A much-loved family-run coach firm based in Penrith will close in the new year.
The three brothers at the wheel of Titterington’s have announced their retirement after decades leading the independent coach and holiday business, which was set up by their grandfather 97 years ago.
Directors Ian, 67, Paul, 64, both of Penrith, and Colin Titterington, 57 — the third generation to run the firm — all plan to hang up their driving gloves in the new year.
The last coach trip will be a sell-out trip to Inverness for Hogmanay, returning on January 2.
Colin, of Newton Reigny, told the Herald that with their ages in mind, now was the right time for them to retire.
Colin said: “It’s been a pleasure working for the family firm, from us all starting as drivers and all of us having got our passenger vehicle licences.
“The loyalty we have had from our customers has been amazing, it really has. As soon as the brochure comes out, many of them have booked several tours with us every year.
“It’s a shame that we don’t have any succession to carry on the business, but the decision has just come at the right time for us. Between us we have done about 135 years.”
Colin remembers being three years old and helping his grandad, Ernest, wash coaches, with the company playing a massive part in their lives.
He said: “Nothing is finite and there has to be an end point, and all three of us have grown-up children but they all have their own careers.
“We’ve easily had tens of thousands of customers and we’ve had quite a few phone calls from people who are upset that we are going. A lot of them have made friends with other people on a tour.
“We do get a lot of single travellers who will make friends and then start going on tours together, so it’s a community.
“The brand loyalty has remained very high and our numbers have remained very good. We have got 20 tours left to run this year and only two of those have vacancies and there will be no more tours after January 2.”
Staff member Lesley Allison, of Greystoke, who has been with the company 12 years, said it was sad the company was coming to an end but that she understood the reasons.
“This has been my ideal job. Before, I had always worked for large, national companies, so to find a family-based independent company, where people come to you because you are selling products to those who want a holiday, has made it a very happy job. Over the years, you build relationships with regular customers and they have become friends, rather than clients.”
Its premises in Corn Market, Penrith, will close, as will its garages at Blencow, where mum, Sheila, 87, still lives.
The business began in 1926 and there were no air-conditioned Mercedes coaches back then. Ernest, or Ernie, started off with a cattle trailer which he fitted with seats in order to ferry local farmers’ wives to market.
He was joined in the business by his now late son, Gordon, who went on to show his three lads the ropes. Forty-four years ago it branched out into tours under Gordon’s management and opened the premises in Corn Market.
At its peak, the business was running as many as 300 holidays a year and all three brothers have driven passengers all over the UK and Europe.
The firm was also a regular provider of school transport, and also provided coaches to other holiday firms. The business employs a total of 10 people.
