File:Wells Continental Leyland, Maldon c 1979 - Flickr - sludgegulper.jpg

At home in Wantz Road, Maldon, late 70s. WUR855J, the only Leyland in Albert Wells' fleet. Behind is 3001UK, the ex-Don Everall Duple Continental bodied AEC Reliance which was in the fleet also for a long time. I can now place the redeveloped depot - somewhere around here which was originally the yard and garage of Hall & Son of Maldon, which Wells took over in the late 60s. The site of this photo today looks like this. The house on the left is identifiably still. Sash windows have been removed from the houses and a new estate laid out on the garage and hard standing area. WUR was acquired when almost new from the strange Beachcomber Holidays Ltd concern which suddenly appeared , registered at an accountant's office in New London Road, Chelmsford in 1971. The MD was a Trevor (or Terence, I forget) Beanland of Hull. Several second-hand vehicles were acquired, followed by the Duple bodied Leyland Leopard and one,possibly two 12m AEC Reliances. The firm went under shortly afterwards, possibly never having operated any holidays whatsoever. WUR857J spent weeks on end,when brand new, dumped in a public car park in Chelmsford in summer 1971 and Wells obviously snapped up 855 at a nice price. I never saw 856 being operated. (857 was in a white and orange livery) , but 856 eventually passed through the hands of Premier Travel. Wells retired from business in the late 80s I think, and died in 1999, having operated an eclectic mix of vehicles, mainly lightweight, new and second-hand. WUR855J was used in a pale yellow and white livery for a long time, later appearing in the firm's Red and white, and seemed only to perform schools contracts even when new. A known fleetlist of Beachcomber, during its Mayfly like existence will follow here..... LHK390J Ford Transit KNK363G Bedford VAL70 - Duple Northern JUH376E Bedford VAM14 Duple WUR855J Leyland Leopard - Duple 53 seater WUR857J AEC Reliance 6U3ZR - Plaxton 50 seater SKG709H Bedford VAL70- Plaxton, new to Cavalier, Sutton,later with Norfolk, Nayland ATU55F Bedford VAL70 - Plaxton, new to Jackson of Altrincham.

(Bus Lists gives WUR856J identical to 857)

IF ANYONE HAS ANY MORE INFORMATION OR COMMENTS ABOUT WELLS COACHES OF MALDON / HATFIELD PEVEREL