How Southend was plagued by rowdy charabanc trippers

Look at any photograph and everyone looked smartly-dressed in their best outfits. Women with their hair in neat Marcel Waves and men with it slicked back with pomade. But the truth was that probably was the only suit or decent set of clothes that person had and that hair-do had to last a week at least.

Our 1920s ancestors couldn’t jet off to other countries to get their jollies and they barely got a day off work. We often forget they’d also just been through a life-changing war.

Day off - Daytrippers to Southend enjoy the view from the comfort of their charabanc in 1926 (Image: Newsquest)

So when they did go on a daytrip to a seaside resort like Southend, they, understandably, were going to make the most of it. And they were going to wear their Sunday best – whatever the day of the week.

The problem was, their antics tended to annoy the actual residents of the places frequented by daily convoys of charabancs – roaring into town ferrying drunken, howling passengers engaging in raucous sing-songs.

Charabanc became a form of mass transport in the 1840s, but reached their heydays in the 1920-30s when they were used to ferry daytrippers from London and other urban areas to the seaside.

After the First World War there had been a huge influx of chassis and other vehicle parts left over from the conflict. These were sold off cheaply and many were used to build charabancs, an early form of motor coach. Because the railways were slow to recover from the wear and tear caused by wartime work, charabanc day trips quickly took off.

New route - An ad for a new charabanc service twice weekly from Southend to Colchester in 1921 (Image: Newsquest)

Southend was one of the most popular coastal resorts to visit for many people living and working in industrial areas. The seaside town offered fresh air, amusements and above all an escape from the smoke-clogged factories where the working classes spent their days.

Southend also had many charabancs of its own, including the ‘Sister Belle’, which took passengers on 20-mile tours around the south-east coast.

It was also popular for people to hire charabancs in order to take their families for a day out at the seaside and for local clubs and groups to organise outings in the motorised cars which normally held up to 28 people.

Unfortunately, however, more mature residents lucky enough to live in pretty coastal towns began to get irritated by these vehicles packed with dozens of young passengers indulging in loud singsongs.

In March 1922 Essex County Council even brought in a bylaw that could see a charabanc conductor – or the owner – slapped with a fine if his passengers were too rowdy. Local officials also attempted to persuade the Ministry of Transport to shut roads to motorised vehicles – chiefly charabancs and omnibuses – particularly in the Rochford area.

We realise it is very difficult for conductors to keep passengers quiet and personally I should feel like discharging a shotgun amongst them!

- Mr EA Wedd

It wasn’t long before the first prosecution was brought against a charabanc owner who fell foul of the new law. Ernest Brazier, of Moseley Street, Southchurch, found himself called before the Rochford Bench for allowing his passengers to shout and scream to the annoyance of local residents.

Although there had been a conductor onboard the charabanc, Mr Brazier, as the owner, nobly accepted responsibility for the fracas which occurred on a charabanc passing through Rochford on July 23, 1922.

Mr Brazier told the court how his conductor had asked the passengers – who were on their way to the Cherry Tree Inn – to shush down as they neared the local police station – which they did.

Tragedy - The aftermath of one of the worse ever charabanc crashes. Thirty two people died when this vehicle crashed in Oxenhope, West Yorkshire, in 1920 (Image: Newsquest)

However as soon as they passed the police station, a local bobby heard one of the passengers yell: “Now let it rip!” The merrymaking duly recommenced and the charabanc was pulled over.

This was the first case of its kind in Southend and chairman of the bench, Mr EA Wedd, made it clear to Mr Brazier that people had had enough of the disruption.

“Consider the house where there is a sickness and what it means to the the people at home when a charabanc of people howling like Dervishes goes by,” he said.

“We realise it is very difficult for conductors to keep passengers quiet and personally I should feel like discharging a shotgun amongst them!” Although he could have faced a £5 fine (around £260 today) Mr Brazier got off with a 10 shilling fine instead.

Often poorly upholstered, the vehicles were also extremely noisy and uncomfortable on bumpy and poorly-maintained roads.

Charabanc owners could even be fined for not taking care of their cars when it came to comfort. In 1929 William Mitchell, a Southend charabanc owner, was fined £5 for running a charabanc that had practically no upholstery left. The brakes were also questionable, the engine made a terrific noise and every time the vehicle stopped it was filled with smoke, complained passengers.

The floor was covered with dried orange peel, paper, and dirt and there were springs exposed on the cushions.

A ride in this vehicle must have been hellish for daytrippers.

Charabancs were also normally open top – which was tolerable when the sun was out but not so great when it rained. In case of a downpour a large canvas folding hood which was stowed at the back of the charabanc had to be pulled into position. This was a heavy task and it was considered the gentlemanly thing for the male members of a touring party to do the job when needed.

Another problem with the charabanc was that it offered little or no protection for the passengers in the event of a road accident, particularly if the vehicle overturned.

It wasn’t uncommon for accidents to occur on winding roads leading to coastal villages popular with tourists.

These factors led to a number of fatal accidents which contributed to the charabanc losing its appeal.

In 1922 charabanc driver Henry Cox was taken to court for being drunk while driving a charabanc which overturned, throwing out 28 passengers and injuring two children. Cox was fined £l0 for exceeding’ the speed limit of 12 miles per hour and another £2 for being drunk in charge of the vehicle.

In 1920 a Westcliff man even lost his life after being run over by a charabanc

The charabanc was returning to Southend from Shoebury and was swerving to avoid a water cart when it collided with a telegraph pole and plunged into a ditch.

The opinion of at least four of the passengers was that Cox was drunk, although he insisted he had only had one glass of beer.

He was said to have been going at up to 25 miles per hour. The court hearing made a point of witness statements describing how Cox just ‘stood there’ after the crash and did nothing to help any of the stricken passengers, most likely out of shock.

Then in August 1928 a charabanc carrying passengers from Southend to London caught fire at Chadwell Heath.

All the passengers managed to scramble out before the blaze really took hold. The following day a large charabanc carrying a group of women from Vange to Southend caught fire near Barge Corner.

Again, fortunately, nobody was injured in these incidents.

In July of 1923 a dramatic charabanc drama occurred when children from the Ongar Congregational Sunday School were waiting to head off on a day trip to Southend when one of the boys accidentally tripped the brake.

The vehicle began heading down a slope and several boys managed to jump out as it was gathering speed. All hope seemed lost when out of nowhere a male passer-by jumped in, applied the brakes and stopped the car just in time to save it from smashing into a telephone pole.

In 1920 a Westcliff man even lost his life after being run over by a charabanc.

Albert Jones, a 56-year-old accountant, was cycling with his son and two friends through a narrow lane in Canewdon when they saw a charabanc speeding towards them.

He got off his bike but it was too late and the wheels of the charabanc went over him. He was taken to Southend Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.

As the decade went on, the appeal of charabancs diminished, although they would still be around for a while. Improved bus and train services attracted customers who could get to Southend and the Essex coast a lot faster, in more comfort and without having to worry about the weather.

Southend residents after a bit of peace must have breathed a sigh of relief.