The Laugharne Rivals

The convoluted history of Tudor Williams Brothers (Pioneer Buses) and their rivals, Ebsworth Brothers, can only be told together due to the extraordinary events of their very bitter challenge. In June 1908, Tudor Williams, aged 17, started a regular passenger service between Laugharne and St Clears Railway Station with a horse-drawn six seat wagonette. His business venture was very successful and in 1913 obtained the Post Office mail carrier's contract for Laugharne and Pendine. In 1914, he diversified into the mechanical mode of transport with cars, and after the WWI, when he introduced a bus into the fleet, his two younger brothers joined the business. In 1919, the Ebsworth brothers, who originated from Pendine, saw how well Tudor and his brothers were doing at the business, and decided to challenge them with an identical service to St Clears Railway Station. They later followed the Williamses into Carmarthen, and eventually Tenby, where the rivalry worsened. This book sets out to tell their stories.