19 million people will watch her funeral.
 
1990 Televising of House of Commons becomes permanent, a broadcasting model around the world
Following a year-long experiment, and years of lobbying, the televisation of the proceedings of the House of Commons finally becomes permanent. It will become a model around the world of transparency and the democratic process.
 
1994 First televising of a British criminal trial, opening up the machinery of justice
A milestone in British legal history is reached when BBC Scotland televises a criminal trial. It features the case of Philip Gorman who is accused of taking a bus, careless driving and refusing a breath test.
 
1994 First National Lottery Draw
 
Hosted by Noel Edmonds, the National Lottery has a huge impact on the social life of the UK. Seven people guess the correct numbers, winning jackpots of over £800,000 each, and £12.65 million is donated to good causes from the first week’s draw.
 
1995 Digital audio broadcasting launched
 
The new Digital Radio service starts, using technology and support provided by BBC Research & Development. It will transform content and listening habits across the UK.
1995 People's Century begins, the most ambitious documentary made by BBC
Charting the course of the 20th century through the eyes of ordinary people, this series is one of the most ambitious and expensive ever made by the BBC. It aims to tell history through a fresh and different perspective.
 
1995 People's Century begins, the most ambitious documentary made by BBC
Charting the course of the 20th century through the eyes of ordinary people, this series is one of the most ambitious and expensive ever made by the BBC. It aims to tell history through a fresh and different perspective.
 
1997 Teletubbies begins, transforming the nature of pre-school television
The brightly costumed Tinkywinky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po become cult hits, and transform the lives of millions of pre-school children and their parents around the globe.
 
1997 Launch of News 24
 
The BBC’s first rolling news service launches, providing news and analysis across 24 hours of every day. It is renamed BBC News in 2008.
 
1999 First transmission of Walking with Dinosaurs, the highest rated science programme in British TV history
The lost world of the dinosaurs is dramatically brought back to life, using the latest special effects technology. The series attracts 50% of the viewing public, reaching a peak of 18.9million viewers.
 
The 2000s  
 
This decade is the digital decade, as the BBC responds increasingly to audiences' need to have programme content 'anytime, any place, anywhere'. The IBBC iPlayer launches successfully at the end of 2007, enabling viewers in the UK to catch up on programmes screened over the previous seven days. The BBC website grows exponentially, receiving an average of 3.6 billion hits per month.
 
The BBC is increasingly global – its coverage of the 2008 Olympics available on TV, radio, online and by mobile phone. Its popular programmes, such as Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing, become universal hits.
 
2001 The Office begins, innovating the 'mockumentary'
 
Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious Wernham Hogg Paper Company. The Office innovates the idea of the 'mockumentary', and has since become one of the most successful British comedy exports of all time, selling to over 80 countries. 2002 1xtra and Asian Network hit the air, focusing on black and Asian UK audiences
The BBC’s first national digital networks launch, totally dedicated to black and Asian voices, views and music.
 
2002 Prom at the Palace/Party at the Palace, first ever concerts from Buckingham Palace
 
The first ever prom concerts from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, as part of The Queen's Jubilee celebrations. A classical prom is followed by a pop prom, both in the presence of The Queen and other members of royal family.
 
2004 Strictly Come Dancing begins, inspiring dance across the UK
 
Hosted by Bruce Forsyth, Strictly (as it is often known, a skilful reinvention of the earlier Come Dancing) inspires the UK with a dance craze, as it pits celebrity dancers one against the other.  It also sells internationally as a hugely popular programme format.
 
2005 Doctor Who is re-launched, reinventing populist sci-fi
 
Christopher Eccleston makes his debut as the 9th Time Lord, in what proves to be a hugely popular reinvention of sci-fi entertainment. Do2006 Broadcasting House re-opens, as new digital radio centre
Following its closure in 2002, the original iconic Broadcasting House is re-opened by The Queen as a fully digital centre for BBC network radio. This completes the first phase of the development. The second phase will complete in 2012, when BBC News and BBC World Service relocate to W1, creating a newly combined news service there.
Doctor Who is still the longest running TV sci-fi series in the world.                                        
 
2006 Broadcasting House re-opens, as new digital radio centre
Following its closure in 2002, the original iconic Broadcasting House is re-opened by The Queen as a fully digital centre for BBC network radio. This completes the first phase of the development. The second phase will complete in 2012, when BBC News and BBC World Service relocate to W1, creating a newly combined news service there.
 
