JW COUSINS - A BRIEF HISTORY
On the 1st October 1930, James William Cousins, of Waddingham, succeeded in making the dream of his own haulage business a reality.
Jim, as he was known to his family and friends, had previously worked for a local haulage firm delivering agricultural products such as grain and potatoes, and he was also the coalman for the area. When he was 29 years old the local farmers suggested he start his own business. At the time Jim couldn’t afford to buy a truck, so three farmers from the area joined together and helped him buy his first vehicle which was a Ford truck, costing £210 and could carry 1500 cwt. He began by hauling potatoes from the surrounding farms to Kirton Lindsey train station, and also some sugar beet and grain. Jim then gained more business form hauling fertiliser to local farmers and soon had work further field as his reputation grew, and was able to pay the farmers back for his truck.
After six months of being in business he employed a book-keeper, Gladys, and they married in 1934.
When World War Two broke out Jim would haul stone from the local quarries around Lincolnshire to airfields such as Scampton, Hemswell and Ingham, in order for them to construct runways. Then during the war he delivered flour from Mr Birkett’s flour mill near Kirton Lindsey, to RAF Manby, near Louth, so the troops could have freshly baked bread as part of their rations.
By 1948 Jim had built his business up to ten lorries, but in the same year the Labour Government nationalised haulage firms and took over all his vehicles. In the meantime Jim had bought some land which comprised a small farm holding and had managed to keep one lorry for the farm. The drivers he had employed found jobs at the local cement works, and Jim concentrated on his farm introducing his two sons, Peter and James to agriculture.
In 1954 Peter persuaded his father to buy two lorries back from BRS who had taken them over by the government, in an attempt to build the haulage business back up again. They began by collecting butter and bacon from the docks at Grimsby, and used this work to expand his business and soon bought licenses to haul fertiliser for local farmers.
Peter went on to serve his National Service in 1956, and in 1957 he joined his father in the haulage business, starting as a driver whilst Jim, his brother, concentrated on the farm which they still owned. They managed to secure a long-term contract with the local cement works at Kirton Lindsey, and along with their agricultural work they have successfully managed to build the business up to what it is today.
In 1994 Peter and Jim bought the old cement works site at Kirton Lindsey where thy used to haul from, and are now based on the 25 acre site.
Today, JW Cousins and Sons Ltd have a fleet of 26 vehicles and are currently celebrating their 75th year in the business. Jim and Peter Cousins, the sons of James William, are both Directors in the business with Peter acting as Managing Director. Their sons, Simon and Tim, are also Directors, seeing to the day to day running, making it truly a family run concern. Peter’s wife and Jim’s daughter also work in the business on the accountancy side. The farm was sold five years ago, so now Jim can concentrate on the haulage side of the company.