Ernest Sheasby arrived in the small village of Corfe Castle in Dorset around 1896. After ten years in employment, he set up shop with a horse and carriage business. During the next few years, the business grew, Sheasby purchased motor vehicles and two tea rooms were opened to cater for visitors. After obtaining a school contract to transport children, he purchased his first coaches; sadly in 1932, he was fatally injured in an accident with one of his coaches. Sheasby's family continued to operate the business and the name South Dorset Coaches was introduced. The business expanded and a further garage was opened in Wareham. In 1966, a rival coach operator in Swanage was acquired and the family sold South Dorset Coaches in 2005. Gloriously illustrated with many rare and unpublished photographs, 99 Years of Coaching: The Story of Sheasby's South Dorset Coaches lists most of the 120 vehicles that were operated during the company's ninety-nine years as well as a biography of the Sheasby family.

Living in north London, Andrew Mead has always loved the Isle of Purbeck area of Dorset since a child. Fascinated by motor transport from an early age, family holidays to Swanage introduced him to the local coach firm South Dorset Coaches. Over a period of several years visiting Swanage, Mead became friends with Norman Sheasby, who was a director of South Dorset Coaches, and many of the staff. 99 Years of Coaching: The Story of Sheasby's South Dorset Coaches is Mead's first book for Fonthill Media.