Thomas John Jones
(1877-1950)
A pioneer of the British transport system.
Thomas John Jones was born in Nantyglo and lived in Blaina, working in the New South Griffin Colliery until ill health forced him to seek other employment.
In 1919, he founded the Griffin Motor Company at Brynmawr with Guy Brown, and on 5th February 1921, in response to a request from workers at Blaina Pitt, they set up a bus transport route between Ebbw Vale and Bournville, nr Blaina.
Working with John Watts of The Valleys Motor Bus Services Ltd, also set up in 1921, they developed and acquired a series of companies running a network of bus services across southeastern Wales and Gloucestershire, which in 1929 became the Red & White Services.
As Red & White United Transport Ltd in 1937, the company ran bus and road freight in Wales and southern Africa. After nationalisation of the UK network in 1950, the group changed its name to United Transport Company.
T J Jones went on to become the Director of Red & White and the United Transport Company, and Alderman of Breconshire County Council and Chairman of Breconshire Education Committee, living in Crickhowell.
In 1944, T J Jones established a fund to help young people in the former County of Breconshire study and train for higher posts in industry. He particularly wanted pupils of Breconshire schools to be aware that there were more career options open to them, and that financial assistance could be given to them from the fund if they should decide to make a career in industry.