harry shaw coach trips from coventry

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Just come back from my first coach trip

Just come back from my first coach holiday. Our coach was clean and comfy and our driver Craig was very friendly

Date of experience : 16 February 2024

NO PROBLEMS AT ALL .

I have used Harry Shaw for about 15 years , not 1 problem at all . Many trips to Germany all good .

Date of experience : 19 December 2023

Joke of a company

Joke of a company. Have only left one star because leaving zero wasn’t an option. We went to Manchester Xmas markets with Harry Shaw and there were mechanical problems with the coach which started at the beginning of the day. Somehow we made it the 80+ miles to Manchester but whilst passengers were away from the coach it finally gave up the ghost. Nearly 50 passengers, mainly pensioners were left for two and a half hours in below zero temperatures for this to be rectified. Two complaints have been sent to the company- all ignored however, a Facebook post stating this was removed within 20 minutes. The company should be ashamed of themselves. If you listen carefully you can hear the now deceased Harry rolling in his grave.

Date of experience : 25 November 2023

First time using Harry Shaw and one of many! We did the Paris trip 3 nights 4 days. Absolutely thrilled I did. Our lovely driver Craig went above and beyond to make sure we were all comfortable and got the full experience. A very polite,funny and helpful guide. Paris itself was super lovely seeing many tourist attractions and having the ability to spend time exploring. The Eiffel Tower experience was amazing. Met some wonderful people too! Huge thank you to Craig especially but also Harry Shaw.

Date of experience : 28 August 2023

Belfast would recommend this trip

We have just returned from a great trip to Belfast. The hotel Armagh City hotel was very good. The rooms were very clean massive comfortable bed and the food excellent. The tours were excellent and Rory our guide round Belfast was very knowledgeable. Our driver Tony was brilliant, especially driving in adverse weather conditions there and back. The return journey was hit by storm Betty. Tony handled it well and we felt safe throughout our trip.

Date of experience : 14 August 2023

Excellent Company

Booked a day trip with Harry Shaw from Coventry to Western supermare on 22/8/2023 had a great journey best day out and a good Journey back home no problems everything was explained about the departure and where to get the Coach back. Would definitely go with this Company again

Date of experience : 22 August 2023

Would avoid at all cost. Waste of time and money.

Would avoid at all cost. Wasted a whole weekend missing ferry’s because Harry Shaw can not work out itineraries. Bus driver got lost, Ran red lights and nearly knocked over a guy on a bike which then proceeded to be rude to us passengers. Spent more time sitting on the sardine can coach than actually seeing Paris. Waste of money time and effort.

Date of experience : 02 December 2022

great holiday

we have had a great holiday at the hotel in weymouth room was very nice and clean food was brilliant good choice and plenty of it staff were very friendly we had 2 nights entertainment only down side was price in the bar 2 glasses of wine10 poude our holidayns .60 mark coach driver from blackburn was great made our holiday

Date of experience : 05 September 2022

3 night stay Disneyland Paris

Could not find many reviews of this holiday coach tour company but decided to chance it on a 3 night Disneyland Paris coach tour. We returned this Wednesday, 7th, and despite being cheapest operator by £100 plus each person when we booked a few months ago and there was 4 of us so big saving, we can say we had no problems at all, although we didn't get on/off until Dover Port so only half the time on the coach compared to some others on the same trip. Would we use them again, yes.

Date of experience : 04 December 2022

We have just returned from a 5 day…

We have just returned from a 5 day break in Weymouth at the Leam hotel, it’s not a posh hotel, but the welcome was second to non all the staff were so helpful and friendly, the room was clean but would benefit from a refit, the food and choices were amazing. Vicky is the Manager, she’s full of fun and try’s to include everyone, Mark the bar man goes the extra mile the rest of the staff were excellent sorry I can’t remember all the names. Thankyou June room 3 xxxx

We are currently on the Rouen Trip

We are currently on the Rouen Trip. Our driver Ashley is fantastic and couldn’t be more helpful. The Holiday Inn Express where we are staying is clean and breakfast ok BUT the hotel does not do evening meals. Unless you want a burger in quite a seedy area there are no restaurants to get an evening meal. The only way to get a meal is three stops on the tram or by taxi and they aren’t always reliable or a twenty minute walk. Ok if you’ve got good health or no mobility issues. Very disappointed. In my opinion the hotel isn’t geared for tourists but more for business use.

Date of experience : 03 September 2022

Arrived back from Worcester

Arrived back from Worcester, Cardiff & Bath weekend, and still laughing 😂 The weekend was very well organised, and the hotel & food were great. However, the driver, Andy, was something else. The funniest, well hysterical in fact, and most informative coach driver I’ve ever known. The nostalgia and knowledge this man owns is mind blowing. He knew everything there was to know about anything en route to everywhere. Andy’s manners are impeccable, he’s clean & well presented, he’s decent, respectable and respectful and couldn’t do enough for all. I so hope he’s the driver on my next trip with Harry SHAW.

Date of experience : 27 September 2021

Just got back from Disney land Paris…

Just got back from Disney land Paris and from start to finish the trip was absolutely brilliant...minty the driver was so helpful and will definitely booking with this company again.... thankyou so much for making memories...