2007 New digital broadcasting centre opens at Pacific Quay, Scotland
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown opens the brand new broadcast centre for Scotland, on the banks of the River Clyde, the first ever totally digital BBC centre in the UK.
 
2008 Arabic Service goes tri-media, first BBC foreign language service to do so
Highlighting the importance of Arabic as a global language, the BBC Arabic Service goes tri-media for the first time ever, offering news and news analysis across TV, radio and online.
 
Multi-platform Olympics Games from Beijing
65% of the UK watch the Games for at least 15 minutes (36.6m people), and there is record take up for the first time across TV, radio, online, and via mobile phone.
 
 
1911-1990
Descended from mill owner Henry Taylor and wife Sarah (nee Crosland), George Crosland Taylor and brother James were early entrepreneurs with an interest in everything electrical and mechanical. In 1906, George (always referred to as Crosland) bought two cars and a chassis, built by French company Morane, at the same time renting a warehouse in Chester, with the idea of assembling and selling the French designed cars. It soon became apparent that much more capital was needed and various people were persuaded to invest in the new company, including his French associate, Georges de Ville. The new company, Crossville Motor Company Limited, was incorporated on the 27th October 1906, the name being an amalgam of Crosland and de Ville, although the car making activities ceased in 1908 and the company thereafter confined its activity to agency work and repairs.
In 1909 the horse bus service between Kelsall and Chester was replaced by a motorbus and the then office manager, Jack Morris, suggested to George that the Crosville Motor Company should consider providing a bus service between Chester and Ellesmere Port on account of the indirect rail link. George's son Edward, who had been appointed General Manager of the Company in June 1909, bought a Herald charabanc at auction in Swansea. In December 1910 Crosville approached Chester City Council to request permission to start the service, which was subsequently granted, although it was not until 2nd February 1911 that the first Crosville vehicle ran the route. Difficulties with the Herald and a subsequent purchase, a Germaine wagonette, meant that a large capacity Crosville car and a second-hand Albion charabanc had to be used.
Although the early years of operation were not successful, by 1913 the Company was making a small profit. New vehicles were ordered to replace the motley collection of vehicles owned and more were ordered for 1914, although the chassis were eventually impressed by the War Department following the outbreak of World War 1.
Crossville’s area of operation was expanded in December 1913 when the Council at Crewe approved licences for services between Crewe and Nantwich, and Crewe and Middlewich. On 15th October 1915, the Company gained a foothold on Crewe town services when they purchased the established business of Ward Brothers, who had been involved in horse-drawn passenger transport from the turn of the century.
Although there were requests for bus services from many quarters, the wartime conditions restricted any expansion until 1919, when a Chester to Hoole circular service was inaugurated. In October 1919 a service from New Ferry to Meols commenced, running via West Kirby and Hoylake. To facilitate early departures from New Ferry, an outstation was set up at the Great Eastern Hotel. On 4th December 1919, buses began serving Helsby, Frodsham, Runcorn and Warrington from Chester.
With Crosville now expanding outwards from Chester and into the Wirral, it was inevitable that conflict with some of the municipal operators would ensue. Licences to run from West Kirby to Wallasey village were granted in May 1920, but plans to extend the services to Seacombe ferry and New Brighton were opposed by Wallasey Corporation. Similar problems were encountered with Birkenhead Corporation, who steadfastly refused to allow the Company's vehicles into the town. The restricted routes, however, generated a good deal of income, which helped the Company expand into other areas.
Crosville inaugurated a circular service taking in Mold, Hawarden, Queensferry, Connah's Quay, Flint and Northop in 1919, their first excursion into Wales. Flintshire was one of the more populated regions and Crosville saw this as a potentially profitable area for expansion. As a result additional routes from Connah's Quay to Chester, Mold to Pentre Halkyn and Mold to Ruthin via Loggerheads, were quickly introduced. Eventually a depot was established in Mold and more new routes inaugurated. In 1922 the Betws-y-Coed to Abergele route of Roberts' Blue Motors was acquired and Crossville’s spread into Wales continued. This service was soon connected to Ruthin and further route developments based on this corridor. Depots were opened in Dolgellau and Blaneau Fastening in 1924 and in 1925 the Caernarfon depot of Richards' Busy Bee service was acquired, along with services to Porthmadog and Pwllheli. By now Crosville had also extended their operations into Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Cardigan, Llanidloes and Llandrindod Wells, establishing depots in most of these towns.
