Yelloway centenary celebration

The original Yelloway offices beside the Roach weir and bridge parapet in 1980s

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The Mayor of Rochdale, Surinder Biant and Mrs Joy Parker (daughter of former Yelloway manager, Hubert Allen) will attend the Yelloway Mobile Museum, containing photos, models, posters and other memorabilia, with owner Paul Blackburn on Saturday 4 July and then 'launch', on its first public appearance, the just completed and restored 1973 Yelloway Coach, CDK 172 L.

There will also be a re-union of former Yelloway employees in the Town Hall from 3 to 5pm.

During Saturday, two former Rochdale and Bury Corporation buses of the 1950s will give free rides between the Town Hall and Heywood Railway Station to link up with East Lancashire Railway Trains.

On Sunday 5 July the Yelloway Coaches will be on display at the Manchester Museum of Transport followed by a road run to Oldham, Milnrow, Rochdale, Bacup and Rawtenstall with photo stops in Oldham, Rochdale, Bacup and Rawtenstall. The run will end at the Bury Transport Museum where the coaches will be on display with a gathering of London Buses until 4pm.

The event will celebrate the centenary of the registration of Holt Brother’s (Rochdale) Ltd in 1915.

Holt Brothers began passenger transport around 1912, placing benches on a Foden steam wagon for short local trips, Hollingworth Lake being a popular destination.

About the same time, the first purpose built passenger coach or char-a-banc (coach with benches) to appear in Rochdale made the first, epic, two-day journey of 300 miles to Torquay for a private party of staff and family of printers Edwards and Bryning as a rail strike prevented their travelling by train.

Notably, Florence Bryning and her friend Grace Stansfield were among the passengers and the young Grace (later Gracie Fields) won a talent competition in Paignton. Thus began what would become, after the end of the 1914-1918 war, the trademark Yelloway express coach services to Devon.

Yelloway Motor Services Ltd occupied the Weir Street site, now Number One Riverside, as their offices, workshops and coach station for 58 years from 1930.

The Yelloway name was well known nationally, as they operated express services to Devon, London, East Anglia and many other destinations, as well as holidays to all parts of the UK.

One of the biggest coach firms, it was managed by Herbert Allen M.B.E., MD of Yelloway Motor Services Ltd from 1931 to 1956. His Son Hubert Allen O.B.E., J.P. was MD until he retired in 1985. The present Yelloway Coach firm is based in Chadderton and MD Mark Brook has links with the old Yelloway company.