End of road for coal delivery by horse

Bridlington, 26th September 1984

A carthorse called Royal makes its last round delivering coal tomorrow and marks the end of a 100 year old business.

Mr. Stephen Nicholls, 49, of Mill Hill, Bridlington, whose family has been delivering fuel by horse and cart since 1870, has sold the business to a Rotherham firm, Ian Randall, which will deliver by lorry.

Royal ended up having a remarkable career change.

The ten year old gelding ended up as a wedding carriage horse ferrying brides to church in style, as well as on time.

Mr. Nicholls ommented.

"He seems to prefer confetti to coal dust". — Bridlington, 26th September 1984 A carthorse called Royal makes its last round delivering coal tomorrow and marks the end of a 100 year old business. Mr. Stephen Nicholls, 49, of Mill Hill, Bridlington, whose family has been delivering fuel by horse and cart since 1870, has sold the business to a Rotherham firm, Ian Randall, which will deliver by lorry. Royal ended up having a remarkable career change. The ten year old gelding ended up as a wedding carriage horse ferrying brides to church in style, as well as on time. Mr. Nicholls ommented. "He seems to prefer confetti to coal dust".

Stephen Nicholls, 49, of Mill Hill, Bridlington, whose family has been delivering fuel by horse and cart since 1870, has sold the business to a Rotherham-based firm, Ian Randall, which said it would deliver the black stuff by lorry instead.

Royal ended up having a remarkable career change, as a result of the sale of the business. The ten year old gelding ended up as a wedding carriage horse ferrying brides to church in style, as well as on time.

Mr Nicholls humorously commented: “He seems to prefer confetti to the coal dust.”