About Us

 

The Coach Services limited company was formed in August 1948 by D E Doran and Jack Mulley to acquire the business of Allison-Doran Ltd. Appropriately, the fleet included two Gilfords, plus two Albions and a Bedford WTB. Replacements included four Bedford OB / Duples (one bought new), two new Crossley / Strachans and two second-hand Commer Avenger / Harringtons, all acquired before the Mulley control became obvious. Five coaches were transferred from the Ixworth fleet, attired in cream and orange. The business was sold to Robert Crawford in 1969 and was located on the Croxton Road in Thetford. Robert (Bob) was a successful farmer in the Watton area and was informed about the sale of Coach Services. As a shrewd businessman, Robert saw the company as a good investment with lots of potential. Robert was not involved in the day-to-day operations, this was the responsibility of Don Barber who managed the company of ten coaches. Don retired in 1982 after twenty years service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert’s son Allen joined the company in 1978. Allen started his career as a mechanic at Crawford Transport Ltd; a haulage company owned by his father Robert. The lorries were operated from Rash’s Green at Dereham. In the latter years of the company Allen moved the lorries to the Croxton Road yard until it was sold in 1992. In its prime, lorries were transporting wine, whiskey and sugar all over the UK and Europe. Coach Services proved to be more profitable than Crawford Transport Ltd, so Allen decided to sell the company to Turners of Soham.  

 

In 1985 Allen bought Carters Coaches based in Foulden from Lucy Carter. The fleet was dominated by Fords and Bedfords and was transferred to the Croxton Road. Carters of Northwold began as a coal delivery company. In 1917, Wissington sugar factory asked if a lorry could be adapted to carry workers and consequently Carters became involved in transport. Harry Carter ran Carters Coaches at Willow Bank on Vicarage Road in Foulden with his wife Lucy, son Alan and daughter Margaret. His brother George also operated coaches from Riverside, Northwold. At present, Coach Services still operates two rural services that came with the acquisition of Carters; CS12 Foulden to Kings Lynn (Tuesdays) and CS45 Foulden to Watton (Wednesdays).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1990 Allen brought Petches based in Hopton, from Penny Baker. Petches’ use to buy one new coach a year, and in 1989 it was a Bova Futura FHD12-290 (F900 RDX). Back in 1989 this coach cost £135,000 and became the flagship at Coach Services for over five years. The fleet of 9 coaches was transferred to the Croxton Road. Petches had a mixture of work; holidays, excursions, service work and private hire. One rural service is still operated; CS66 Hopton to Norwich (Thursdays).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the 1990s heavyweight chassis were bought instead of the lightweight Fords and Bedfords. The last Bedford was bought new in 1986, a Bedford YNV Duple Laser (C815 FMC). Leyland Tigers, DAF SB3000 and Volvo B10M became the mainstay of the fleet. The fleet grew in size to over 30 vehicles in the mid 1990s consisting mainly of Jonckheere Deauville and Vanhool T8. Executive coaches were needed for the expanding continental work and Grand UK Holiday Tours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2006 the first Volvo B12M joined the company. A Jonckheere Mistral; SG03 ZEY followed by SJ04 HXZ (new to Parks of Hamilton). The latter earned itself as an accomplished coach on continental work with trips to Spain, Switzerland, Germany, France and Belgium. In the same year the Routemaster (JJD 401D) joined the company. The 1966 AEC Park-Royal operated on route 38 in Central London. It was bought from Ensign shortly after it was taken out of service. Allen has slowly refurbished the vehicle inside and out. It is used mainly in the summer for weddings and birthday celebrations and is a firm favourite among the drivers, many of whom drove RML’s in London during their careers. JJD 401D is a regular at Showbus, Duxford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most significant change in the company’s history occurred in 2006 when the depot moved from the Croxton Road to 1A Howlett Way on the Mundford Road estate. Allen chose the site and designed a purpose built transport depot with a 4 bay workshop, automatic vehicle wash, and modern offices. The workshop now has a specialist vehicle lift capable of taking a double decker bus, rolling road, brake testing facilities, shaker plates and a pit. The drivers also witnessed dramatic change with their facilities at the new depot compared to the Croxton Road yard. The driver common room has central heating, leather sofas, kitchen, and a shower room. The large training room has enabled Coach Services to embrace the driver CPC and SAFED training. The Croxton Road yard was sold to Bloor Homes who built twenty-two homes on the site.

