Horseman Coaches Engineering Manager Derrick Holton retired on 28 February after over 40 years’ service to the award-winning Thames Valley operator.
Mr Holton joined as a scheduler and remained in that function for many years, although his career before joining the coach industry saw him work in engineering within the sheet metal sector.
“I thoroughly enjoyed scheduling,” he recalls. “It was a big achievement at the end of a busy week in the summer when we had started on Monday wondering how we would get through it. Then Friday evening would arrive, and we had covered everything. It was a heck of a task.”
The operator’s General Manager David Elliott credits Mr Holton in his latter role as having been “the backbone of our engineering operation and a trusted right-hand man to Keith Horseman throughout the years.”
Mr Elliott adds that Mr Holton made an “immeasurable” impact on the Reading business’s success. “His knowledge, leadership and friendship will be deeply missed, but his legacy will undoubtedly live on in the strong foundations he has built.”
Until his retirement, Mr Holton was responsible for a fleet of 56 that is now part of The Coach Travel Group. One major change to coaches is how they have become more complicated over the years, he notes.
“It is now not all about doing the repair; first it takes time to find out what the problem is,” he continues. Volvo draws his favour for large coaches, and he adds that Mercedes-Benz products have performed well in smaller applications, although his advice to all builders is to make vehicles easier to work on.
To mark Mr Holton’s retirement, a celebration was held at the Horseman Coaches operating centre on 28 February. Former Managing Director James Horseman and The Coach Travel Group CEO Tom Stables were among attendees.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed coaches, but it is now time to move on and spend some quality time with my wife and family,” Mr Holton concludes.
