Bakers Dolphin was another operator which was celebrating the return of coach tours on the 17 May. ‘The sun was shining as passengers boarded to coaches,’ the company said, with one bound for St Mawes in Cornwall and the other, one of its Gold Service coaches, heading north to the
Lake District. Places were still restricted to allow for social distancing but those who had been able to book a place were delighted, said the firm, as were the two drivers. Driver Simon Honey, who was taking 26 passengers to Cornwall, said: “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time and I’m over the moon to be going back out there.”
Fellow driver Paul Mansfield, who was taking his 24 passengers north, said: “It’s great to be back doing what we know.” Among the passengers on his Gold coach were John and Katie Trowbridge, from Ashton in Bristol, who have travelled with Bakers Dolphin many times before. John said he had no concerns about being on board with other people: “We could not wait to go back on holiday again. We’ve been in lockdown the whole time. Bakers Dolphin has been excellent and has taken all necessary precautions to make sure we’re safe. We couldn’t wait to get out of our house.”
Fellow travellers Anne and Maurice Brain, from Pill, also joined the trip. Anne said: “I am looking forward to doing something normal, and I expect Maurice is looking forward to having a break from doing all the cooking.”
Maurice added: “We know the hotel we are going to, which is lovely. There are lots of red squirrels there which come right up to you.”
Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Harrington said: “We’ve been waiting a long time for this day to come, and it was fitting that the sun as shining as our first two coaches set off for their holidays. I’m not sure who is happier to be back on the road, our passengers or our drivers! It’s been a very challenging time for everyone, and we do, of course, still need to take sensible precautions and ensure we adhere to all the proper health and safety procedures. But we are delighted to be able to do what we’ve been doing for well over a century, and that’s helping people to have make some memories and have happy holidays.”
