FOWLERS  OF  HOLBEACH DROVE

Along the roads from Wisbech to Spalding

Based in Holbeach Drove, William Harold (Bill) Fowler bought his first PSV vehicle, a previously-owned 24 seater Leyland Cub, in the autumn of 1947. In the spring of 1949 a new Austin 31 seater joined the fleet; this was joined the following year by a Bedford OB - and so the business prospered and the fleet grew, with the first double-decker arriving in 1962.

Starting with the traditional mix of school contract and private hire work, plus a back lanes service from Holbeach Drove into Spalding, Fowlers did not really get into the business of running buses until taking over the local Holbeach Drove depot of  C J Towler of Emneth (based fifteen miles away on the other side of Wisbech).  This acquisition in March 1963 included the garage, four coaches, one double decker and several bus routes.  The principal seven day a week service linked Wisbech to Spalding via Parson Drove, Holbeach Drove and Gedney Hill, as illustrated in the accompanying 1965 timetable below.  Still a family run business to this day Fowlers have a current fleet size of twenty four.

The founder passed away in September 1975 with the business passing to sons John and Barrie with a limited company formed in 1977.  By the early 1980s the fleet had grown to sixteen vehicles. In 1987 the services of Tim Rose (Brown Linnet) of Holbeach St John were acquired. 

This was the time of deregulation of bus services as provided for by the Transport Act 1985 and from April 1987 a new service between Holbeach and Spalding was started in competition with Lincolnshire Road Car route 505.  The initiative was successful and the route was extended to Kings Lynn from December 1987.  

In August 1989 Road Car closed their Holbeach depot and all workings on the 505 passed to Fowlers, together with the garage which was used as an out-station base. 

In February 2002 the route was rebranded as InterConnect 505, as part of the Lincolnshire County Council initiative of enhancing trunk services whilst providing an 'inter-connection' of feeder buses (Call Connect Plus) with guaranteed connections at two transfer points, Holbeach and Long Sutton.  Progressive escalation of competitive operations along the main road between Spalding and Kings Lynn, notably by Norfolk Green (who run the route today), led to Fowlers withdrawal from participation in the InterConnect service in 2004.  

John's son Andrew (Bill's grandson) is now at the helm and Fowlers vehicles still constitute a significant presence on the fenland roads.  A number of bus routes are still operated including Wisbech and Spalding, although now operated in two halves rather than as a through service, split at Holbeach Drove.

with many thanks to John Brogden for the loan of timetables,

and incorporating information from articles and publications

by David Kaye and Geoff Mills found in the libraries of Lincolnshire