Derek Easton, director of Norfolk operator Eastons Coaches and with a career of 48 years in the coach industry, died on 28 June. He was 72.
Derek was born in 1951 and joined the family business in 1976, having previously worked in the building trade and plant hire. As a skilled engineer, his first vehicle-related project was undertaken when in his early-20s. It involved a Ford Escort bare shell, spare parts, and an uprated engine and gearbox being combined to produce a unique car.
Derek married Lorna in 1979. Their children Ben and Claire both work for Eastons Coaches, Ben as an engineer, and Claire as Transport Manager as well as overseeing finance and marketing, in a round of succession that made Derek very proud. “He was always one to encourage Ben and I to aim high, and to never let challenges overcome us,” says Claire.
After Eastons started tours, Derek became one of the primary drivers on that work. “He loved going to Austria, Switzerland and Italy, often with his sister Christine as courier,” says his brother Robert, who is also a director of the business.
After the two men’s father and the founder of Eastons Coaches died in 1987, the operator moved and settled at its current Stratton Strawless home. Derek’s skill in driving diggers, acquired during his time in plant hire, came in useful for preparing the ground there.
Another of his engineering projects was the repower of Bedford coaches with Cummins engines and then with Volvo units. That was a first in the sector and covered by the trade press of the day, a report from which is kept by the Easton family. “If we needed something and it couldn’t be obtained, Derek would make it one of his lathes or milling machines,” says Robert.
In more recent decades, Derek became involved in steam-powered traction engines as a hobby. He bought a miniature example in 1993, which is still owned by the Easton family.
That was followed by a full restoration of a half-size showman’s engine purchased in a decrepit state during 2010. It was renamed The Masterpiece in honour of the craftsmanship and effort put into it by Derek and Lorna during its return to operation.
In 2018, a full-size traction engine named Sir Gordon was purchased. It carried Derek on his final journey to Salle Church in Norfolk on 25 July.
“The knowledge that dad had within both the coach industry and the steam engine scene was second to none,” says Claire. Derek enjoyed sharing that with others. Claire adds that he idolised his grandchildren, once digging up a piece of garden so they could play with toy diggers and dump trucks.
Derek long held the view that while he never wanted Eastons Coaches to be the biggest in its field, he always wanted it to be the best. The business was thus crowned Small Coach Operator of the Year at the 2017 routeone Awards and its well-known metallic purple livery continues to be one of the most instantly recognisable schemes in the industry
“Generations of children, who are now parents and grandparents themselves, would have been driven to school by Derek back in the days when he used to do a school run prior to spending the day in the workshop,” says Robert.
“We have received so many comments from those people to say that they remember him and to offer their condolences. Those few minutes, decades ago, were enough to spark a memory, showing how much people remember that big personality.”
Adds Claire of the funeral: “In dad fashion, we took him on the back of his full-size steam traction engine, with the half-size showman’s engine following.” The Easton family travelled in the operator’s heritage 1952 Albion Victor coach. “It was a true transport send-off.”
To recognise the assistance provided to Derek over many years by the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the Easton family is staging a fundraiser for that good cause. Some coach industry colleagues have donated, with the total currently at nearly £4,000. The family note that further pledges are most welcome. They can be made via this link.
