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Reeve Burgess
Reeve Burgess, also known as Reebur, was a British bus and ambulance body manufacturer based in Pilsley, North East Derbyshire. It was a subsidiary of Plaxton from July 1980 until the company's closure in April 1991.
The original company known as Harry Reeve was founded in Bridge Street, Pilsley, Derbyshire in 1888, initially carrying out work as the local wheelwright and blacksmith. Harry Reeve progressed to building a wide variety of horse-drawn vehicles, including pony traps for milk delivery vehicles, and horse-drawn ambulances for local collieries.
After World War I, the founder was joined by his son John (Jack) Reeve, who then became involved in the business for over 50 years. In 1925, after the death of Harry Reeve, the company was formed into a limited company partnership with George Kenning of Clay Cross and became Reeve and Kenning Ltd. A wide variety of vehicles were then produced, including brewery trucks and the company's first buses and coaches, with timber framing, iron and panelwork, bodying, painting and signwriting all completed on site in Pilsley, and the company became a major employer in the North East Derbyshire area, offering apprenticeships for various manufacturing trades.[citation needed]
In 1958 the company became Reeve (Coachbuilders) Limited after the Kenning family interest was bought by the Reeve family, thereby reverting to the original founding company. The managing director was Jack Reeve, who by this time had been joined by his son Harry Reeve.[citation needed]
During the 1960s and early 1970s, a number of developments took place, in particular the manufacture of demountable box van bodies, and Robinsons of Chesterfield was the first operator to place a large order for this particular type of product. Derbyshire County Council's first mobile library fleet was also produced during the mid 1960s.[citation needed]
Following the sale of the company in 1974 to T.H. Burgess Holdings of Worcester, the name was changed to Reeve Burgess Ltd.[citation needed] A rationalisation of the company's products took place and a far greater degree of specialisation was introduced.[specify]
In 1976 the first venture was made into the small coach market with the introduction of the Reebur 17, based mainly on the Bedford CF chassis and later on the Ford Transit chassis, and the company had considerable success with this vehicle over the next few years. Following this, Reeve Burgess built a number of smaller PSVs on MAN chassis. Around 1979, the company started to convert Mercedes vans into luxury minicoaches.[citation needed]
In July 1980, Reeve Burgess was acquired by Scarborough based coach manufacturer Plaxton for £600,000 (equivalent to £3,250,000 in 2023), becoming a subsidiary company of a larger group of companies acquired by Plaxton. Harry Reeve, great-grandson of the original founder, remained at Reeve Burgess after the 1980 takeover as Sales Director until its closure.
Reeve Burgess
Reeve Burgess, also known as Reebur, was a British bus and ambulance body manufacturer based in Pilsley, North East Derbyshire. It was a subsidiary of Plaxton from July 1980 until the company's closure in April 1991.
The original company known as Harry Reeve was founded in Bridge Street, Pilsley, Derbyshire in 1888, initially carrying out work as the local wheelwright and blacksmith. Harry Reeve progressed to building a wide variety of horse-drawn vehicles, including pony traps for milk delivery vehicles, and horse-drawn ambulances for local collieries.
After World War I, the founder was joined by his son John (Jack) Reeve, who then became involved in the business for over 50 years. In 1925, after the death of Harry Reeve, the company was formed into a limited company partnership with George Kenning of Clay Cross and became Reeve and Kenning Ltd. A wide variety of vehicles were then produced, including brewery trucks and the company's first buses and coaches, with timber framing, iron and panelwork, bodying, painting and signwriting all completed on site in Pilsley, and the company became a major employer in the North East Derbyshire area, offering apprenticeships for various manufacturing trades.[citation needed]
In 1958 the company became Reeve (Coachbuilders) Limited after the Kenning family interest was bought by the Reeve family, thereby reverting to the original founding company. The managing director was Jack Reeve, who by this time had been joined by his son Harry Reeve.[citation needed]
During the 1960s and early 1970s, a number of developments took place, in particular the manufacture of demountable box van bodies, and Robinsons of Chesterfield was the first operator to place a large order for this particular type of product. Derbyshire County Council's first mobile library fleet was also produced during the mid 1960s.[citation needed]
Following the sale of the company in 1974 to T.H. Burgess Holdings of Worcester, the name was changed to Reeve Burgess Ltd.[citation needed] A rationalisation of the company's products took place and a far greater degree of specialisation was introduced.[specify]
In 1976 the first venture was made into the small coach market with the introduction of the Reebur 17, based mainly on the Bedford CF chassis and later on the Ford Transit chassis, and the company had considerable success with this vehicle over the next few years. Following this, Reeve Burgess built a number of smaller PSVs on MAN chassis. Around 1979, the company started to convert Mercedes vans into luxury minicoaches.[citation needed]
In July 1980, Reeve Burgess was acquired by Scarborough based coach manufacturer Plaxton for £600,000 (equivalent to £3,250,000 in 2023), becoming a subsidiary company of a larger group of companies acquired by Plaxton. Harry Reeve, great-grandson of the original founder, remained at Reeve Burgess after the 1980 takeover as Sales Director until its closure.
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