Meanwhile Crosville was looking for ways into Liverpool and the possible lucrative market there. The Crosland Taylors had identified Warrington and Widnes as possible access points into the city and in June 1922 Crosville commenced three new routes out of Widnes towards Liverpool and in October another three routes from Widnes serving Speke, Garston, Penketh and Warrington were introduced. An out-station was established at Widnes, but was closed when a new depot was opened at Chester New Road, Warrington in 1923. By 1925, however, Liverpool City Council, who had previously refused access to the city centre by all private operators, concluded an agreement with Ribble Motor Services, allowing the Company to use a terminus in Canning Place. Crosville took the opportunity to seek permission to extend its Widnes to Garston service to the same city centre terminus, which was granted subject to an agreement not to carry local passengers within the city boundary and the imposition of a 6d minimum fare. On 1st August 1925 the service into Liverpool commenced on an hourly frequency and Crosville had at last attained its goal.
Crosville had developed its local services in Crewe and Nantwich, despite the constant demands of the local council, and was looking to expand into Northwick, which was served by the Mid-Cheshire Bus Company. Although negotiations were commenced, the asking price was above Crossville’s valuation and they declined to purchase the company, which was instead sold to the North Western Road Car Company the following year. This effectively put a stop to Crossville’s expansion in this direction.
During this period the fleet had expanded considerably. Early preferences had been for Daimler CK chassis until Leyland vehicles were purchased in 1921. The first new double-deckers were introduced in 1926 when twelve Leyland Leviathan LG1's with Leyland H52RO bodywork were acquired (Nos. 211-222), although such vehicles remained in the minority until the advent of the Second World War. A variety of vehicles arrived with the take-over of John Pye of Heswall in 1924, including Crossville’s first Bristol vehicle, a 1919 Bristol 4-ton chassis with Ch28 bodywork.
By 1929 Crosville had consolidated an operating area covering the Wirral and parts of Lancashire, Cheshire and Flintshire. However, the Railways (Road Transport) Acts of 1928 had given powers to the railway companies to engage in the provision of bus services. Rather than run in competition with established operators the railway company’s strategy was to buy into, or purchase outright, existing bus companies. In February 1929, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company approached Crosville and, following discussions, made an offer of almost £400,000 to purchase the Company outright. The offer was subsequently accepted and in November 1929, the Crosville Motor Company went into voluntary liquidation and a new company trading as LMS (Crosville) emerged. At the same time the LMS purchased Holyhead Motors, and UNU Motor Services of Caernarfon, both companies being integrated into the new LMS (Crosville). A few months later, the railway companies reached an agreement with the Tilling and British Automobile Traction (T&BAT) Group to acquire 50% of the shareholdings in most of the companies under the Group's control. In return the railway companies sold 50% of their shareholdings in the businesses they had acquired to the T&BAT Group. In some instances this meant the formation of new companies, as it did in the case of LMS (Crosville), which was reborn on the 15th May 1930 as Crosville Motor Services Ltd., after just 9 months of outright LMS ownership.
During the next few years, the LMS continued to acquire various smaller companies that operated in the Crosville area, including White Rose Motor Services of Rhyl; Red Dragon of Denbigh; Burton of Tarporley; North Wales Silver Motors and Llangoed Red Motors - all purchased in 1930 and integrated into the Crosville fleet. Royal Blue of Llandudno was already owned by BAT and this was also absorbed by Crosville, giving the Company a major share of the North Wales coastal services.
The railway companies also sought agreements with local authorities, whose objections to private operators were seen as an obstacle to development. The railway companies suggested that three operating areas should be established. The inner area would consist of council run services, which would be protected from competition, whilst services in the outer area would be Company operated. An intermediate area was envisaged whereby Council and Company services would be shared. Although local conditions often meant that variations to this scheme had to be adopted, in general, the railway companies were able to negotiate agreements based on this system with most local authorities. Local agreements with Birkenhead Corporation and finally Liverpool meant that Crosville was able to expand its services within these areas, especially since the advent of the 1930 Road Traffic Act had taken licensing arrangements out of the hands of the local authorities.
By the end of 1930 Crosville Motor Services had control of most of the services in north and central Wales and had consolidated its operating area on the Wirral and in Cheshire. Many smaller companies were acquired during the following decade as the directors made a concerted effort to remove all competition and by the end of the 1930's it was possible to rationalise the services and remove much of the waste brought about by uncontrolled competition. Although most new vehicles were of Leyland manufacture during this time, the fleet remained varied due to the assortment of manufacturers represented in the fleets taken over.
