Our Heritage: The Tally Ho! Story

Tally Ho! has been a heartbeat of the South Hams community for over a century. From our humble beginnings moving market goods to transporting generations of families, schoolchildren, and sports teams, we are proud to be the archetypal local business.

Here is how our journey unfolded.

 

1919 – 1939: From Rabbit Farms to Sunshine Coaches

The Tally Ho! story began in 1919 with James Henry "Jimmy" Clark, a smallholder and rabbit farmer living at the Mounts. Jimmy bought a simple lorry to transport his produce to market. By 1923, he had purchased a clever interchangeable bed for the lorry, transforming the commercial vehicle into a weekend passenger coach.

In 1933, seeking to expand, Jimmy bought his first official bus—a 20-seater De-Dion Bouton. He won a contract to transport senior schoolchildren from East Allington to Kingsbridge, christened the vehicle the Tally Ho! Sunshine Coach, and began operating weekend day tours.

Navigating the narrow, twisting Devon lanes to reach remote settlements and farms, Jimmy's weekend excursions to Dartmoor, Torquay, and Bigbury-on-Sea quickly became local favorites. By 1934, a second school route was secured from Woodleigh and Loddiswell, and the expanding business introduced the Tally Ho! Sunshine Saloon.

 

1939 – 1945: Serving the Nation in Wartime

When World War II broke out, Tally Ho! stepped up to support the community through monumental historical shifts:

• The Evacuees (1939): As trains arrived from London filled with children and families fleeing the Blitz, Tally Ho! transported them safely to their South Hams host families.

• The Plymouth Blitz (1940): With Plymouth suffering severe bombing, Tally Ho! was contracted to safely shuttle workers to and from the refuge of the countryside each morning and evening.

• The South Hams Evacuation (1943): When the military requisitioned 30,000 acres and eight villages to prepare for the D-Day invasions, 750 local families had to be moved in just six weeks. Tally Ho! worked tirelessly to move families and their belongings, with Jimmy Clark using his own yard to store treasured possessions for those displaced.

By 1944, the fleet was exhausted from its wartime service. In recognition of the company's vital role in troop and civilian movements, the Ministry of Supply granted permission for a brand-new, 32-seater Bedford. Arriving in May 1944, it was the first-ever custom-built, brand-new coach in the Tally Ho! fleet.

 

The 1950s: The Golden Age of Coaching

Post-war Britain saw a massive boom in coach travel, and Tally Ho! flourished. In 1945, we won the contract for the Salcombe senior school route to Kingsbridge—a prestigious contract we are incredibly proud to still hold today.

In 1951, a lifelong partnership began when Tally Ho! started transporting the Kingsbridge Rugby Club to local matches and international trips to Twickenham. Driven by Harold Pike—a talented local sportsman who originally started with Jimmy as a rabbit catcher in 1928—this partnership kept the fleet busy through the winter. We remain the proud, official transport provider for the club to this day.

The 1950s also saw legendary long-distance journeys. In 1956, a coach load from the Women's Institute traveled over 200 miles to the annual rally at London’s Albert Hall. Starting at 5:00 AM across the local villages, it was an arduous, motorway-free journey via Salisbury Plain, but the guests arrived in style and returned safely days later.

An Unusual Request: Tally Ho! has always accommodated unique requests. In the 1950s, a local entrepreneur, Mr. Cutler, hired a coach for major agricultural shows. We removed all the seats so he could stack it high with books, using the vehicle as his mobile storeroom, office, and sleeping quarters for the event!

 

1960 – 1999: Growth, Mergers, and the "Kingsbridge Belle"

Parallel to the Tally Ho! story, the Wellington family had been running their own highly successful transport business, famously calling their principal coaches the "Kingsbridge Belle."

In February 1960, Jim Wellington and Mr. Desmond Gullett acquired the Tally Ho! business from Jimmy Clark, forming a new limited company. In 1964, they acquired the Salcombe Motor Company, followed by Walls of Dartmouth in 1966, which included the prestigious contract of running coaches for the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).

In 1971, all operations were consolidated at a new central premises at Station Yard, Kingsbridge. At this milestone, the "Kingsbridge Belle" name was retired, and the Wellington family's coach operations officially merged entirely under the Tally Ho! banner. Expansion continued through the decades with the acquisition of J Hoare & Sons of Ivybridge (1975)—which later migrated to our modern engineering and depot facility at Lee Mill—and Stephens of Modbury (1999).

 

2005 to Present: Honoring Heritage, Driving Innovation

Following a challenging period in the mid-2000s that saw a major depot fire and the sad illness of third-generation owner Simon Wellington, the business was put up for sale.

In 2008, the company was purchased by Don McIntosh and Richard Pullan, returning the business to its roots as Tally Ho! Coaches Ltd.

Since taking the wheel, the new leadership has beautifully balanced modernization with a deep respect for our heritage. Today, we boast a state-of-the-art touring division called Tally Ho! Holidays, a highly compliant, eco-friendly private hire fleet, and a dedicated team keeping South Devon moving.

From 1919 to today, thank you for letting us be a part of your journeys. Long may it continue!