Safeguard Coaches welcomed over 3,000 visitors to its centenary celebrations in Guildford on Saturday 16 March, with £5,239 raised for charity at the event.
Seven heritage vehicles were used, and three new additions to the Safeguard fleet were shown. Two were Plaxton Leopard Volvo B8R coaches, while the third was also a Plaxton in the form of an Embassy-bodied Bedford J2 18-seater dating from 1963.
As detailed recently, the J2 was repurchased by Safeguard from Empress Coaches of Hastings, and it sits alongside the Guildford operator’s well-known AEC Reliance with Burlingham body to form a small heritage fleet.
Following the daytime centenary event, a semi-formal evening reception for Safeguard Coaches staff, customers, friends and associates was held.
During the day, souvenir booklets and goody bags were sold, and alongside a raffle and collection led to the £5,239 being raised for The Fountain Centre. It was chosen in memory of Safeguard’s late Engineering Manager Brett Lambley, who died in 2023.
The two new Leopards are Safeguard’s first PSVAR compliant coaches and they represent an investment of over £500,000.
Managing Director Andrew Halliday notes that the Plaxton coaches follow the purchase of five new Volvo B8R MCV Evora buses and demonstrate the owning Newman family’s “continuing commitment to their company, which began 100 years ago with a char-a-banc.”
The Bedford J2 has returned to Safeguard after a 55-year absence, with it first having joined in 1966 as part of the purchase of the Cookes of Stoughton business. It then served two years with Safeguard and was later restored before acquisition by Empress.
Speaking about the sale of the J2 back to Safeguard, Empress Coaches Director Steve Dine says: “To see her back with one of her original owners is really rather special. I am delighted she has returned to Safeguard Coaches, and I am confident that she will bring a characterful dimension to the events and excursions she is used for.”
