Founder of Ropers Coaches, Vera Roper, has passed away peacefully at the age of 85.
Vera founded the company in Bradford, West Yorkshire, with husband Stanley in 1972, focusing on day trips and school contracts. Eventually they moved into tours across the UK and Europe, running with one coach for much of the time. The last coach the couple bought was a Bova Futura on Stanley’s 60th birthday.
After Stanley’s sudden death on 24 February 2006 Vera began to hire coaches from Gee Vee Travel and later family friend Gary Boland, of Tour2Cruise.
Vera continued running the business, organising tours until her retirement at the age of 80. Tour2Cruise took over in 2014. Following the acquisition Gary bought a Setra coach and named it in Stanley’s memory.
Tour2Cruise continues to honour the Roper name to this day, operating a coach in Ropers’ livery.
Vera leaves behind a son and daughter, Ian and Alison, as well as son-in-law Alan and grandchildren Matty and Aimee.
The family has requested any donations to Allerton Cat Rescue of Allerton Road, Bradford.
