It’s 60 years since Roger Bull started his first job in the coach industry. But as he and his wife Pauline look back at a successful career, what does the future hold?
Now in their eighth decade, Roger and Pauline Bull are arguably one of the best known husband and wife teams in the coach industry.
With Roger behind the wheel, in every sense, of Northamptonshire-based R.B. Coach Travel, and Pauline leading Taurus Holidays, they are a familiar sight at industry trade shows.
But times are changing, and both Roger and Pauline have made no secret of their respective desires to step back from being behind the wheel, or sitting in the courier seat, to enjoy more holidays as a couple, and without 50 people watching on behind them.
But unlike many coach operators, who find themselves without anyone to take over the operating mantle, Roger and Pauline have a younger team who are already managing much of the day to day business. It does seem likely then that having built up the business since establishing it in 2003, the couple may be feeling that those long-awaited personal holidays are nearer than ever.
Roger’s journey begins
But first things first. Roger’s 60 years in the industry means we can go back to 1964. It was in that year that a fresh-faced, 16 year-old Roger landed a job as an apprentice mechanic with Northamptonshire-based coach operator Shelton-Orsborn. In his 25 years with the company he spent weekdays in the workshop at Wollaston, near Wellingborough, and weekends driving on tours, day trips and private hires. That combination of engineering and tourism experience has proved invaluable ever since. When he and Pauline tell you that there really are few places they haven’t been to by coach, you can believe it.
In 1989, Shelton-Orsborn was acquired by Leicester-based operator Midland Fox. Roger became depot engineer at Wollaston responsible for 18 coaches. But Midland Fox, one of the remnants of the once mighty Midland Red, was focused on bus rather than coach. By 1991, Roger’s fleet was down to just six vehicles. In 1992, he and his friend and work colleague Rod Lawman bought the coaches and contracts from Midland Fox and set up L.B. Travel (Lawman and Bull). In 1996 the business moved to a new site at Pytchley, near Kettering, sharing it with a haulage firm.
Setting up on his own
In June 2003, Roger and Rod decided to part company. It was an amicable split with both men keen to do their own thing. Rod set up Lawmans Coaches on a new site in Kettering while Roger set up R.B. Travel on the Pytchley site, the same site where the business operates from today. The fleet, which by then stood at 10 coaches, was split, with Roger and Rod taking five each.
Today, R.B. Coach Travel – the word ‘Coach’ being a recent addition to the company name – operates a mix of schools and other contracts, private hire, and a programme of day excursions. It also provides the coaches for Taurus Holidays, the programme of domestic and continental European holidays run by Pauline. And if you haven’t spotted the link yet, well, it’s Taurus the Bull!
Giving something back
Sitting down with Roger to talk about how things are today generates conversations covering the state of the industry, and a look back at times that he describes as being arguably more fun. But he’s not one for focusing on the past. The company is a member of the three industry trade bodies: CPT, UKCOA and RHA Coaches. He notes that they all do different things, and each has something to offer.
Roger is also into his second term as a director of the Coach Tourism Association (CTA).
“I’ve always wanted to give something back,” he says. “The CTA has progressed since the COVID-19 pandemic. More operators and industry suppliers have got involved. There’s a renewed impetus. The programme of events has got better. Pauline and I always learn something new, or meet someone new. Robert (Shaw, Chair of the CTA) has really stepped up. He’s a superb ambassador for our industry.”
Vehicle choice
With a number of Van Hool coaches in the 15-strong fleet, and with a new T-series Acron tri-axle due for delivery in February 2025, Roger is watching developments at the Belgian manufacturer closely.
“We continue to update our fleet,” he explains. “In recent years my focus has been on Van Hool and Beulas. Both manufacturers have been happy to tweak their specifications to meet what we want. You don’t find that everywhere. Will the Van Hool situation change under VDL ownership? We’ll have to wait and see. We also have a 12.9m Beulas Cygnus 53-seater to full PSVAR due this July. We’re acutely aware of the value of vehicles going forward. If they’re PSVAR they’re likely to be a better proposition when it comes time to move them on. We have a mix of Van Hool on DAF, MAN and Scania chassis, Beulas on MAN and DAF, Bova/VDL on DAF, a King Long/Cummins and a Scania MOBIPeople. Our newer vehicles are there for front-line touring. Our oldest vehicle is a trusty 2003 Van Hool Alizee/DAF workhorse.”
Positives and port delays
On the holidays side of things Roger is pleased with the way that numbers are bouncing back.
“Pauline set Taurus Holidays up in 2006,” he says. “This year we’re running 20 domestic tours and just five continentals. Pauline also puts together bespoke holidays. We have a really loyal set of passengers, but many of our regulars are telling us they’re having to watch the pennies. Finding new itineraries isn’t easy. Having said that, we recently went on a CTA familiarisation trip hosted by CroisiEurope on the Seine in Paris. We’re adding a river cruise into the programme for 2025.
“Hotels remain a challenge. Some really good hotels suddenly stopped taking coach groups because they decided government contracts were more beneficial. Now those contracts have mostly ended they want us back. Whether we go back depends on how they communicated with us. There are a few we won’t be going back to.
“For the Channel crossing we use DFDS. The company has been excellent and its app capturing the legally required Advance Passenger Information in advance of arriving at Dover is working very well. It’s the port itself and the delays that continue to occur at peak times that remain a real cause for concern. We were one of a number of operators who missed our ferry over the spring bank holiday weekend. In addition to our holidays we also run a busy programme of day trips. This year, we’ll run around 150.”
A superb team
Roger is pragmatic about the future.
“I’m 76 and although I’m fine at the moment, I’m always aware that my future health could change. Pauline has stepped back from being a courier on her tours and is now focused on the brochure. We have a good, younger team working in the business. Simon (known as Symon) Dawson, who is Pauline’s son-in-law, is Transport Manager. Lorna Dawson, Pauline’s daughter, and Simon’s wife, looks after tour bookings and holidays. Ryan Bevan looks after our day excursions. They’re part of a wider team of full-time and part-time drivers and mechanics who are all superb.”
As an engineer, Roger notes the potential for hydrogen-powered coaches.
“For rural operators, going electric isn’t simple, and the costs will likely be prohibitive. In terms of power supply and range, hydrogen is an option. Jo Bamford (Wrightbus/JCB) is a leader in hydrogen so we’re watching that closely.”
But Roger has one other wish. In 2016 he acquired WYP 203G, a 1969 Plaxton Elite III-bodied AEC Reliance.
“She has quite a history, not least that she started out with Surrey Motors carrying a Plaxton Elite I body,” he says. “She was involved in a collision with a lorry and written off. But she was rescued, and now, here she is with us. I actually always wanted a Bedford VAL. I’m still looking, but the time may have passed when I was in a position to buy. But never say never, although I’m not sure Pauline agrees!”