In the late 1920's the rise in popularity of excursions and long distance travel by charabanc or coach had attracted the attention of Crosville Motor Services. At this time most large bus operators were little interested in developing such work because of the need to maintain a separate coach fleet, but Crosville experimented with a few weekend excursions to London in 1928. Such was their popularity that it prompted the Company to introduce their first regular daily Liverpool to London service in 1929. Four Leyland Tiger buses, nos. 175-178 (FM5222-5225) were equipped with 25 coach seats for the purpose.
Throughout the same period, Crosville had tried to establish services between Merseyside and North Wales, which had become a popular resort area. In 1931 Crosville agreed to a pooling arrangement with two independent operators, MacDonald’s (trading as Maxways) and the Wirral Transport Company, both of Birkenhead, to include services from Liverpool and Birkenhead to Caernarfon. Both operators were running daily to destinations such as Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno but succumbed to Crosville Motor Services in 1934, which brought a certain amount of stability to the Merseyside-North Wales services.
With the onset of World War 2 in 1939 the Company was forced to make many cuts in services and much of the non-essential work, such as tours, excursions, private hire and summer services was dropped altogether. The involvement of the Company in the mainly rural areas of Wales meant that cuts here were greatest, but North Wales came to be seen as a 'safe' area with less risk of enemy attacks and so war factories were relocated there. Evacuees from many of the big cities arrived and in some parts of Wales Crosville were running more mileage than before the war. The munitions factory at Marchwiel, near Wrexham, for instance needed over 200 buses daily and other new industries added to overall demand. As a result there was a great demand on the fleet. Double-deckers were in the minority before the war, but now were sorely needed, many being hired from other undertakings. New vehicles delivered during the war years were virtually all utility double-deckers and the trend towards double-deck buses continued in peacetime.
An event, which was to have a profound effect on the nature of the fleet over the following years, took place on 3rd December 1942, when Crosville Motor Services became a subsidiary of the Tilling Group. Within a few years the distinctive Tilling green livery replaced the hitherto maroon livery and Tilling-owned Bristol vehicles were favoured over the Leyland marque.
By the end of the war, Crosville was carrying over 50% more passengers and had revenue of almost 90% in excess of that in pre-war years. The lack of vehicles and spares in this period had seen Crossville’s cash surplus soar, much of which was re-invested in property that rose in value substantially in later years. Much of the network of services that had been non-profitable had been stripped away because of wartime conditions and the Company began the new post-war era in a very healthy position.
Service revisions and re-instatements commenced on 1st July 1945, with routes out of Caernarfon, and, over the next few months extended throughout the Crosville network as vehicles and manpower became generally available once again.
The need for double-deckers had been dramatically increased by wartime events and the Company sought to convert as many former single-deck routes to double-deck as was possible. At the same time the demand for seats on express services was intense. The six years of war and austerity had led to a great demand for leisure facilities, however, the central policy of the Tilling Group gave a low priority to coaches and the subsequent shortage of vehicles gave an opportunity to the many small independent operators who saw the chance of a profitable new market. In addition, the new post-war Labour government's socialist policies included the nationalisation of public transport. On the 1st January 1948, the British Transport Commission acquired the Tilling Group shareholding. At the same time the Railway Executive took over the four mainline railway companies and their shareholding in Crosville also passed to the Commission, thus making Crosville to all intents and purposes fully nationalised.
The immediate post-war pressures for double-deck vehicles led to Crosville purchasing many second-hand vehicles and retaining many elderly vehicles, including some that were already 20 years old that were due for withdrawal. The change in ownership from the BET Group to Tilling meant that Bristol vehicles were now the standard choice, and in 1945 the first post-war double-deckers arrived in the shape of the Bristol K6A, although the Strachan L27/28R bodywork was still to utility design.By 1950, however, the post-war boom had begun to subside and prices rapidly spiralled. Fares increases were introduced in an effort to maintain services, but this only led to a fall in passenger numbers and further increases in fares; a situation that was to be continually repeated over the next forty years.
The Suez Crisis in 1956 led to the disruption of oil supplies from the Middle East and as a consequence petrol and fuel oil were rationed. Crosville was instructed by the Traffic Commissioners to reduce mileage by 10%, which was achieved by reducing and even eliminating off peak and Sunday journeys, many of which were never restored later.
Throughout the 1950's, Crosville suffered, as did most bus companies, from a serious staff shortage. At the time bus work was relatively low paid and thus recruitment was difficult. One-man operation was seen as one of the options needed to make effective use of the labour force, but union opposition forced the Company to delay plans to introduce it throughout the network and affected the Company's viability. It was to be middle of the next decade before one-man operation began to be introduced Company wide.
