Damory Part 3 - The Summer of 2017
This, the third
programme in our Damory DVD trilogy was filmed throughout the summer of 2017
covering the Damory network. Dorset was
once served by an extensive rural bus network operated by not only the large
companies - Hants & Dorset, Wilts & Dorset and also Southern and
Western National, but also a rich diversity of small and not so small
independent operators - Bere Regis & District, Stanbridge & Crichel,
Dorset Queens, Victory Tours and House of Hilton to name but a few. Over a period of time from 1993 to 2017 and
for many reasons, Damory Coaches became the operator of a great many of these
services, which made up a fragile tracery.
This film is a tribute to the towns, villages, hamlets and staff who
operated these routes over many years.
The Damory tag line “Dorset’s great local bus company” is shown to good
effect as the cameras of independent transport videos capture
the depth of the Damory operations. At
its peak buses could be found in Ringwood – Hampshire, Salisbury – Wiltshire,
Yeovil – Somerset, Lyme Regis – nr. Devon and a great many places in between. From the Jurassic Coast to hilltop towns and
from urban operations to single track roads Damory has provided these services
by a rich diversity of vehicles from 8 to 80 seaters. Board the bus as we travel from Monkeys Hump,
Heavenly Bottom, the Piddle Valley and Fontwell Magna. Truly a bus company that always took the road
less well travelled.
The filming on this
programme begins at the main Damory bus depot at Pimperne. We have a good look around at the buses
allocated there before joining Optare Solo 3774 (YN04 LWX), to travel to
Ringwood. From here we ride on the 315
service to Wimborne where we catch up with other Damory buses. Routes 88 and 320 are captured around the
pretty Dorset lanes. Further locations
include Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and the small depot at
Henstridge. This depot was only used
from 2011 to 2017. Our cameras then move
onto Sherborne and later catch up with the busy evening activity at Yeovil Bus
Station. From Yeovil, our cameras follow
the 368 service to Sturminster Newton through the Dorset lanes. Wareham is the next location before taking a
ride on a Dennis Dart, 3362 (HW54 DCO), at Wool station and through the pretty
lanes and villages of West Lulworth. We
also visit Lyme Regis where we see GoAhead, First and Stagecoach vehicles
operating together in the same street! Bridport is our location for the final
Saturday of operation of most of the rural routes. Our programme finishes in the Poole area
where some of the services survive. We
hope you have enjoyed your journeys through the beautiful county of Dorset
provided by this remarkable bus company.
