End of the road for Bussage-based Beavis Holidays after 60 years (From Stroud News and Journal)

End of the road for Bussage-based Beavis Holidays after 60 years

8:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Hayley Mortimer, Reporter

POPULAR coach tour operator Beavis Holidays has announced it is to close at the end of the month after more than 60 years.

The Bussage-based family firm has provided holidays, day trips and school transport for thousands of families since it was founded in 1949.

However, this week the company said that following changes in the industry, and the death of its founder Brian Beavis last year, a decision had been taken to close when the firm's licence to operate expires at the end of the month.

A statement posted on the firm's website said: "Beavis Holidays will sadly be saying farewell on March 31. We are proud to have provided comfortable, safe coach transport since the 1940s."

Mr Beavis' daughter Anita, who has been running the business with other staff members, said: "We thank all those who have contacted us with kind words and we are privileged to have shared so many memories and to have been a part of the Five Valleys for so many years."

The business began just after the First World War when the father of the late Brian Beavis set up a private hire business from his home in Bussage after inheriting a car.

It closed temporarily in 1940 while Brian, who was now running the firm, served in the Second World War.

In 1949, as demand for European holidays was increasing, the firm bought its first coach, becoming Alpine Tours and later Beavis Holidays.

The business continued to flourish with more coaches being added to the fleet and the arrival of the familiar gold livery.

Over the years, Beavis Holidays has run trips to countries and events across Europe including the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Recently the firm has focussed on UK tours and day excursions to popular locations such as Weston-super-Mare, Bath and Buckingham Palace.

This week, Davis Coaches of Minchinhampton also announced it is closing on April 30.