insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 17 - July 2016 | Page 89
DAYSOUT
Richardson Travel of Midhurst
Richardson Travel Limited was founded in 1976 by school teacher, Roger Richardson, in Sheffield,
where he set up a small private hire operation with two coaches. By 1979, he had left teaching
and was operating stage services, which he expanded in 1986. By 1991, the fleet and routes were
purchased by South Yorkshire Transport as part of their ‘mop up’ of competing independents in
the Sheffield area, but the business continued as a small, independent coach company.
Roger Richardson moved south to be nearer
to his parents with the purchase of Weller’s
Coaches of Midhurst in 1989, and the company
closed its South Yorkshire operation and
rebranded the fleet in a new blue livery. Trading
for some time as ‘Academic & Specialist Tours’,
the company bought its first new double decker
in 2002, and new front-line coaches have been
purchased ever since. In 2010, the first of a
series of Volvo/Alexander dual-purpose buses
was acquired for the low-cost fleet, which
were branded and relaunched in 2015, and are
proving very popular with youth groups.
Sadly, Mr Richardson died in 2011, but the
business is now led by his widow, Christine, in
a background role, and by Charlotte Adams,
who is the operations manager. The company
now operate nine term-time school services
to Bohunt School, Liphook, and one service
to Churcher’s College in Petersfield. They also
have a very successful private hire side, which
offers good discounts and a small excursion
programme.
With 18 vehicles including two buses, 11
coaches, and five double deckers, Richardson
Travel celebrate their 40th anniversary this year.
Richardson Travel
The Coach Depot
Pitsham Lane
Midhurst
West Sussex
GU29 9RA
01730 813304 / 812867
www.richardson-travel.co.uk
Looking for reliable
and safe transport?
Richardson Travel Ltd, The Coach Depot Pitsham Lane,
Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9RA
[email protected]
01730 813304 / 812867
www.richardson-travel.co.uk
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