The dawn of the 1960's began with the Company taking a hard look at the many rural services, most of which were unprofitable to the extent that the losses became unacceptable. Crosville adopted a contraction policy, which involved withdrawing as many of these services as possible. In other areas, however, the Company was able to expand. New industrial estates and the growth of population led to extensions and increases in frequencies of some services, especially in the Deeside area.
Crossville’s contraction policy was extended to Cheshire, where the North Western Road Car Company had an interest, routes being trimmed as necessary in 1963. The country services were further cut back in 1966, although Winsford became an overspill area for Liverpool and subsequently a growth area. Changes to Winsford services were made in 1964 with a major overhaul occurring in 1969.
In 1965 Crosville introduced the 'Cymru Coastliner', between Chester and Caernarfon, anticipating the closure of many British Rail stations on route.
Towards the end of the decade, with the decline in rural traffic accelerating, it became obvious that one-man operation was the only viable option if these areas were to continue to be served. The union co-operation was half-hearted but the process was begun, although it was to be the beginning of the next decade before it was completed.
The process of contraction carried out by Crosville was mirrored throughout the country by other operators, all seeking to maintain services and profitability on ever decreasing passenger revenue. The 1968 Transport Act, introduced by the Labour government, was the first time recognition was given to the fact that some services could not continue without financial support. It created the National Bus Company (NBC) to control the various state-owned companies, Passenger Transport Authorities to co-ordinate bus services and financial support for essential rural bus services. Although, initially, councils were reluctant to pay for services they already had, the NBC forced their hand by threatening to withdraw all non-profit making services. For its part Crosville supplied details of 196 routes that required financial assistance. Although the reactions of the county councillors were on the whole hostile, they were eventually obliged to face up to the reality of the situation.
In 1971, the National Bus Company transferred the stage carriage services of the North Western Road Car Company within the Greater Manchester area to the Passenger Transport Executive. The remaining stage carriage services were then split between Trent and Crosville, with Crosville eventually taking over 119 vehicles and depots in Northwick, Macclesfield and Biddulph in March 1972. Later the same year, the NBC made further changes in West Wales, with certain services and depots at New Quay, Newcastle Emlyn and Lampeter outstation being transferred to Crosville from Western Welsh and the South Wales Transport Company.
The Market Analysis Project (MAP) of the mid-1970 grew out of the need to identify a service network that was commercially viable with acceptable fares. At the time Crosville was large enough to have its own MAP, which eventually resulted in many network changes during 1980-81. A loss of over £1,000,000 was expected in 1980, with over £2,000,000 in 1981. The economic recession was depressing revenue and it was no longer an option to borrow from the NBC. Reductions in staff levels and more service cuts helped to stem the rising loss, but inflation continued to eat into revenue. The MAP exercise had branded areas with suitable logos and names; for example, Crewe and Nantwich were branded South Cheshire and Ellesmere Port was branded Transport. All these names were displayed on the buses like fleetnames. In effect this was the start of a gradual disintegration of the Company that continued throughout the 1980's and was completed following deregulation in 1986.
On 13th February 1986, the Secretary of State for Transport decided that, because of their size, the four largest NBC companies would be split, since they provided too great a competitive threat on deregulation. Crosville was divided into two companies, the Secretary of State insisting that one part should consist of the Welsh depots and Oswestry. On 20th May 1986 a new company, Crosville Wales Ltd., took over operations in these areas, leaving the original company to operate the English services. In 1988 Crosville Motor Services Ltd., was sold to ATL (Western) Ltd. Less than a year later, Crosville Motor Services was again sold, this time to the Drawlane Group, who already owned North Western and Midland Red North. In September 1989, the depots at Runcorn and Warrington were transferred to North Western and Northwick followed in January 1990. The Company's Crewe area services were taken over by Midland Red North; the East Cheshire operations were taken over by C-Line, and the Rochdale and Manchester operations went to Bee-Line. This left Crosville with only the depots at Chester, Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry, which were subsequently sold to PMT on 2nd February 1990, who also bought the right to use the Crosville name. The Crosville Company was left with just 6 minibuses awaiting disposal and was forced to change its name to North British Bus Ltd., from 30th March 1990. In little over three years Crosville Motor Services had been dismantled and disposed of in the name of deregulation. One of the great pioneers of the bus industry, with almost 80 years of public service had
 
