| The story of Angela Coaches
begins back in the 1940's when Robert Edwin Pressley moved to
1&2 Oaktree Cottages, Portsmouth Road, Lowford.
There his son, John Edward Pressley established
a taxi and limousine business which operated out of the sweet
shop run by John's wife, Lilly. John operated the business with
a number of part time drivers. He also filled in as a driver for
several local coach operators.
|
 |
| 
|
The Cottages in Portsmouth Road
had been acquired with a parcel of land which is now used as the
operating base for Angela Coaches.
In the early 1950's J.E. Pressley Coaches was
formed but the name was short lived, when the arrival of his fifth
child Angela inspired the name change to Angela Coaches in 1953.
|
| The business quickly expanded
with the purchase of a second-hand 29-seater coach from Princess
Coaches quickly followed by a 33 seater and 41 seater Bedford.
1968 saw the first significant milestone with
the acquisition of a brand new 45 seater Coach a Bedford VAM with
a Paxton Panorama body, for £6,000. |
 |
 |
At the end of the 1970's a new
dimension to continental tours arrived with the addition of a
fleet of Man SR820's.
At the time these were very expensive costing
around £60,000 each compared to their domestic counterparts
based on a Ford or Bedford chassis costing £38,000.
|
|
At its peak the company was carrying 35,000 passengers
per year, 1987 saw a drop in figures due to market fluctuations
and the fleet fell to 6 Coaches, today it is back to 10.
The company's 50th Anniversary was celebrated
at a special reunion for staff past and present along with associates
and colleges they have worked with over the years.
|
 |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
Home
