Shaws Coaches A deep dive into a well-known local business

A DEEP DIVE INTO A LOCAL BUSINESS Local A deep dive into a local business

Well-known local business Shaws Coaches kindly agreed to answer some questions in this interview for Your Local Magazines.

1. Tell me about how and when Shaws Coaches started?

Our family rm was founded in 1922 by Edwin ‘Teddy’ Shaw, the grandfather of the present partners, Jane, Richard and Chris. Edwin had an engineering background in Yorkshire but during the Great War he was transferred to Peterborough to work for Peter Brotherhood as a millwright. A er the war Edwin worked hard to build the business back up and by then he was joined by his son, Harry, whose favourite job was as team driver for Peterborough United! Harry gradually took over the running of the business and it ourished under his leadership. He had a real talent for buying and selling coaches with many winter Sundays spent journeying across the country to “look at a bus”. Harry died suddenly in 1981 and it was then that Jane, Richard and Chris inherited the business with Richard’s wife Carol joining in 2010 and his daughter Tory, joining in 2015. Edwin fell for a local girl named Sarah Ann Ro e from West Deeping, they moved to Maxey and took the momentous decision to buy their rst bus (with money le from a wealthy aunt), which was kept in Mr. Frisby’s barn on Castle End Road. Edwin’s interest in buses probably stemmed from his early life in Leeds when he was a part-time driver for Wallace Arnold.

2. What has the business achieved since it began?

Edwin and Sarah started with a local bus service into Peterborough along with anything else that came their way, including furniture removals! ey couldn’t a ord to have the vehicle o the road for long and repairs were usually made by candle-light with the help of neighbours. In 1924 they took another chance and purchased the house and land at 49 High Street, Maxey (where we are still based). In 1952 Edwin made his son Harry a partner and the business prospered with local school and work contracts and an excellent private hire service. With the privatisation of the coach industry in the 1980’s we had the opportunity to develop the business in new areas and our rst holiday brochure was published in 1982 with just six tours, one of which had just six passengers (including our mum and gran!). Fortunately, the others did rather better and we risked increasing the programme to ten departures, and the rest, as they say, is history! We now run around 80 holidays and 400 day trips each year. It’s a source of pleasure and pride that we have some customers who have been served by all four generations.

3. What impact has Shaws Coaches had on the local community?

As well as ad hoc support for good causes, we have supported two speci c local disabled groups with practical assistance for many years. We also like to support our local community as a mark of gratitude for the support that was given to Edwin all those years ago. Additionally, we recognise that coach travel is vital for so many members of the community, starting with a safe way to travel to school in those early years running through to providing a much needed source of social contact for the older and o en less able residents of the area that we serve. A day out or holiday is a signi cant event for our older clients and we always try to go the extra mile to ensure that they have the enjoyable experience that they so richly deserve.

4. What’s happening for Shaws Coaches in the future?

Covid19 has highlighted how much people enjoy getting out and about, the messages of support and positivity we have received during the pandemic has been overwhelming. So many of our loyal customers can’t wait to start exploring again, and we can’t wait to take you there! We’ve already got over 30 great days out available to book for next year and our holidays are being released very soon. We’re always on the lookout for new places to visit and love to feature them in our programme, look out for RHS Garden Bridgewater (opening May 2021), e Art of Banksy (opening March 2021) and Back To e Future (opening in the West End next summer) plus many more to come! We want to continue to provide all our customers with the best possible service, to recognise the contribution that all our team make to the success of the business and to continue to value the great partnerships that we have with those of our suppliers who have given us sterling service for many years.

Feeling the Love

Valentines day is just around the corner, what better way to spoilt the one you love than with a film, some flowers, some nice drinks or a thoughtful gift? Your Local Magazines can help!

Flower meanings

Flowers have been used as symbolic methods of communication for centuries. In the Victorian times, flowers were used to send messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. The red rose, of course, symbolises love, and means “I love you”, but here are some alternative ideas to get your message across this Valentines Day.

Blue Salvias - ‘I think of you’ Dwarf Sunflowers - Adoration Geraniums - True Friendship Honeysuckle - Bonds of Love Yarrow - Everlasting Love Violet - Loyalty & Devotion Red Tulips - A Declaration of Love

Here are some romantic films for February

1. ‘Five feet apart’

They’re supposed to be keeping their distance. But challenging boundaries and fighting for their lives only brought them closer.

2. ‘Dear John’

The romance between a young soldier and a college girl unfolds through time, war and letters.

3. ‘How to lose a guy in 10 days’

She’s writing about how to drop a guy, he’s betting he’ll make her fall in love. Ten days... endless possibilities.

4. ‘50 first dates’

He’s the love-em-and-leave-em type, until a woman who can’t remember turns out to be one he can’t forget.

5. ‘The theory of everything’

Thanks to the power of love, one of the modern world’s greatest minds endures unimaginable challenges.

Valentines Cocktails With Valentines day around the corner, here are some cocktail ideas that are bound to get you some brownie points!

Love Struck: a mixture of vodka, passoa, cranberry juice, lemon juice and prosecco

Flame of love: A mixture of Monkey 47 gin and dry sherry. The Honey Bee: A mixture of Drambuie, walnut bitters and prosecco. Love Potion: A mixture of gin, lime juice, elderflower liquor and rose champagne.

Raspberry Chocolate Martini: A mixture of Chambord, Kahlua, heavy cream, dark chocolate shavings and a raspberry.

Valentines Day Gift Guide

Some gift ideas for the lady in your life.

Willoughby & Co. Personalised gift box with sterling silver stud earrings - £12

www.willoughbyjewellery.co.uk

EmiliaRoseCrafts Personalised Lobster Cushion with Insert - Navy and Gold - £18.50

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ EmiliaRoseCrafts

Bare Face - The BARE FACE Box Set - The complete clear skin box set, gifted in a luxurious box - £197

www.barefacediaries.com

Artsy Laser. Gin glass that can be personalised. £9.45

www.artsylaser.co.uk/ product/gin-glass/