 1742      Samuel Whitbread starts brewing at the Goat Brew house 
 1750      Moves to nearby Chiswell Street
 1796      First brewer to exceed annual production of 200,000 barrels
 1868      Bottling introduced - Whitbread becomes a national brand
 1889      Becomes a limited company
 1948      Becomes a public company under Colonel Bill Whitbread
1961 – Major expansion through merger and acquisition of businesses
1971 
1962       Thresher off-licence chain joins the group
1968
1976       Last brew at Chiswell Street
1982       Pizza Hut joint venture with Pepsi-Co begins
1985       TGI Friday's franchise agreement signed
1987       First Travel Inn opened
1989       Boddingtons brewery acquired
1990   Acquisition of Berni chain from Grand Metropolitan
1995   Whit bread Hotel Company acquires rights to the Marriott brand
1995       Acquisition of David Lloyd Leisure
1995       Acquisition of Costa
2000       Acquisition of Swallow Group PLC
2000       Sale of Beer Company
2000       Sales of First Quench, Whitbread’s joint venture off-licence business
2001       Sale of Pub and Bars          
2002       Sale of Pelican and Bright Reasons 
2003       Acquisition of Cannons Health & Fitness BV (Netherlands)
2004       Announce plans to sell three-star Courtyard by Marriott Hotels in the UK
2004       Whitbread acquires Premier Lodge
2004       Whitbread announces plans to sell Marriott business
2006       Sale of 239 Pub Restaurants to M&B
2006       Announced an agreement to sell its 50% shareholding in Pizza Hut UK Ltd
2007       Whitbread PLC sells TGI Friday’s business
2007       Whitbread announced conditional sale of David Lloyd Leisure
2008       Whitbread exchanged 44 pubs for 21 Express by holiday Express Hotels
  
