Bakewell Coaches ceased trading at the end of July 2010 when the travel office at number 10, High street, Buxton and all remaining excursions and holidays passed into the control of Gee Vee Travel of Barnsley.

Operations first began with around half a dozen Ford Transit minibuses in the early 1980s based at premises on Station Road, Darley Dale but a Plaxton Elite bodied Bedford 45 seater became the first full size coach to be acquired sometime in the late 1980s. More precise details would be appreciated if anyone can add further information I would be most grateful.

During the 1990s a peak fleet total of six coaches was achieved based at the Station Yard Industrial Estate in Bakewell and other than private hire, excursions and holidays, some school contract work was successfully tendered along with a competing Bakewell Town Service and a short lived assault on the Bakewell to Chesterfield corridor strongly defended by Hulleys of Baslow. Also short lived was a works contract to run staff from Chesterfield to the Gullivers Theme Park at Matlock Bath.

Bakewell Coaches' registered address was the private residence of Managing Director Alan Barks at number 24 Moorhall, Bakewell and quite often a coach could be found parked in the layby outside Lady Manners School.

I have put together a photograph show of just about every full size vehicle owned but these were not operated all at the same time. They will have come and gone during the past 20 years with Kassbohrer Setra W10 ALN being the last coach remaining by July 2010.

Andrew Bagshaw