vehicle, a Garner Bus Van, pictured outside
Mrs B Johnson’s shop at 71 High Street,
Henley-in-Arden
1926
The company moved literally across the
road to larger premises at 32 High Street.
These premises remained as the company’s
office and depot until 1987 and the family
home until 2004.
1935
J G Johnson passes away and the running
of the business is past onto his eldest son
Phil. This picture of a Bedford 29 seater
coach was taken in the late 1930’s outside
Birmingham Town Hall.
1956
The second generations first new coach, a
39 seater Bedford OB. Another new one
arrived the following year. The company at
this stage is still very small, operating 2
lorries and 2 coaches and an old taxi.
1966This image signifies the arrival into the
business Phil’s brother and current owners’
father, Mr Roy Johnson and mother Mrs
Joan Johnson. This all happened very
suddenly following the death of Phil Johnson
at the age of only 66, followed 7 weeks later
by the founders wife, Mrs B Johnson who
died at the ripe old age of 93!
1978/79
Peter & John Johnson, third generation,
family members join the business. Better
coaches are purchased and the company
ran its first coach holidays and excursions in
1981.
The company grows to 7 coaches and at the
same time ceases all goods transportation
including furniture removals. Premises are
now too small and a new yard at Liveridge
Hill is purchased. These premises remain
the company’s office and depot right up to
this day.
New larger yard enables the company to
purchase longer 12m luxury touring
coaches. Bova Futura coaches like this one
have been the mainstay of the company’s
fleet since this time.
The company expands with the purchase of
Fletchers Coaches a 4 vehicle business in
Studley, Warwickshire. All coaches were
repainted into Johnsons beige/brown and
white livery.
The company continues to expand in all
areas of coaching, holidays and excursions
programmes grow and another acquisition is
made, that of Arnold Shaw Coaches of
Warwick. Another small family business with
5 coaches: its owner Arnold, although now
retired still works for Johnsons on a part time
basis.
1994A rare picture of all four members of the
Johnsons family involved in the business, on
the occasion of the company’s 60th
anniversary of being a limited company.
From left to right are Peter, Joan, Roy and
John. Mr Roy Johnson sadly died in
December of the following year.
1994The third generation’s first new coach, a
12m Bova Futura 49 seater touring coach.
Its registration was M10 JMJ which are the
initials of Joan Johnson. The vehicle was
painted in a new livery style but still using
the beige/brown and white colours.
The company launches its all new livery
style; using the strong, colourful and now
well known colours of blue, yellow and white.
Johnsons open their brand new purpose
built offices at the coach yard at Liveridge
Hill. The facilities include a large training and
sales, presentation room which can hold up
to 70 people theatre style, meetings and
sales promotions.
The company is awarded Investors In
People recognition for its commitment to
staff development and training.
For the first time ever the company
commences bus service operations;
operating subsidised routes on behalf of
Warwickshire County Council throughout
Warwickshire. The bus fleet has now grown
to 20 buses and the most recent addition
was Johnsons winning the Stratford-upon-
Avon Park and Ride service contract in
November 2005.
Johnsons win another award, this time its
“Coach Operator of the Year” for 31+
vehicles. The company beat off competition
from operators throughout the UK and
pictured here are Brian Brinkworth – 2003
Driver of the Year, Peter Johnson and Bob
Wickens – The Tours Manager up until
January 2005.
The company took delivery of 4 brand new
49 seater Bova Futura luxury touring
coaches. This represented its largest order
to date with a value of nearly £1million.
Pictured here are John and Peter Johnson,
who in the same year celebrated 25 years of
working together in the business.
The latest accolade awarded to Johnsons;
“Coach Operator of the Year” once again.
Pictured here are a number of staff together
with the award and also a huge celebration
cake, kindly donated by Moseleys the UK
distributor for Bova coaches.
An award winning operator - Coach
Operator of the Year 2005, Bus Operator of
the Year 2006 and Best UK Holiday
Programme, together with Best Day
Excursion Programme 2006.
2006
Autumn 2006 - completion of our new car
park thereby doubling our capacity for
coaches, buses, staff and customer parking.
2008
2008 Saw our first Scania Irizar coach purchased in time to join the touring fleet for the start of
the season in May.
In this, our centenary year we commenced operating the X20 bus service which runs along the
A3400 between Birmingham and Stratford Upon Avon. By coincidence this is exactly the same
route operated by the us in the 1920’s when we first started transporting fare paying passengers.
The route is very busy and to cope with the demand we took delivery of three brand new Double
Decker vehicles to operate solely on this service. These new vehicles complete an investment
programme for the year of just under £1,000,000.