 
 
Charles “Cheers” Wakefield, Castrol’s founder, was an entrepreneur in the grandest sense of the word.
In 1899, when he was 39, he left a job at Vacuum Oil to start a new business at Cheapside in London, selling lubricants for trains and heavy machinery. He was a persuasive man who could articulate a vision, clearly, and eight former colleagues followed him into the new company.
Early in the new century, Wakefield took a personal interest in two sporty new motorised contraptions – the automobile and the aeroplane. The company started developing lubricants especially for these new engines, which needed oils that were runny enough to work from cold at start-up and thick enough to keep working at very high temperatures.
Wakefield researchers found that adding a measure of castor oil, a vegetable oil made from castor beans, did the trick nicely. They called the new product “Castrol.”
Breaking the land speed record
 
Having helped pioneer a new kind of motor oil, now CC Wakefield pioneered a new method of getting customers to notice the product. Sponsorship. The Castrol name appeared on banners and flags at competitive aviation events, auto races and at competitive drivers’ attempts to break the speed record.
When a Castrol-sponsored event won, advertisements heralded the victory, mentioning that the winner had done it with Castrol. The world land speed record was broken 23 times in the 1920s and 30s, 18 of them with Castrol in the engine.
Wakefield extended the company’s increasingly profitable product line to include oils developed especially for car manufacturer’s individual engines.
Whatever you call them, they make a famous motor oil
By 1960, the name of the motor oil had all but eclipsed that of the company’s larger-than-life founder. CC Wakefield and Company became, simply, Castrol Ltd. Meanwhile, the company’s researchers delved ever deeper into the complexities of engine lubrication. A state-of-the-art research facility opened in Bracknell, England.
Then in 1966, The Burmah Oil Company bought Castrol. Burmah Oil, one of Britain’s oldest companies, had once effectively owned the company that became BP, before selling its majority holding to the British government at the start of World War I.
By the time Castrol GTX launched in 1968, to acclaim from drivers professional and otherwise, Castrol products were on sale at service stations and garages in more than 140 countries. Like the racers it sponsored, Castrol sales had momentum. In the 1970 London to Mexico rally, 16 of the 23 finishers were lubricated by Castrol.
Burmah Oil as a whole fared less well. The global oil crisis of the 1970s sent the company into financial freefall. The Bank of England bailed it out, but only in exchange for the company’s remaining shares in BP.
New subsidiaries opening around the world in the 1980s signalled Burmah Oil’s recovery, and Castrol continued to introduce innovative, new products, including Castrol GTX Magnatec and Castrol SLX.
In 2000, Burmah Oil and Castrol became part of the BP group. Burmah Oil’s operations were folded into the group, while Castrol continued to lubricate engines under its own famous name.
 
To find oil in Persia, George Reynolds and his caravan of explorers had lived through seven years of harsh heat, gastric illnesses and disappointments. The next seven years would be no less difficult for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which would one day become BP.
Hard work and community in an unforgiving place
The Field of Naphtha was 210 rugged kilometres from the mouth of the Persian Gulf, where Anglo-Persian was building a refinery complex to turn the flow of thick crude oil into a usable product. Just getting adequate exploration equipment to the site had taken months. Now a pipeline would have to be built across the winding, mountainous route.
Segments of pipe arrived in bulk from the United States, and crews took them as far as they could upriver by barge. Mules dragged them the rest of the way, with labourers taking over where the land was too steep for animals to pass. The work was slow and painstaking. It took two years.
 
