Nostalgic journey as coach arrives in town

The vehicle was on display at Cannock's Market Square on Saturday to help prompt memories from local people which can be used for a book due to be published on the company by a Lichfield author.

It was started in the 1920s by Cecil Harper, a market gardener, who used a Model T Ford to take his produce from Heath Hayes to Cannock Market.

He was able to take the body off the car and put seats in it and began transporting customers to the market too.

Harper Bros grew through the years to provide bus services, coach trips and private hire, before being bought out by Midland Red in 1974.

John Watkins, aged 60, from Great Barr, took over the restoration project from a friend, Ron Lucas after his death.

He said: "Ron started it in 1998 and it was completed in 2004. It cost around £10,000 in total and I take it to shows.

"The company was really well thought of in Cannock. It was run for the customer.

"One of the people who came today was Cecil's nephew Doug, who is 80 now, which was really nice.

"There was one chap who was in tears because the bus brought back so many memories. "One woman said she met her husband on a Harper bus, while another said her husband was a driver and they got divorced because he worked such long shifts, so we had all sorts."

The Harper Brothers Story is being written by Bryan Yates. To contribute, contact him at b.yates@virgin.net