RSTC Newsletter No. 4 September 2023
Welcome to Issue #4 of the RSTC Newsletter.
We aim to keep members informed of what is going on in and around RSTC and what is on offer during the coming months. We always welcome feedback and suggestions from members on anything concerning the events we stage and how they are carried out.
Contents of this Issue
Hodge’s Coaches – a Century of Service
Birmingham Canals Trip
Upcoming Events
Membership and Subscriptions
Members’ Questionnaire 2023
RSTC Annual General Meeting
New Pick-up Point in Crowthorne
Hodge’s Coaches – a Century of Service
A vital part of RSTC’s activities over the past 25 years has been the use of Hodge’s Coaches to provide transport to and from venues. They have provided a high-quality service which embodies safety, comfort, timeliness and excellent customer service from all staff involved.
Hodge’s Coaches are now approaching their centenary of operation, having been founded in 1924 by George Edward Hodge – always known as ‘Dick’ – who previously operated a coal delivery business in the Sandhurst area and was looking for ways to use his lorries during slack time in the summer when few customers required coal. He converted one of his lorries into a 14-seater charabanc, purchased from AC Barnes in Wokingham, and ran local private hires and day excursions. The charabanc was named ‘Venus’ in honour of George Edward’s father, Walter, who had served on HMS Venus during WW1. The business is still family-owned and run by three of George Walter’s grandsons Mark, Paul and Martin.
The site in Sandhurst has been used since the company was started. Properties around the original garage on Yorktown Road were purchased and their extensive back gardens used to create the current layout which includes coach parking, workshop and office space. Part of the site was sold off to accommodate the Shell Station which still in existence.
Between the wars, Hodge’s Coaches continued to flourish, taking on additional vehicles to meet demand. They did a lot of work for Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as well as many sports and social clubs. With the advent of WW2, there was much activity on government-directed contracts related to the RMA and various other military establishments in the area. Post-war, excursions resumed as well as private hire for organisations including social clubs and RMA staff. Interestingly, at this time Whist Drives were frequent users of Hodge’s services!
In 1961, George Edward’s son Peter – father of Mark, Paul and Martin – joined the company to provide additional help and expertise to his father. Peter was a millwright, by trade, and had spent two periods in Jamaica with a stint at AERE Aldermaston in between. The company operated 4 or 5 coaches by then with school contracts becoming major customers. Mark Hodge came into the business in 1984/85 followed shortly after by brothers Paul and Martin who all remain directors of the company to the present day.
During his time at the helm, Peter Hodge started buying up personalised numberplates for his fleet – xxxx PH. As it happened, the ‘PH’ registration was quite a local one in Surrey and he was able to fit out his entire fleet – largely by judicious purchases of old vehicles which carried the registration. Today, the coaches with their royal blue and gold livery and ‘PH’ numberplates are often seen in the local area and further afield.
In 1987, with Martin now running the booking office and admin functions, a decision was taken to computerise the running of the business using – initially – Apricot computers. This enabled much better communication between the office, customers, maintenance staff and drivers. Interestingly, in the immediate post-war years, there were around 70 coach companies operating in the wider area of Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire. Many were taken over by larger companies and others disappeared altogether. Of these, only Hodge’s have survived leaving the company with a good steady trade in school contracts and private hire.
In modern times, Hodge’s have concentrated on private hire and contracts with state and independent schools – some of which have been in existence for several decades.
Hodge’s now operate a fleet of 25 modern vehicles ranging in capacity from 16 to 72 seats. The facilities of these modern vehicles are a far cry from the original Hodge’s charabanc of 1924! All vehicles are maintained to a very high standard in-house with a steady replacement of older ones with high-spec Mercedes coaches which meet the Euro6 emission standards now demanded by many cities, most notably the ULEZ areas of London.
These vehicles cost around £300,000 each with an additional £30,000 required to instal the wheelchair lift now demanded by increasingly stringent government regulations. Qualified drivers remain the most valuable asset of the company which is cons
The third generation of the Hodge family – Mark, Paul and Martin – work very hard to maintain the high standards set by their father and grandfather. The fourth generation of the Hodge family is already involved in the company and – hopefully – will sustain the company well into their second century.
Hodge’s take great pride in maintaining very high standards in all aspects of the business. This philosophy is summed up by a sign prominently displayed on the site which reads:
Birmingham Canals Trip
This trip proved to be so popular that we had to run it on two consecutive days! We travelled up to Birmingham by coach and then boarded the 'Euphrates' narrow boat for a tour of the Birmingham canals, with a commentary on their history along the way. After the boat trip, we were met by our guide Mary Moore who was able to point out the best places for lunch! After lunch, Mary conducted a coach tour of many of the Birmingham landmarks, including the City Centre, Edgbaston, Bournville and the site of the old BBC Pebble Mill studios. Touring the Bournville estate was particularly interesting, hearing how it was created by the Cadbury family to improve the living conditions of its workforce - ' happy workers are productive workers'. Many of the values of the Cadbury family are maintained to this day on the estate - no alcohol, no fast food and everyone has to keep their gardens clean and tidy. The coach tour finished up in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter where there are over 700 businesses concerned with the making and selling of jewellery, gold and silver items. Over 40% of the jewellery sold in the UK is made here. From the Jewellery Quarter, we bid farewell to our excellent guide, Mary, and returned safely home.
Upcoming Events
In September, we travel to London to the Headquarters of The Magic Circle to see their Magic Circle Mysteries show. As always, there is close-up magic in the first half, with a stage show in the theatre in the second half. In October, again in London, we see the acclaimed musical Crazy for You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre - whose history was documented in Newsletter #3. Next up, in November, we see Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford. A production of this play has been running in the West End since 1952 with the only break in performance forced by the Covid pandemic in 2020. In December, we once again celebrate the festive season with John Rutter’s very popular Christmas Celebration at the Royal Albert Hall.
Payments by Bank Transfer
Members are reminded to include both their POSTCODE and the SHOW/SUB for which they are paying in the ‘Payment Reference’ section. In addition, it is very important if paying for a friend or partner with a different surname to please let us know you are doing so! If someone else is paying on your behalf, please ask them to include your name in the Payment Reference. Our powers of deduction are extensive but not psychic!! Membership and Subscriptions Members are reminded that subscriptions for the 2023-24 period were due on 1st September. For those who have not yet renewed, please do so without delay if you wish to continue to receive monthly mailings of upcoming events together with this Newsletter.
Membership Questionnaire 2023
Nearly 100 completed questionnaires were returned by the cut-off date of 15th August. Many thanks to all those members who contributed. The results of the questionnaire are currently being analysed and the results and conclusions will be presented at the AGM. The names of all those who took part will be entered into a draw for 2 complimentary tickets for a RSTC event of their choice during the coming year. The winner will also be announced at the AGM.
RSTC Annual General Meeting
The AGM will take place on Wednesday 25th October 2023 6.30pm for 7pm with guest speaker Tony Earle, who will tell us about the ‘History of Kodak’. Refreshments will be served from 6.30pm. We hope as many members as possible will attend. The agenda will be published to members shortly.
New Pick-up Point in Crowthorne
A new coach pick-up point has been created in Crowthorne village at the bus stop near ‘Body Image’ – which used to be the Iron Duke pub. This replaces the pick-up point in Sandhurst, which has been unused for some time. It will enable those living in or near the village easier access to the coach and, also, provide free parking nearby. This action was taken as a direct result of a suggestion in the ‘Feedback’ section of this year’s questionnaire.