 
 
Meanwhile construction delays plagued the refinery site. At its completion, Abadan refinery would be the world’s largest, supported by a diverse workforce: fitters, riveters, masons and clerks from India, carpenters from China and semi-skilled workers from the surrounding Arab countries.
The company’s British contingent included a medical doctor, Morris Young. He had come to Persia to look after the original exploration team and had found himself giving medical care to most of the people who lived near the drilling site. From a tent at Masjid-i-Suleiman, he went on to found a hospital there and another at Abadan.
These would become two of the major medical centres in southwest Persia, helping the area cope with epidemic diseases and the problems of poor water quality. As for Dr Young, within Persia he would become something of a legend in his own time.
Back from the brink of bankruptcy (again)
By 1914 the Anglo-Persian project was nearly bankrupt for the second time in its short history.
The company had plenty of oil but no one to sell it to. Cars were still too expensive to count as a mass market for fuel, and more established companies in Europe and the New World had the market in industrial oils cornered. Standard Oil of Indiana (later called Amoco), for example, had been in business for over 25 years. Besides that, refining couldn’t remove the Persian oil’s strong, sulphurous stench. It couldn’t be sold as kerosene for home heating, one of the main consumer uses for oil at the time.
“This Persian business seems to get more complicated every day,” complained the chairman of Burmah Oil, Anglo-Persian’s parent company.
Enter Winston Churchill, who had taken a new role in British politics as First Lord of the Admiralty. Britons were proud of their navy, and oil-powered vessels were the latest innovation. But while Anglo-Persian executives had courted the Royal Navy for years as a prospective customer for its oil, the old guard at Whitehall had been hesitant to endorse coal’s upstart rival.
Churchill was a believer. He thought Britain needed a dedicated oil supply, and he argued the case in Parliament, urging his colleagues to “look out upon the wide expanse of the oil regions of the world!” Only the British-owned Anglo-Persian Oil Company, he said, could protect British interests.
The resolution passed resoundingly, and the UK government became a major shareholder in the company. Churchill had ended Anglo-Persian’s cash crisis, and no one had long to quietly ponder the long-term implications of a company entwining its financial interests with a political entity.
Two weeks later, an assassin killed the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Six weeks after that, Germany attacked France. The Great War had begun. By its end, war without oil would be unimaginable.
Two big purchases and a roaring decade
Despite its name, the British Petroleum brand was originally created by a German firm as a way of marketing its products in Britain. During the war, the British government seized the company’s assets, and the Public Trustee sold them to Anglo-Persian in 1917.
With that, Anglo-Persian had an instant distribution network in the UK, including 520 depots, 535 railway tank wagons, 1,102 road vehicles, four barges and 650 horses.
Early Anglo-Persian executives. Left to right: Lord Stratacona, Lord Charles Greenway, John Cadman
That same year, with the war in its final throes, the Royal Navy complained that the oil from Anglo-Persian was causing engine problems in colder climates. Anglo-Persian bought an 18th-century mansion at Sunbury-on-Thames, near London, and set up a research laboratory in the basement to address such scientific challenges.
Over the next decade, gas and electricity would largely replace kerosene for home heating, gasoline-fuelled delivery vehicles would challenge the railways for freight, and the age of the automobile would truly begin. These social changes would open a door that Anglo-Persian would step adeptly through, expanding its sales both in Britain and in mainland Europe.
Like many companies, Anglo-Iranian, which would later become BP, lost a lot in World War II. But like many companies, it also gained the resolve it needed to keep moving forward.
As Europe rebuilt so did Anglo-Iranian, investing in refineries in France, Germany and Italy plus new marketing efforts in Switzerland, Greece, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. BP gasoline went on sale for the first time in New Zealand.
But this fragile new stability would soon be shattered by political crises in the oil-rich Middle East, with tremors that would shake the ‘Iranian’ right out of Anglo-Iranian’s company name.
An era ends, an era begins
William D’Arcy’s hunch that the Middle East might be an overlooked gold mine for oil had transformed the region, giving previously impoverished countries new income and political influence.
Cars queuing during the petrol crisis caused by the Suez crisis in 1956