The Richard John Smith Years

"Portland Bus Service" and "Smith's Taxi"

This page will provide information and photographs from 1885 to 1958.

1912, this picture shows my grandfather Richard John Smith born 1885, taking the children of Fortuneswell the Grove Portland to school.

As with all stories there needs to be a beginning and with Smiths Coaches Portland, Smiths of Portland, Royal Manor Coaches, Portland bus Service, all operating names used at one point or another, I shall start here.

Although he did take over from his dad R.J.Smith 2nd this was really the beginning of the company in that following on from the use of horse and cart over a period of about 9 years it was to change to motorised transport.  The jump from horse and wagon was taken by removing the wagon part of this next picture and bolting it on to a flat bed lorry, this made the first petrol driven charabang on the island.

 Picture taken around 1916 possibly a Sunday School trip

Top picture taken around 1917 possibly a wedding party R.J.Smith at the reins.

Portland Council visit to the water works R.J.Smith at the reins

Getting your feet wet in Victoria Square unknown people 1924

Looking very smart R.J.Smith at the reins.

Portland Carnival around 1912 horses names Jack and Bill.

Carnival on Portland "horse and wagon R.J.Smith".

Carnival, this time outside the cafe in Victoria Square and with an engine, around 1923 R.J.Smith with Aileen born 1919 on his left.

Above picture around 1921 in Wakeham Road the body was taken from a horse drawn carriage, R.J.Smith driving.

Before I continue with lots more photographs I would like to give you a very brief potted history of the Smith family involvement in the Island transportation. We know Richard John Smith, born 1885, started with horse and cart, probably for delivering green groceries for his father, also Richard Smith born 1861, who at the time we know had a green grocers in Easton Square.

The jump from carrying goods to people probably came from simply offering the islanders lifts on his rounds, this soon became a full time profession for Richard and by 1912 he was offering a horse-drawn cab service on the Island, I have a number of pictures showing Richard and his wagons all of which I will publish in due course.  We know he ran horse and carts for around seven years before making the jump to motorised transport with his first charabang.

We also know this was sold in 1927 to the then National Omnibus Company, From right to left Mrs R.J.Smith, Mr Hansford (driver) Mrs Mary Allen Smith, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, Mr Mullet from Fulham London, Miss L Smith, Miss B Smith, Picture taken nr Cheddar.

Portland Bus Service by Mr R.Hoare of Chiswell and Mr R.J.Smith of 5 Easton Square Mr Aplin on the right sometime between 1921 - 1927.

One can only imagine the pressure they put on them to sell, (we know that from the experiences that my father and I had with the national bus company in the eighties, but that's for later).

Driver R.J.Smith Mr Smith from Southwell on the left ? Mr Bird ? 1928

Mr P Aplin on the right others unknown Chevrolet GMC K16 RH B16 1027

Chevrolet PR 4884

Mr R.J.Smith driver Trip to Cheddar Caves

R.J.Smith with Aileen 1920 unknown party, Mrs R.J.Smith third from right.

Mr R.J.Smith south side of Easton Square on the right the man on the left is Will Ford model T.

We know he also had a glass-sided hearse and that he stopped around 1932/1933 to open a fish shop but started taxiing again in 1939/1940. He also ran three or four flat bed lorries one of which went on to become the charabang but we dont have any pictures and only know very little, (waiting for information from relations) other than one was a pierless and two had names The Rocket and the Austin this would be around 1931 as we have a bill for one for £32.10 shillings for a part.

R.J.Smith picture taken at Castletown (car brought from A Simonds of Great Portland Street London in 1941 for 375 pounds and 10 shillings,

Following the sale of The Portland Bus Service in 1927 this Daimler was brought from the Daimler Hire Ltd of 243 Knightbridge S.W.7 for 355 pounds and 10 shillings 

Following the sale Richard went on to buy a Daimler car, sleeve valves, and with 6 seats - 2 of which folded down like they do in a modern London cab of today, and from this he started to offer a taxi and car hire business, but very soon the love of buses brought the Smith family to invest in another, but this time to use as a private hire vehicle.

Part of his life was spent in a wheelchair due to the onset of Multiple Sclerosis, 1932 to 1939 however in the early years, it did not fail to stop him working.  As the war years meant all the drivers were called up and a lovely story of him out taxiing one night and running out of petrol in Victoria Square, when Pump Saunders who had stopped to help had tied a rope between his taxi and Richard's in order to tow him to Castle Town where the petrol pumps were in those days, ended in Richards car hitting the wall at Victoria gardens as Pump had driven off too quickly for Richard to get back into his car in his haste to get back down the taxi rank.

A police constable who appeared on the scene saw Richard sat in the road and car embedded in wall, on helping Richard to his feet was told “well there is one thing you can't do me for? “that’s driving with out due care as I was not in the bloody thing” We also know Mr R.J.Smith was an active member of the Portland town council, member of the Free Masons Lodge in Victoria Square, and a supporter and active member of the Island and Royal Manor of Portland Court Leet and a special constable.