Ayrshire Bus Owners (A1 Service) Ltd - End of an Era

[@scottirvine121]

Some great footage here, being in Ayr we had green busses of similar Leyland style but far less than A1 covered as there were a few companies. Green busses tended to service outlying towns and villages Also great to see some proper 80s iconic cars

[@scottirvine121]

Some great footage here, being in Ayr we had green busses of similar Leyland style but far less than A1 covered as there were a few companies. Green busses tended to service outlying towns and villages and a couple can be seen in this footage Also great to see some proper 80s iconic cars

[@douglassutherland969]

Didn’t live in Ayrshire until much later than this period, so never really knew the A1 buses. A nice little video well put together much enjoyed.

[@alistairshaw3206]

Great video, I remember the A1 service well. I drove for the competition, AA Buses in the late 80's and 90's. There was usually a bit of rivalry between A1 and AA buses on the road between Irvine and Ardrossan, especially at night. Some of the A1 drivers would try to block the AA buses from getting past, some drivers were very keen, but Willie Robson would always wave you past. I later worked with Willie at Rowe and Tudhope.

[@roncushnaghan9945]

I spent a good few years with my dad at Parkhouse Garage (Sure it was the Duff family that had it) when I was wee probably why I ended up being a mechanic. I was told to be careful going between the buses as not all the length of the pits had boards. Sure enough I fell through. The video brought back some very good memories. We lived in Bourtreehill and the house backed onto the bus route. If I had a home lunch and was lucky enough my dad would be on his way back to the garage after swapping a bus at kilmarnock bus station and I would get a run back to school on the bus with just me and my dad, happy days.

[@jimgemmell2831]

Parkhouse Garage was indeed the Duff garage.

[@jimgemmell2831]

Back in the good ol' days when we had variety in the area. We had A1, AA, Clyde Coast and Shuttle Buses. Western had already succumbed. Had variety in the buses as well. Nowadays, it's all bloody Stagecoach with Enviros and Solos.

[@sheenajarvis684]

Hi Jim my family had 2 garages in Factory lane. One across from McGregor the other next to the dairy.

[@jimgemmell2831]

@@sheenajarvis684 giving my age away, remembering the Clyde Coast garage round there lol

[@europancrasinternational]

i’m planning to nationalise all the buses and bring back a1 service

[@sheenajarvis684]

My family connection goes back to my Grandfather,John L. Stewart and his 2 brothers, Jonathan and William, [based in Stevenston,]who became owners in 1925. On Death of Jonathan -1959, his share passed to Sister Christina and then to her son Claude Dunn.. My Grandfather's garages [2] was in Factory lane Saltcoats, [sadly not iconed on the map on this video,] It was John L.Stewart and sons. On his death his sons John Lawrence Stewart and George Laurie Stewart took ownership. They stayed in business until my Father John L. [known as Jackie], retired in April 1987, his brother George in Nov 1988. Their shares passed to the Meney family. I grew up with these buses-so much so our front door bell was an old 'push once' from one of his buses.Our family business was run out of Grandparent's house on Border Ave. Saltcoats, my Aunt Dorothy Stewart was the bookkeeper until her death.I spent many happy days playing in the bus garage and climbing up into those very high,[to a 5 yr old,] outside cabs in the early bus models. It was a sad day when company closed the bus doors for last time. Thank you to who whoever made video,it brought many happy memories.

[@jimgemmell2831]

If I remember correctly, the garage at Factory Lane was across from McGregors Clyde Coast yard, round the corner from the Glenhusky factory.

[@clareduffy8581]

Truly heart breaking I was on the last A1 bus driven by Kevin Orr they were good times

[@themightycag]

A film by the late Jim Conway made with great pathos. Superb.

[@michaelhannah7189]

This brings back so many memories. 1 during school hols worked for Bill Boyd delivering bleach/firewood during the week and cleaning A1 buses at Parks garage at the weekend

[@paulmears1288]

I stayed in kilwinning far 1979 tay 1986 so I ken the A1 service bus company and also the AA service bus company tay, miss them very much, how much itll be gid if they made a comeback

[@scottirvine121]

That’s a frightening big buggar that

[@anne-mariemoore]

When did the conductors stop? In 1995? I am having a debate about this lol

[@andrewphillips4508]

It was much later the clippies went. 1999

[@craigsibley8161]

What a nice nostalgia trip. A1 never ventured down my end of Ayrshire... It was all Western and AA. Sad ending. Stagecoach 👎👎👎

[@europancrasinternational]

i hate stagecoach bus