Jones Omnibus Services Ltd
From the 1850's, industry had been constantly on the increase, many collieries were opened in the area, a foundry opened at Abertillery and a brewery at Aberbeeg. Supporting this industry came the railways, built primarily to convey coal and other products, they also provided most of the passenger transport services. Unfortunately, these services seemed to be restricted to the main lines and did not cover tributary valleys. Living and working in the village of Aberbeeg, a collier named T.W.W. Jones could see that road passenger transport could be business of the future. In 1921 he encouraged his 4 eldest sons to leave their jobs and join him in and start a passenger transport company. With around seven other operators running in the area, he knew competition was high but despite this, the first vehicle started operating between the Cwm Hotel and the Walpole Hotel Llanhilleth. Other Operators at this time... Barrell Brothers, Six Bells…A,Higgins, Blaina…Griffin Motors, Brynmawr…Tillery Garage, Cwmtillery…W,J, Herbert, Llanhilleth…W,Blacker, Six Bells…H,Moon, Abergavenny. Vehicles were maintained at Aberbeeg and parked at Warm Turn on the old coal tip, which would become the main site depot for the remaining years of the company. It wasn't long before the high competition forced Webb Jones to move to another route, this time between "Abertillery and Aberbeeg" using the road on the west side of the valley. Further Bus routes came as the business expanded, and in 1924 the Abertillery to Aberbeeg extended to "Cwm" and then further expanded to the "Victoria Arms" also in Cwm. In 1925 Jones were allowed to run into the Cwmtillery Valley and ran this service, alternately in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. History had shown it was not easy to make a profit on this route. Because of the hilly terrain, people used the service to ride up into the valley, but to save money they would walk down. It was only when the fare tariff was altered to "2d up the valley and 1d down" did the service become profitable. In September 1927 H.J.Collier and T.W.W. Jones both applied for a service to Brynithel. The licence was awarded to T.W.W.Jones. Despite a surveyor's report stating the Brynithel road would fall into the valley if buses ran over it, the service continued. The Foundry Bridge, which had been closed for major repair work, reopened in 1928-1929 but, due to restrictions, Jones were refused permission to cross over the bridge to access Alma Street. At this time, Colliers had already appealed to the Ministry of Transport against Jones having both Cwmtillery services and, as a result, Colliers would run the clockwise service. Difficulties between both parties on these routes were encountered and, as a result, a booking in clock system was introduced, but even this did not entirely stop the difficulties.
Mr T.W.W. Jones died in January 1929 and Mrs Emily Jones took over the operations of the buses with her sons, trading as "Jones Omnibus Services". Licences given to Jones under the 1930 road traffic act included:- Abertillery - Cwmtillery, via Tillery Street and return via Alma Street. Abertillery - Brynithel via Six Bells. Abertillery - Cwm, via Aberbeeg. Excursions and Tours from Aberbeeg. In March 1935, an agreement was reached between Red and White, Western Welsh, Griffin and Jones regarding the rates to be charged for private hire work in the western valley. Jones successfully applied to extend their Cwm service to Ebbw Vale via private roads of the now expanded Steel Works. In April 1939 "Jones Omnibus Services Limited" was registered, with Mrs E.A.Jones and her 5 sons as the six Directors. At this time Mrs E.A.Jones - 2500 Shares, (Chairman and Director)….Ivor, J, Jones - 400 Shares, (Managing Director)….Reginald Jones - 400 Shares, (Director)….Brynley, A, Jones - 400 Shares, (Director)….William Jones - 400 Shares, (Director)….Ronald Jones - 400 Shares, (Director). Many companies had vehicles requisitioned by the Ministry of Transport during the war period. Jones were no different and two AEC Regal Coaches were requisitioned in1937. Purchases would also be made throughout this period and at the end of the war the fleet averaged twelve vehicles. In May 1947 Jones were granted the route between Ebbw Vale and Newport, via Llanhilleth and Pontypool. After an application, the Traffic Commissioners withdrew the protective fares on the Cwm - Ebbw Vale section and also allowed picking up between Pontypool and Newport after 1.00pm, on weekends and all day on Saturday. This was a great victory and heralded a rapid build-up of fleet strength to more than treble that which had been throughout the war. Tragedy hit the company on March 12th 1950, three of the directors were killed in a 'plane accident. The three brothers were Ivor, William and Brynley Jones, and they were returning from a Rugby International in Ireland. With this huge loss to the company Ron Jones was appointed managing director and the three widows received their late husbands shares. The company continued to expand under the directorship of Ron Jones, especially in the private hire areas. During April 1969, after a history of family unrest, the decision to offer the company to National Bus Company was made. Along with it's 43 Vehicles, a total of 50 services were also held at the time of sale. No change occurred in the livery until 1973 when coaches received White with Blue flashes and the once familiar "Jones" colours started to slowly disappear.
Thanks to Roger Wortley, Richard Morgan, Chris Taylor, Brian Potts, Geoff Bruce, Gordon Richmond and John Jones, all information providers for this historical page