Family-owned Nelson coach firm is sold (From This Is Lancashire)

Family-owned Nelson coach firm is sold

10:00am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News

A FAMILY-owned coach firm which has been serving passengers for almost 40 years has been sold off.

Nelson-based Tyrer Tours has been taken over Holmeswood Coaches Ltd with the blessing of managing director, Robert Tyrer, 69, who is to retire.

The firm will take over a 12-vehicle network from Tyrer Tours and intends to continue operations in a similar vein.

Last year, Holmeswood also acquired the four-vehicle bus operations of Rossendale Travel of Blackburn.

Both businesses will be operated from the purpose-built Tyrer Tours premises in Nelson.

Robert Tyrer is a well-known figure in the coach travel business.

For many years he sold coach trips from a shop on Park Road in Barnoldswick and has employed hundreds of drivers and coach cleaners during his time in the trade.

He said: “I’ve had nearly 40 years in the industry, it’s time to retire.

“The move to Holmeswood seemed a natural choice as they are very much a family firm.

“My son Howard is joining the team as sales and marketing manager and I am sure he will bring a great deal to their organisation.”

Francis Aspinall is managing director at Holmeswood, which was established in 1947 and has a fleet of 150 vehicles at six depots in the north west.

He said: “We are constantly looking for opportunities to expand our coach and bus operations, and we feel that both of these additions will further strengthen our position.

“There is great potential to grow our coaching presence up the M65 corridor with the move to Tyrers and we are all very excited as we look forward to the future.”