Princess Coaches of Southampton celebrates its centenary in 2019. It remains family-owned, and says that its success can be attributed to many things – among which is partnership
What does the word ‘partnership’ mean? Working together, collaborating with others, forming alliances, perhaps? It’s all those things. But back in 1919, the concept of partnership took on a special significance for brothers William (Bill), Albert (Alb), Charles (Charlie) and the youngest, Henry Barfoot, who was known as Harry.
Albert had been old enough to join the Hampshire Regiment. Although he survived the Great War, sadly Albert lost a leg as a result of injuries sustained during the Battle of the Somme.
That put paid to his role in the family market gardening and haulage business. But rather than desert Albert and leave him in the cold, the brothers decided that they had to do something else instead. To them, maintaining the partnership with Albert was paramount.
And so, the company that would eventually become Princess Coaches was born.
All in the family
From humble beginnings with a single charabanc and a truck, the Barfoot brothers set about building their business of coach trips and haulage. Little is recorded of those early days, but it is known that Albert concentrated on the office side.
William worked mostly on the haulage side and Harry operated the coaches. During the Second World War, however, the coach operations were reduced. The company predominantly delivered coal.
When the elder siblings retired after the War, the business was left in Harry’s hands. He had been the driving force behind the development of the coach operation for several years. His son John was often involved with tasks around the yard from an early age.
Despite his keen interest, John was encouraged to follow a different career path. He gained a position with a firm of solicitors. The coach business was in his blood, however, and he remained actively helping out whenever he could.
It was not long before he came into the business in partnership with his father, and then later as sole proprietor, ably assisted by his wife Yvonne.
Enter new blood
One of John’s daughters, Denise – known as Denny – had grown up around the industry, living next door to the business premises. Like her father, she initially embarked on an alternative career in banking and would marry a man by the name of Pete Brown.
Pete was working as a commercial vehicle technician for a large local dealership. He was ambitious, had qualifications in several areas and wanted to start his own garage business. However, he was persuaded by his father-in-law to join Princess Coaches with a view to building workshop trade.
Within a short time, Pete became involved in all areas of the business. But he was still predominantly in the workshop, which was his passion. When John passed away, that left Yvonne to run the business alone. It was at that time that Denny became more involved and Pete stepped up to run the operational side of the business.
Soon after, the company became incorporated. Pete is the Managing Director and Denny the Financial Director. Yvonne became Company Secretary and continued in her everyday role as owner of the company.
The modern-day Princess Coaches operation is far removed from the business that Alb and Harry started. But in this, the company’s centenary year, its heritage is not forgotten.
The two latest additions to the firm’s 17-strong fleet bear the number plates BB19 ALB (BB for Barfoot Brothers and ALB for Albert) and HB19 HGB (for Henry George Barfoot, as Harry was christened).
Pete and Denny see themselves as the current ‘custodians’. As the third generation of the family business, the are conscious of the sacrifices made by many, not least Albert, who, despite losing a leg in the Great War, has left a 100-year legacy in his memory, and Harry, who took the business to the next level before passing the baton to John.
One fleet, one badge
The new coaches, in common with all the others in the fleet, carry the Scania badge.
“Our Scania journey began in early 1994 when we bought a 10-year-old ex-Scancoaches vehicle,” says Pete. “It had Jonckheere bodywork and I loved it.
“When you buy an old coach like that you don’t expect any special treatment from your local dealer, but Scania Fareham was brilliant, especially on parts. It treated us not like a customer with an old vehicle, but like one with a modern fleet of premium coaches.
“In particular, its parts person, who is still there today, was great. He was really friendly, helpful and prepared to go the extra mile. I appreciated how we were looked after. The dealership won our loyalty from the outset and it has kept it to this day.”
Partnership and performance are the two words Pete uses to sum up his relationship with Scania.
“In terms of building a partnership with us, nobody else comes close,” he says. “Most dealerships are geared up for trucks. I’ve seen mechanics run a mile when they spot a coach coming.
