John Shearman

I would like to pay tribute to my friend John Shearman who passed away aged 78 on the 19th March 2024.
John had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023. John’s contribution to the preserved bus movement is not widely known, but significant.
John was born in June 1945 and brought up in Woodford. His father worked for the Port of London Authority and on occasion John would travel to the Docks with his Dad by car. During these trips through the East End, John would see the buses, trolleybuses and cars which would turn into a lifelong passion. John studied at Bromley College, Hull and Durham universities, obtaining a BSc in economics and masters in transport economics. John might be described as the ‘ultimate busman’.
He started his career at Maidstone and District as a clerk in the traffic office and progressed to become Traffic Commissioner for the Hong Kong Government. During the 1980s John was instrumental in enabling export of the London Transport Daimler Fleetlines to both China Motor Bus and Kowloon Motor Bus in Hong Kong. John took a post as Transport Manager for the bus operations in Portuguese Macau in 1974. At this time a new bridge to Taipa island from the mainland was completed and required a new bus service. John delighted in coming home to shop for second hand double deck Leyland and Daimler buses for export to this colony to serve this new link. John later worked as a Transport Consultant with commissions throughout the world, including Bangladesh, South Africa, Indonesia, and the UK.
During 1969 John made a two-month trip to see and record the trams and trolleybuses in Spain and Portugal. Several Spanish towns had acquired London Q1 trolleybuses in a deal arranged between LT and the Spanish Government. John made friends with the manager of the Santander-Astillero company, he took John out for a trip along their single trolleybus route in his jeep type vehicle. On this day there were only two of the Q1 trolleybuses in service – the rest were single-deckers. They saw another enthusiast taking pictures and stopped to enquire. The other enthusiast was Hugh Taylor, the manager was pleased to find that two enthusiasts had arrived to see his trolleybuses, so he treated John and Hugh to a slap-up meal. John and Hugh remained friends until John’s passing. This manager had handpicked his six Q1s – they had been the most recently overhauled vehicles. One of these Trolleybuses was 1812, this one has been brought back to the UK and restored to London condition, it was a long-term visitor to the London Bus Museum at Brooklands. Later on this trip John was one of the few British trolleybus enthusiasts to visit Cadiz to see and record ex-Rotherham single-decker Trolleybuses working there. Eight years before, when John was just 13 years old he had slipped out of his parent’s house unnoticed to board a train to Rotherham so that he could see these same trolleybuses. John was a passionate advocate for British built buses, trolleybuses, lorries and cars. Whilst he admired our bus manufacturing industry he developed a critical view of London Transport; he considered the development of the Routemaster and the overhaul process at Aldenham a waste of public money. He would point out other operators managed very well using standard factory products. John purchased solely or with friends several buses which reflected his bus interest, most of these buses survive today thanks to his effort. John also initiated and arranged the repatriation of a Trolleybus from South Africa: Leyland Tiger PS1, with Mann Egerton single deck body, new 5/1949 to London Transport fleet no TD95 (JXC288), purchased from London Transport 13/12/1963 for a Bromley College student trip in 1964 to Denmark, Sweden, Finland, West Germany, Russia (reaching Moscow), East Germany and Poland. At this time diesel was not widely available in Russia, so long diversions were needed to fill up with fuel. On these diversions John witnessed locals living with little or no shelter during very cold weather. This bus was later acquired by John and made two more European trips; to France and Spain in 1965, its last overseas trip was to Eastern Europe in 1966. Whilst John was overseas TD95 was taken to bus rallies by Dave Bosher and Alan Sales. TD95 was parked in Stonebridge Garage and due to rent arrears was about to be scrapped, however London Bus Preservation Group members intervened at the last minute, paid the outstanding bill and saved this bus. It was formally transferred to London Transport Preservation Group ownership on 1/5/1968. This bus has been restored to original condition by Brooklands volunteers to a very high standard.
During 1969 John made a two-month trip to see and record the trams and trolleybuses in Spain and Portugal. Several Spanish towns had acquired London Q1 trolleybuses in a deal arranged between LT and the Spanish Government. John made friends with the manager of the Santander -Astillero company, he took John out for a trip along their single trolleybus route in his jeep type vehicle. On this day there were only two of the Q1 trolleybuses in service – the rest were single-deckers. They saw another enthusiast taking pictures and stopped to enquire. The other enthusiast was Hugh Taylor, the manager was pleased to find that two enthusiasts had arrived to see his trolleybuses, so he treated John and Hugh to a slap-up meal. John and Hugh remained friends until John’s passing. This manager had handpicked his six Q1s – they had been the most recently overhauled vehicles. One of these Trolleybuses was 1812, this one has been brought back to the UK and restored to London condition, it was a long-term visitor to the London Bus Museum at Brooklands. Later on this trip John was one of the few British trolleybus enthusiasts to visit Cadiz to see and record ex-Rotherham single-decker Trolleybuses working there. Eight years before, when John was just 13 years old he had slipped out of his parent’s house unnoticed to board a train to Rotherham so that he could see these same trolleybuses. John was a passionate advocate for British built buses, trolleybuses, lorries and cars. Whilst he admired our bus manufacturing industry he developed a critical view of London Transport; he considered the development of the Routemaster and the overhaul process at Aldenham a waste of public money. He would point out other operators managed very well using standard factory products. John purchased solely or with friends several buses which reflected his bus interest, most of these buses survive today thanks to his effort. John also initiated and arranged the repatriation of a Trolleybus from South AfricaJohn’s wish was not to have a funeral gathering or memorial, he left his mark by saving Standard Vanguard cars, a Leyland Steer lorry, several buses and a trolleybus.
John was a passionate advocate for British built buses, trolleybuses, lorries and cars. Whilst he admired our bus manufacturing industry he developed a critical view of London Transport; he considered the development of the Routemaster and the overhaul process at Aldenham a waste of public money. He would point out other operators managed very well using standard factory products. John purchased solely or with friends several buses which reflected his bus interest, most of these buses survive today thanks to his effort. John also initiated and arranged the repatriation of a Trolleybus from South Africa.
John’s wish was not to have a funeral gathering or memorial, he left his mark by saving Standard Vanguard cars, a Leyland Steer lorry, several buses and a trolleybus.