Raymond Hornsby, a well-known and respected coach and bus operator from Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, passed away on 18 June at the age of 89 after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.
During the era of Stuart Appleby, Paul Tappin and co, Raymond was a Regional Chairman of East Midlands CPT.
He worked in the industry from a young age, doing jobs in the bus yard and driving empty buses home from the army camps on a Saturday night, though he didn’t have a licence. His father was with him and ensured he was ready to take the wheel should a police patrol appear!
In 1965, Raymond’s father Joseph – who had started Hornsbys Bus & Coach with his father in 1914 – decided to retire and offered Raymond the opportunity to take over the running of the bus business.
It had around nine buses at the time but had some good bus services, including Saturday express routes to places like Blackpool, Llandudno and Clacton on Sea, plus lots of private hire groups. The business was busy.
Today, the business has 40 buses and coaches and is managed by his second son Nicholas as well as his daughter Chloe.
These are now the fourth and fifth generations of the business, which is 105 years old this July. Hornsbys is one of the oldest bus businesses in England that is still entirely owned by the family.
The funeral will be held at St Peters Church Scotter on Tuesday 9 July at 1045hrs, followed by private committal.
