SHARP OF BOSTON
Operating from Boston to Freiston Shore
Originally Charles Alfred Sharp, this
business became A (Eric) Sharp of Boston. The Freiston bus route
is believed to have
been acquired from Battle in 1950. At some time in the earlier
days the base was in Sutterton, where the former charabanc belonging to
Thorougoods was based. Sharp's bus service operated from Boston
to
Fishtoft and Freiston, and typically the fleet would be six Bedford
vehicles in a red and cream livery, including OBs and OWBs. A
family business, Eric and wife Mary, and in
1954 the bus service was popular enough to require the provision of
three
vehicles on the route. In 1964 the fleet numbered five, all
Bedfords, three OB,
one SB and a 7-seater. A visitor noted their immaculate condition and turn out.
The Sharp's business was sold to coach
firm Hogg of
nearby
Benington in 1978. This was Hogg's first foray into bus operation (they also ran the petrol filling station in Benington). With
express service deregulation in 1980 Hogg introduced a twice weekly
service from Boston and Spalding to London (this was continued by Brylaine until 1999). In turn the Hogg
business, founded in 1958, with depots at Peck Avenue in Boston,
Benington and
Coningsby, was sold to Brylaine in 1990. The Coningsby depot had
been acquired by Hogg with the nine vehicle business of Milsons of Coningsby
(established 1923) in 1979.
Illustrated below is an undated timetable from this operator. There are handwritten additions on the back giving additional journeys on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during the school holidays:
9.00 am and 4.30 pm Boston to Freiston Shore
2.20 pm Freiston Shore to Boston
As
may be seen from the timetable there were three route variations (a)
via
Fishtoft and Hawthorn Tree (b) via Freiston Village and Hawthorn Tree
(c) via
Fishtoft, Halfway House and Hawthorn Tree. Lincolnshire Road Car
service
63 also ran between Boston and Freiston Village, but on Wednesdays and
Saturdays
only. On those two days most of Sharp's runs went via Fishtoft
rather than
Freiston. As can be seen the depot was in Pipe Office Lane in
Boston - next to where the bus station now is. The departure
point for the Freiston service was a little way away across the river
in Main Ridge, off the Market Place.
There were attempts in earlier years to make Freiston Shore a seaside resort but these were short-lived, and today Freiston Shore is a thriving RSPB Nature Reserve. This is the biggest example of such a project in the United Kingdom and over 150 bird species are recorded here each year.
The first of many tales and clippings regarding Sharp's Coaches.
Many years ago, whilst suffering a bout of ill health my Grandfather Charles Afred Sharp (Eric's Dad) remarked to the then young Eric, one day I'll buy that piece of land yonder and open a garage on the site. He did and then started Sharps Coaches there too, the legend across the back of the Bedford Coaches later read Chas. A. Sharp - nobody ever did catch Charlie, he was too quick. Reputed to be the first dealer to sell Model T Fords in Lincolnshire.
