The coach industry in North Wales has lost one of its respected figures following the passing of Fred Edwards of George Edwards and Son, Bwlchgwyn.
Fred Edwards, 84, died peacefully on March 9 at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
His daughter Ceris, who remains at the helm of the long-established Wrexham operator with her brother Gareth, told CBW: “We’ve been staggered by the number of people who have called to offer their condolences. Like many family operators, it wasn’t a job – it was a way of life. Dad was fortunate to do it for his whole life. He remained interested in the business until he died.
“He was also proud of the community he served – he recognised that without them, he wouldn’t have a business.”
Paying tribute, CBW’s Editor Gareth Evans: “A true gentleman, I shall never forget the welcome Fred and his family gave when I visited the firm for a feature. It was an example of an interview being conducted partly in Welsh and partly in English. He was passionate and quietly proud of the industry he’d spent his life working in. I found Fred’s tales of the past fascinating – including how it was customary for the local bus service from the village to pick up pairs of shoes and place them in a bag up front to take to the cobblers for repairing in Wrexham, something that would be unthinkable today.”
