HUNTS OF  ALFORD                                           

Operating then from Alford to Boston

Based in the market town of Alford at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds, this business was started in March 1930 by Frederick Hunt (who had previously driven for Wrights of Louth) with a 14-seater Chevrolet. That first vehicle was employed to run From Alford to and from Boston three times a day. Whilst Hunt's have had many Bedford over the years (operating virtually every type from WLB through OB and SB to YMT) it is known that a 1929 Chevrolet LQ 14-seater UT5717 was bought by Hunts in 1933 from Farrow of Melton Mowbray. (History repeats itself sometimes and in 1979 a 1968 Bedford VAM / Duple 45-seater WUY472G came from Farrow to Hunts). By 1941 there were 16 vehicles in the fleet, covering a typical mix of schools, works and local buses.  Other local operators businesses were acquired, and the business of  A H Buttery of Eastville was bought in 1951.

The main Boston service was still in operation in 1978, although by then reduced to four days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).  Hunts - the Spirit of Lincolnshire continue to this day as operators of a fleet of luxury coaches, with an extensive holiday tours programme, as well as private hire work. The family firm still provides several bus services in and around the area, but the routes and services shown in the timetable below no longer operate. 

In the 1970s the two sons Charles and Michael (now the managing director) took over the business and the company continues to expand and prosper to this day. The business became F Hunt Coach Hire Limited in 2005. The bus and coach fleet currently (2013) numbers twenty-three vehicles, ranging in size from 25 to 53 seats.  The fleet includes four minibuses, two single-deck buses and three double-deckers.

Today the main bus route is two-hourly from Alford to Skegness, with additional journeys between Chapel St Leonards, Ingoldmells, Butlins and Skegness  to give an approximately hourly frequency. This has a summer peak vehicle requirement of four buses. The sector between Chapel and Skegness is duplicated by other operators services.  There are market day services to Louth, to Grimsby and to Boston (but via Skegness), as well as popular express services from the area to Sheffield and Meadowhall several times a week.  Additionally there are express runs to Bridlington and Scarborough (summer) and also York.

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

and incorporating information from articles and publications

by Roy Marshall and David Kaye found in the libraries of Lincolnshire