Wessex Coaches, based in Bristol, was formed by the amalgamation of other companies in 1947 and began trading under the Wessex name in 1948. Its main areas of operation were day trips to the seaside, private hire work and operating local contracts for schools and companies for which it had a fleet of coaches. In contrast it also operated contract services for workers to a number of industrial and development sites using second-hand double-deckers. This story is told here from its earliest days through to its sale to the National Bus Company in August 1974. 192 pages, softback, 202 black & white photos.