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Durbin's family name has been synonymous with the coaching industry,
within the Bristol area for over 50 years.
Mr Arthur
Durbin entered the coaching industry in 1951 with the formation
of Western Roadways. His first order in 1951, from Patchway High
School, was a pre-cursor to today's extremely successful school
based transport company.
In 1952
Western Roadways was awarded its first local authority "home
to school" contract and from that point, had a rapid growth
increasing its local authority contracts year by year.
By 1960
Western Roadways, still being operated by Arthur Durbin, boasted
a fleet of some 45 vehicles. At that time it was the pride of the
Bristol coaching industry, with each coach being replaced every
3 years. 1960 also saw the start of the very successful
continental tours.
The company
continued to grow until 1982 which saw Arthur's son Roger take the
helm at which point the company name was changed to Durbin's Coaches.
Roger now embarked on a rapid expansion program and by trading on
the back of the company's excellent reputation, grew in all area's
of expertise, from school transport to private hire, day trips and
continental touring.
By 1993
Durbin's Coaches was a force to reckoned with and as such attracted
the attention of First Group, who by 1994 acquired the company along
with Roger's sales and marketing manager Tony Lavoie, who transferred
to First Group's Lawrence Hill depot as General Manager, whilst
Roger pursued other business interests.
After
a short period of time, Tony decided to start his own coaching company
by the name of Leisure Travel, buying his own coach in 1994 and
coincidently trading from the ex Durbin's depot. By 1997 his
fleet had grown to 24 vehicles and was servicing the majority of
Durbin's school and private hire clients. Roger, clearly missing
his family coaching background returned as a partner of Leisure
Travel and the company was renamed South Gloucestershire Bus &
Coach, with a view to embark on a new rapid expansion program.
In 1998
as part of this expansion program a local taxi firm was acquired,
consisting of 7 licensed vehicles and was renamed South Gloucestershire
Taxi Company with Tony being at the helm, whilst Roger took responsibility
of South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach.
From
1999 onwards we see a rapid growth of the company with the acquisition
of the original Durbin's family business from First, Durbin's Coaches, followed
by the purchase of the well established Eastville Coaches in 2003.
At this point, South Gloucestershire Taxi Company with in excess
of 20 vehicles was sold with Tony Lavoie returning to the fold.
The
company which proudly boasted a fleet of some 100 vehicles, producing
a turnover in excess of £4million, with such blue-chip companies
including some of those below. Also operated over 80 school and
bus routes, both privately and under tender to both Bristol and
South Gloucestershire Councils. Took the decision to sell off some
routes to other operators, in order to expand the coach operations
side of the business.
South
Gloucestershire Bus & Coach were soon in talks with Flights Hallmark
MD Simon Dunn, at Rogers new depot on Gipsy Patch Lane. Which saw
the birth of Wessex Connect operating from the same depot as SGB&C.
In
order to fully utilise the premises a new company was set up for car
repairs, servicing and MOT's - SGB Vehicle Services. Seeing the
rapid growth in this new venture Roger separated the maintenance
section of the coach company, to join the SGBVS team. The Commercial
side of SGB Vehicle Services also rapidly expanded, taking in work
from other bus & coach operators, as well as freight companies, even
taking work on from some of its suppliers!
September 2008 saw the arrival of 6 brand new coaches in the fleet,
to take on the new contracts with National Express 200 routes to
Gatwick and Heathrow.
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