The roots of East Yorkshire Motor Services Limited, go back to December 1919, when Ernest John Lee purchased a 14-seat Ford Model T bus for a service between Elloughton and Hull. In 1922 a Mr Beaulah was taken into partnership with Mr Lee and formed Lee & Beaulah. A couple of years later Hull & District Motor Services Limited was set up by H. A. Harvey to run a service between Kirk Ella and Hull. Finally on 5 October 1926 the British Automobile Traction Company Limited registered the name East Yorkshire Motor Services Limited to take over the Lee & Beaulah and Hull & District Motor Services Limited.

You will know the buses as being burgundy and cream coloured, but they were originally indigo and primrose - one bus remains in the original colours being specially painted for the 80th anniversary of EYMS in 2006. The colour was changed in the early 1970's to the colours of the National Bus Company, red and white, and then more recently to the colours that are familiar today. The coaches are different again; riviera blue with primrose.

EYMS was privatised in February 1987, becoming a subsidiary of EYMS Group Limited which had been formed by its management team. Since this time it has gone from strength to strength, acquiring many small bus businesses in and around Hull. More notably, it acquired Finglands Coachways of Manchester in 1992, and Whittle Coach and Bus of Kidderminster in 2004.

EYMS drivers pictured pre 1939. The driver 5th from the left is Mr Herbert Simpson, who as well as driving for The East Yorkshire Motor Services Company, played euphonium and baritone in several local bands, including The St Georges Silver Band. During the war Mr Simpson was a wartime reserve constable, transferring to Hull City Police once hostilities had ceased. Mr Simpson was the father of Margaret Unsworth who kindly loaned this picture, and thus was the grandfather of Mark who plays in The Band today. 

Today EYMS is owned by Peter Shipp, who has been with the company since 1980. The Head Office and main depot are located on Anlaby Road in Hull, where they have been based since 1929. There are also depots in Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Elloughton, Hornsea, Pocklington, Scarborough and Withernsea. All of these depots have an active role to play in the continued success of EYMS. 

EYMS is strongly committed to providing passengers with quality transport, and is determined to invest as much as it can afford in new buses. The fleet is now made up of over 300 buses, including double decks, single decks, minibuses, coaches, open top buses, and a selection of vintage vehicles. 

EYMS recognises that it has a major effect on the community it serves, and has a policy of close involvement in that community. It has close links to the University of Hull, and the City of Hull and Humber Environment Forum, and runs an annual Big Bus Day in Hull in partnership with the Streetlife Museum of Transport. The company also works with local businesses in order to help reduce traffic and parking problems in the region.

The kite logo used by the Band on our uniforms and stand banners, as well as on this website, is the logo adopted by the East Yorkshire Motor Services Group, that can be seen on many of its vehicles including those in the East Yorkshire Coaches, and Frodingham Coaches fleets.