John Leask and Son, Lerwick

John Leask and Son has been the "mainland" provider of transport since the business was founded in 1919. John and his son James started by operating two taxis out of Lerwick. They stared bus operations in 1928. They operate a town bus service and connections with flights at Sumburgh. Since these photos were taken in 1972 Leask has taken over the service to Scalloway as well as operating to Walls and Mossbank

A pair of Bedford SBs with very different bodies stand in Lerwick. UWX 921 is an SB3 with Plaxton body built in 1958 new to J.W. & H. Mosley (J.W. Mosley and Son), Barugh Green. 951 UVT is an SB5 with Yeates Pegasus body and was new to Becketts of Bucknall, Stoke on Trent in 1962. This vehicle is now undergoing restoration by NINE TEN PRESERVATION(June 1972)

Three Bedfords stand outside the garage in Lerwick. (June 1972)

AEC Reliance SSA 550 with Harrington Cavalier body is another of John Leask's vehicles to be preserved. It was new to McIntyre (Swallow) of Aberdeen and is now owned by the Moray Transport Group When I was due to fly out of Sumburgh to Aberdeen I secured a ride in this splendid coach. I had asked in the office if this vehicle could be put on the Sumburgh service the following day. I was asked to appear at the garage at a certain time. There was SSA 550 ready to take me direct to the airport. Personal service par excellence. I recall the driver was a Glaswegian who had worked on the trolleybuses before coming to diesel buses. (June 1972)

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