Sidney James Hookway started a bicycle repair business in a shed in the village of Meeth in North Devon in 1926, soon progressing to running taxis and coaches. £25 bought Sidney Hookway his first car in 1929 and launched him into the business of carrying passengers. Petrol was sold from 1930, initially in two gallon cans, but from 1935 by means of a second hand petrol pump. The previous year he had gained a PSV driving license and started driving a local school bus. Then in 1936 an 18 seat 28 h.p. Reo was purchased and up seated to hold 20. Eggesford point-to-point race was his first destination on Easter Monday of that year, marking his entry into coach operation. Private hire for local church outings soon came his way as well as a contract for carrying sewerage workers from Meeth to Bridestowe.

Hookways first school contract started on the day that the Second World war broke out. During the war, staff had to be taken on for the first time including brothers William and Walter and sister Emily. By 1945, eight vehicles were being operated, and a similar number of people employed. The growth in fleet size came about largely as a result of considerable amounts of contract work, much of this being for the armed forces who are still regular customers to this day.

In 1951 Sidney Hookway bought a new coach. Quite an unusual vehicle, it was a Kenex bodied petrol engine Austin CXB. Sidney’s eldest son, Charlie, often went to school on this vehicle !

1966 was the year that Charlie Hookway left school by which time his father’s fleet was down to 4 or 5 coaches running on school contracts and local bus services. When Charlie joined the company he was taught to drive and as he became more involved he felt that the company should re-enter the private hire market. This required fleet changes, as none of the vehicles owned at the time were suitable.

Hookways own fleet expansion continued, with mainly Bedford coaches being acquired. The first Continental hire was undertaken by the company in 1975 taking a party from Plymouth to Amsterdam. Hookways first Continental tour was operated in 1979, a Paris weekend. Inclusive tours had begun the previous year to Scotland, Blackpool, Wales and Great Yarmouth. The Meeth based fleet began to trade as Hookways Pleasureways to reflect the move into the extensive British and European tour programmes which have been developed since then.

In 1976 Charlie teamed up with his old school pal Tony Hunt (who’s Father owned Agrimotors in the adjacent village of Merton). They formed Taw and Torridge Coaches. Although a base was maintained near Barnstaple for a while, taw and Torridge vehicles could often be found in the Meeth yard. The partnership didn’t last long and Charlie decided to concentrate on the family business. Taw and Torridge however remain good friends to this day.

A limited local bus service was still operated with a Tuesday and Saturday service from Hatherleigh to Bideford via Meeth, Merton, Petrockstowe, Winswell and Torrington. Some journeys were extended to Okehampton and an Okehampton to Barnstable service was also operated on market days.

From 1978 many coaches in the Hookways fleet had been equipped with toilets, hot drinks machine and carpet.  These items might sound fairly standard now, but were quite unusual then. The first Volvo chassis arrived in the Hookways Pleasureways fleet in 1981. Volvos have since formed the backbone of the fleet.

Sadly at the age of 71 Sidney Hookway passed away on 25^th June 1983. His spirit still watches over the company as he is buried in the churchyard of St. Michael and All Angels church overlooking the depot in Meeth. Sidney’s widow Ruby still lives alongside the garage at Meeth.  Charlie took over the day to day running of the company.

In November 1990 Hookways took over the goodwill of the GREENSLADES name from Nightingales Coaches. In 1996 the balance of the Nightingale operations in Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton were added to the fold (two vehicles still bear NIGHTINGALES names) and slowly, but surely operations have once again built to the point where the Exeter base and its Exmouth out station  now has the largest allocation of vehicles within the Hookways fleet.  

The Hookways local bus services came to an end in 1996 when the government made substantial grants available for expanding rural bus services. The Western National service 86 from Plymouth to Barnstaple was expanded considerably and absorbed the Hookways operations. However a return to local bus services came with the acquisition of the remaining W. J. O. Jennings bus and coach operations, along with their centrally located garage in Bude.

These operations were taken over by Hookways in March 1998, along with vehicles and staff. A decision was taken to retain the Jennings name which has become well known in the area. Vehicles from the base now trade as HOOKWAYS JENNINGS.

The most recent addition to the Hookways operation is the Edgecumbe’s business in Sidmouth. The depot and office in Alexandria Road, Sidmouth and goodwill of the business (but no vehicles) were acquired by Hookways in July 2002.

Alastair Gray now oversees the running of the day to day business while Martin Hookway manages the engineering functions.  The Head Office functions for the whole Hookways operation are centred on Meeth depot.

Vehicles are maintained at the modern and well equipped main workshop on the original site in Meeth. Two smaller workshops exist at the depots in Bude and Exeter. The fleet is painted in the distinctive yellow, blue and mauve livery at the company’s own paint shop also located at the Meeth site.