Started by Alan Pratt of Sharnford in 1937, the company operated from premises on Warwick Road. The fleet consisted mainly of ERF‘s but there was the odd Dennis and Maudslay as well.
The Narborough Transport fleet in the yard at Warwick Road. C.1950
They had regular contracts with local companies, predominantly Empire Stone of Narborough, manufacturers of artificial stonework and employers of a lot of Littlethorpe people (the works siren would be heard four times a day over the village signalling the start and finish of working hours).
The other regular contract was with Siegwart of Enderby, they produced fireproof concrete beams for floors.
Alan Pratt and his fleet pictured on Cosby Road. C.1950’s.
My memories of Narborough Transport are from the 1950’s and 60’s when they ran a very smart fleet of ERF KV’s (KV stood for “Kleer Vue“ cab, a reference to the distinctive cabs curved, split windscreen that offered improved visibility). The lorry’s were all flat-beds, and all, always immaculate in their dark Green livery lined out in cream or gold. Each carried the particular company name on a headboard over the cab.
The yard and large corrugated iron workshop was adjacent to the Blaby District Council depot and can just be seen at the extreme top of the aerial photo shown left (kindly provided by Pauline Chapman, it also shows some of her family’s coaches parked up at the bottom of the picture).
The other photos show the fleet in the yard with some of the drivers and the owner Alan Pratt, the fleet proudly lined up on Cosby Road with the workshop in the background. The Leicestershire registration number of the lead vehicle, which is a Dennis, is FJU 564 this dates to about 1934.
Credit for photo enhancements to Paul Greenfield
Aerial photo of Narborough Transport yard (top right corner), Blaby District Council offices and yard, and Mellors Coaches and house (bottom centre). Courtesy of Pauline Chapman.
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As with any local history research continues on this and more information will hopefully be added as it is found, so keep checking for the latest updates. In fact if you can add anything to the above please get in touch via the contact form