“Over the years, our relationship with the local Scania team has developed to the point where we now deliver new vehicles for it.
“Performance is important too, both in terms of the way in which staff such as the parts guys conduct themselves and how our vehicles perform on the road. Again, I can’t fault Scania; premium quality, good on fuel, and drivers and passengers love them. They’ve got it all.
“The performance of our early Scanias was so good compared to our previous coaches that it quickly became my ambition to bring more of them into the business. Between 1994-2005, we built up a wholly Scania fleet.”
First-class service
It was during this buying spree that Pete’s relationship with Scania took another positive step forward, arguably in a somewhat irregular manner. After all, it’s not every day that a customer is pleased when a salesman refuses to sell him a vehicle.
“But that is exactly what happened, and I was delighted,” says Pete.
“At the time, I needed a coach badly. Our tourer had been off the road in the West Country and would be for eight or nine weeks. I went looking for a replacement. I visited Scania’s coach and bus operation in Worksop where I saw the ideal vehicle.
“It was a used coach in the livery of Leger Holidays, which we were working for at the time. It was perfect – just what I needed.
“I fancied myself as an Arthur Daley at the time and went in to do the deal very sure of myself. But I was stopped in my tracks. Scania said I couldn’t have it as it had been promised to someone else. It wasn’t actually sold, but the salesman had given his word. That was that.
“I thought that was brilliant. To me, Scania showed integrity and I respect that. It made me want to do business with it even more. I bought a different coach instead, our first Scania Irizar Century. It went straight into the fleet and its performance was exceptional. I liked it so much that more quickly followed.”
A move to Euro VI
Princess was still operating other vehicle marques at the time, but it was not long until Pete decided that had to change.
“The turning point came when one of those coaches broke down on the M20. The manufacturer’s nearest depot was in Heathrow. We got to the breakdown from Southampton before it did. Then its mechanic decided the problem was with the potentiometer on the throttle, and had it recovered back to our yard.
“It was left blocking our other coaches in. I wasn’t pleased and had to try to move it. The engine started and revved; it wasn’t a throttle problem at all. That misdiagnosis was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Over the ensuing years the fleet was steadily built up, mainly with Centurys before moving to Scania Irizar i6, an i4, the upgraded i6S and Interlinks and Tourings.
“As the business evolved, we progressed from buying second-hand to new. Today we’re operating late model Euro VI coaches almost exclusively with a mix of two and three axles and a variety of body configurations,” Pete continues.
“We are heavily involved with the cruise industry. There, our 59-seat tri-axles combine a large passenger carrying capacity with a high volume of luggage space, which is ideal for transfers. We have 49-53-seaters for excursions we run. Our Tourings are cost-effective and work our private hire and school contracts.
“Across the fleet, we have all bases covered. Whether it was one of the 21 new coaches purchased over the last 13 years, or one of several nearly-new options, Scania has supported us all the way.
“It’s hard to overstate how important to us the relationship between our two companies is. When you know you have the manufacturer behind you, it gives tremendous confidence. We know that advice, help and support is always at hand.
“I have always found Scania to be receptive of our feedback and positive in looking to find a solution should any issues come to light.”
Accessible advantage
For a number of years, Princess had been looking for a tri-axle i6 with rear wheelchair access that did not intrude on luggage capacity. In conjunction with Irizar, Scania provided the perfect product. It is a Masats cassette lift mounted in the ski lockers over the rear axle.
“That was exactly what we were looking for,” says Pete.
“Having taken one of these accessible coaches last year, we have now added a second one. Both are Scania Irizar i6S models.
“These coaches are exactly right for us. Customers with mobility issues can travel in comfort on the same vehicle as their families and friends. That not only provides wider choice for those with access difficulties, but it also allows us to offer our cruise partners more streamlined travel options for all passengers. That is vitally important,” he continues.
“For me, it is another good example of how the partnership we have with Scania works. Once again, it helped us to achieve our goal.”