 

In 2007 Allen brought Euroview Coaching at Dereham from Dennis Reeve. The company was established in 1987 focusing on British and Continental tours using other companies’ executive coaches. After the initial Success, Dennis felt there was a need to provide a full in house service and, in 1990, started a new and very successful branch to his business - Euroview Coaching, which was based at Scarning. The success of Euroview Coaching has continued throughout the years and led to winning the National Coach Industry award in 1998.  This was a tremendous achievement for a small Norfolk based Company and a huge boost for the staff of Euroview.

 

Four coaches were acquired with the purchase of Euroview; BAZ 6527 (a Volvo B10M Vanhool T8), FN52 GVA and W801 AAY (both Iveco Beulas Stergo) and Y142 HWE (a MAN Neoplan Transliner). Dennis still occasionally drives for Euroview. Coral Eastoe, who has worked for Dennis for many years undertakes the day-to-day running of the company. Euroview operates from Rash’s Green at Dereham with a small fleet of 5 vehicles. The vehicles still carry the Euroview livery as it has an excellent reputation in Norfolk specialising in tailor made tours.

 

In 2008, a Scania K124 Irizar PB tri-axle was brought by Allen (YN08 DGX). As a Euro 4 coach it operates on trips to London, continental work and their own excursion programme. A two-axle Scania K114 Irizar PB was also bought at the same time (YN08 DGY), which went to Euroview. This operates on tours for West Norfolk Travel and their own private hires. Both vehicles exemplify the continual investment in the fleet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today Coach Services and Euroview operate a mixed fleet of 38 vehicles, including low floor service buses and executive coaches. The company has now standardised on Volvo and Scania especially with both dealerships on the same estate in Thetford. It employs over 35 drivers and 5 engineers. The Crawford family have now operated Coach Services for forty years over three generations. Knowledge and experience has proved to be essential business acumen. Allen is now joined by his two sons Robert and Thomas.

JVC 525. This was one of a trio of pre-owned Bedford OB / Duples taken into stock in 1954 / 55. This example was new to Hawkeys of Newquay, Cornwall, and came via Brown of Dartford. Seen in Brandon Market Place in May 1965 amongst the stallholders.

JXM 410. Three ex-Grey-Green Leyland PS1 Harrington coaches operated at Thetford in the sixties. Two were initially in the Mulley fleet but JXM was always allocated to Coach Services. Seen at Croxton Road yard in May 1962.

KGP 292. This was new in March 1949 as the last Leyland PS1  Harrington supplied to Grey-Green and was acquired by Mulley in December 1959. This photograph was taken in 1962.

CCF 944C. New in July 1965, this Bedford SB5 with Duple Firefly body shows the strong Mulley influence, including the fleet name flags, ‘Thetfordian’ name and fleet number 102. Seen here at the Eastern National coach park in Clacton-on-Sea in July 1966.

RRR 202L. A Ford R226 Plaxton new to Netherfield Coaches in 1973. Carters yard in Foulden was known as Willow Bank. Sign writer and coach driver Robin Fuga designed and made the graphics for Carters in the early 1980s. Robin still works for Coach Services part time.

AVA 233J. A 1970 Bedford YRQ Plaxton Panorama Elite II. New to Parks of Hamilton. This picture was taken at Vicarage Road in Foulden beneath one of the Willow trees.

F900 RDX. Bova Futura FHD12-290. New to Petches of Hopton seen here on a winter’s day in 1991.

C815 FMC.  Bedford YNV Duple Laser. Brought new in 1986 by Coach Services, seen here with the traditional red livery.

This photograph was taken at the Croxton Road yard with the Fire Station is in the background. From Left to Right; K861 NST (B10M Jonckheere) N283 OYE (B10M Plaxton Premiere) in Grand UK livery. L531 XUT (B10M Jonckheere). L785 PRF (B10M Jonckheere) and 1273 LJ (DAF SB3000 Jonckheere).

JJD 401D. 1966 AEC Routemaster / Park Royal. Ex London Transport operated on Route 38 by Arriva. Fleet number; RML 2401. Power comes from a Cummins engine. This photograph was taken in Lavenham in Suffolk 2009.

YN08 DGX. Scania K124 Irizar PB seen here in France 2009.