Sleafordian Coaches has celebrated its 50th anniversary as a limited company.
The entrance to the operator’s East Road depot was covered in balloons and the offices were decorated to mark the occasion. A special golden two-tiered cake was also cut to celebrate, with a ribbon depicting the operators past and present vehicles.
Sleafordian Coaches began life on June 1, 1964, when John Chell, Don Broughton and Ted Barton began trading as Sleaford Taxi Company. The business became incorporated on July 10, 1964.
A significant change was made to the business in September 1972 when the first full-sized coach was purchased, a 41-seat Bedford Duple Bella Vega registration ‘ATO 994B.’
The following year, a second coach was added to the fleet and was the first vehicle to carry the name Sleafordian Coaches, which remains the trading name today. Ted Barton retired in 1982 and from this point on the company became exclusively a bus and coach operation with all the remaining taxis being sold.
The business continued to grow and the depot in Westgate was becoming too small, so it was decided relocate a new purpose-built facility. Sleafordian Coaches moved into its new depot in June 2004. The company had seven vehicles at this time and in the intervening 10 years has expanded quite dramatically.
Sleafordian Coaches now has an O-licence for 35 vehicles and employs over 50 staff, one of whom celebrates 40 years loyal service this year.
