Nostalgia by Robert Heaven

The pubs I remember in the 60s and 70s, before the breathalyser and the smoking ban changed things, were local social hubs, each with a community of regulars, who treated the pub like an extension of their own homes.

Landlords and landladies played an important role – part paternal/maternal to their regulars who were dependant upon them to engender a “feel-good” atmosphere, providing conversation, advice (usually biased), and organising activities.

Changes of landlord were always reported in the Wilts and Glos Standard and they were remembered well after they had moved on to other pastures.

The pubs they left, remained more or less the same and although the sign over the door might have a different licensee name, sports teams and pub games continued and charabanc trips to other pubs or

Weston-Super-Mare and Weymouth continued.

Alexcars were the coach (“charabanc”) of choice for most Ciren trips out of town.

Alexcars was founded by Alec Hibberd and his wife Barbara in 1946, starting with a private hire car.

Alec’s brothers, Sidney and Norman also joined the business and soon the progression to coaches was made with the acquisition of a converted ambulance.

The company grew steadily, eventually forcing the move from the village of Baunton to its present base in Love Lane, Cirencester in the late 1950s.