100 Years on and Still a Family Firm

2009 will be a momentous year for Henley-in-Arden coach and bus operator Johnsons.

The company celebrates 100 years in business, and is today recognised as one of the leading independent family owned coach and bus companies in the business.

Three generations of the same family have been at the helm throughout all those years.  Currently, the company is run by brothers Peter and John Johnson (third generation), and their Mother Joan (second generation) is still actively involved.

Joan is in the unique position of spanning all three generations.  During her business career, she has seen some dramatic changes.  She says “it was always very busy back in the 1960’s.  Grandma, who had started the business with her husband Jack, was still alive and still very much controlling the purse strings!  She even still handed out the wages to my husband Roy and his brother Phil, even though they were in their 50’s!  Sadly, in 1969 Phil first, and then Grandma (aged 93!), both died, and so Roy and I were really in at the deep end!

Johnsons continued to be extremely busy with 4 coaches, a removal lorry and a taxi.  It was hard work with long hours and each day was a challenge to survive; In addition, all of our five children were into their teens, so we had to juggle with the demands of bringing up a family too!  We were always short of drivers so I took my PSV licence and became one of the first lady coach drivers in the country… it really was all hands to the pump.

In 1978, two of our children Peter and John, took over the reins, and we’ve never looked back.  We’ve now grown the company to what it is today, and I’m proud of what we have achieved and that we have remained a family firm based here in Henley-in-Arden.  But we couldn’t have done it without the support of great staff, helpful suppliers, and most importantly, loyal and supportive customers from all over Warwickshire and the West Midlands.

Charity Support

Throughout this special year, the company has planned several special events to mark the occasion including, charity dinners, an open day, firework display and all proceeds from these events will go to support Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, with an initial target of £10,000 being raised.

Modern fleet

The company currently operate a fleet of some 80 vehicles and employ 200 people all based at their Henley-in-Arden depot.

Diverse Products and services

The company’s products include holidays, day excursions, theatre trips, coach hire for business, pleasure, education, group tours for clubs, groups and associations, as well as operating many bus routes in the south Birmingham and south Warwickshire area.