LOCAL historians Mike and Hilary Wreford have this week sent the Times these photographs of sports teams from the old Devon Motor Transport company, once a major employer in Okehampton.

Mike said: 'I was invited to Saltash to meet Les Turner, an Okehampton sportsman who is now retired and although living there, has never lost his love for his "hometown".

'He was probably one of the finest all round sportsmen produced in Okehampton having played football for Okehampton Argyle, before and after the second world war, and rugby for Okehampton, Plymouth Albion and Devon. He was also an outstanding runner.'

Among the photographs he produced were two of the Okehampton Devon Motor Transport sports club's cricket and football teams. Mike's father, Sam Wreford, was in both teams.

Mike said: 'DMT were initally formed in the Exeter area as a freight carrying company in 1918 and made Okehampton its main base, with its huge workshops and garages in  West Street where Jacobs Poole is now situated and its registered office in Old West Street, which has been long since demolished.  It was a major employer with some 200 staff, many from ex-servicemen from the first world war.

'It provided excellent apprenticeships for a large number of children leaving school who were to forge sucessful careers for themselves. 

'As a result of the number of employees, a successful sports club was formed with the football team playing in the West Devon League along with Okehampton Ivyleaves — now Okehampton Argyle.

'The  Okehampton Town cricket team played mainly on Wednesday afternoons in those days, as it was half day closing, so DMT had use of the cricket field on Saturdays.  The football team went on to win the West Devon League in 1926/27.'

The DMT ran regular bus services to and from Exeter, Tavistock and Hatherleigh. 

The Tavistock service would connect with buses to Plymouth and at one time Callington and Truro. 

By 1923 DMT expanded, buying existing companies such as Cornish Enterprise Motors and AC Turners of Plymouth, with a complete fleet of charabancs and several smaller operators.

As a result they opened several new routes — these were exciting times for Okehampton and the people involved.   

Mike said: 'To become an apprentice in 1923, parents had to pay DMT a premium of £15 — a considerable sum in those days. The apprentice's pay was four shillings (20p) for first year, five shillings (25p) for second, seven and six (37 1/2p) for the third year and ten shillings (50p) for year four.  

'With completion of the apprenticeship the wages rose to £2 per week. 

'A fully experienced fitter could earn  £3.8s.0d (£3.40) per week when on shift work for a seven day week, working eight hours a day with no overtime and 20 minutes for lunch.

'Part of the large fleet consisted of ex-first world war USA Army vehicles known as Palladium, with old London General Omnibus double decker bodies fitted.

'The majority, however, were Bristol buses fitted with solid tyres which were later converted to pneumatic.  New buses bought between 1924 to 1927 included Thornycroft 20 seaters and Albion 26 seaters, both of which could be used for one man operation.'  

The expansion continued and from 1927 onwards, there was a fleet of Leyland Lioness coaches, Leyland Lion buses and Leyland Titan double deckers.  

Among the buses absorbed from GWR were Maudleys, Guys and A2 Thornycrofts.      

But the writing was on the wall when DMT were taken over by the National Omnibus Co Ltd in 1928/29 and joined up with the GWR to form the Western National at the end of 1929. 

In 1930, the short but exciting life of DMT in Okehampton came to end personnel and equipment were transferred to a purpose-built premises in Plymouth and quite a number of staff were made redundant durng the economic slump at the time.

Mike said: 'It was a sad end to the 13 years of DMT life in Okehampton but it did much to enhance the careers of the people who worked there.'