Date of experience : 02 June 2023

The perfect gentleman

Just returned from Warners Norton Grange on the Isle of Wight with Harry Shaw Travel. We have travelled with Harry Shaw many times before over many years. The holiday included 3 excursions during our 5 day stay. We covered the majority of the Isle of Wight in that time. Our driver Craig was absolutely brilliant during our stay. He was knowledgeable, pleasant, attentive, polite and courteous throughout our stay. We were so lucky to have such a nice gentleman looking after us all. He is a credit to your Company. Thank you Craig.

Date of experience : 19 August 2022

Trip of a lifetime

I recently had the pleasure of having Derek as our coach driver on a European Classic Tour. Derek and our tour guide, Darius, were amazing and made the tour thoroughly enjoyable. The many varied requests from us tourists were always treated with respect and both Derek and Darius were very accommodating, professional and patient. Derek proved to be a very very competent driver and always put our safety first. The package was incredible value for money and I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering a classic European tour.

Date of experience : 30 May 2023

Great break to Loch Lomond

Just had a lovely 5 day break to Loch Lomond. Tony the driver was amazing and got us safely to our trip destinations. Rob Roy hotel looks old fashioned but the rooms are great and the food was delicious. Would definitely recommend 👍

Date of experience : 07 July 2023

I went on the London /Brighton trip

I went on the London /Brighton trip, arriving home tonight. The driver, Martin was very helpful, friendly & always free to chat even off the clock. Great mini break, excellent value for money & I'll definitely use Harry Shaw again.

Date of experience : 24 October 2021

Edinburgh Tattoo…

Have just returned from the Edinburgh Tattoo which was great. I must comment on our driver Mick who was so courteous and lovely, he was great throughout the trip. It was such a lovely trip and returning home via The Lake District and stopping in Bowness, Windermere for a couple of hours

Date of experience : 17 August 2022

Booked a day trip for my parents for…

Booked a day trip for my parents for mother's Day to Cotswold and bournton on the water for 21/3/23. Unfortunately my dad became unwell , I informed Harry Shaw asap first thing on the Monday morning their receptionist was not bothered in the slightest, so I sent a complaint by email , again not the slightest bit interested after several emails of complaint they still refused to refund me or rearrange for a later date !. I would definitely reconsider using this company in the future !.

Date of experience : 20 March 2023

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs

Just had a great 5 day Mon-Fri break with Harry Shaw staying at the Rob Roy Hotel. The hotel was clean and room very spacious, staff were helpful and pleasant at all times. Tony our driver was very good and very helpful. Would be happy to travel with HS again and indeed stay at the same hotel at a future date.

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Coach Holidays: 'More than a business, we're family'

• Published 19 March 2021

Lancashire coach company Alfa Leisureplex's 48 coaches have sat, unused, in the depot for months.

But managing director Emma Russell and her team have been keeping close to their customers, calling them up: "I just want to make sure they're OK," she explains. "They are so isolated. One lady I spoke to on the phone hadn't spoke to anyone else in months."

In 2019 Alfa Leisureplex took 120,000 people on holidays and daytrips; through green glens in the Scottish Highlands, down to sandy coves in Cornwall.

Now the business's Facebook group is a lifeline for those missing their holidays, as well as a gateway to happy memories. It's the first thing many check each morning.

Emma stands opposite a blustery Blackpool South Pier. Behind her, one of Alfa's 22 hotels stands empty. There's no whirr of amusement arcades, no smell of salty chips and candy floss. Even the seagulls are silent.

The regular trippers are heartbroken.

Beryl, Barbara, Ian and Kate have been travelling with the company for a decade and already have four trips booked for later this year and they cannot wait to get away again.

The convenience of coaches is a lifeline to the millions who use them who are often older, vulnerable, or living alone.

Up the road in Freckleton, Hillary travels solo, but always makes new friends. "You don't realise how much holidays mean until you can't have one."

Coach Tourism is big business. The industry employs 42,000 people, most in tiny family firms, that add £14bn a year to British tourism.

Most of Alfa's 700 staff are still furloughed, but those still working are busy.

"There is huge demand, in fact we're getting ready to take people on coach holidays who have never done it before," says Emma. "We are one of the lucky ones. But it's been so hard."

Campaigners say government support for coach holidays has been inconsistent and the industry is warning that as many as 40% of operators could go into administration, putting 24,000 jobs at risk.

In Coventry, Robert Shaw heads his family's coach holiday business, Harry Shaw, but also chairs the Coach Tourism Association: "We fall down the crack between transport and tourism and we have not been supported."

'Huge burden'

In Scotland and Northern Ireland a specific grant scheme was set up for the sector. In Wales, coach businesses have been included with travel and leisure. But in England, guidance has been unclear.

Robert Shaw says: "It's been a real lottery, council to council, as to whether the businesses have been considered as eligible."

Much of this comes down to their bricks and mortar - the businesses rates on buildings are used to calculate some grants.

But also these are companies with high costs: a luxurious new coach costs around £250,000. Most are leased. A six-month repayment holiday was in place last year. But not now.

"So long as these vehicles sit in depots not going anywhere, keeping up these financial obligations is a huge burden," explains Robert. He feels he and his members have been cast aside.

"What help we've been given has been too little, too late," he said. "I know it's not glamorous. Coach holidays are perceived as unfashionable. But we should be recognised."

'Drop in a pint glass'

The Department for Transport said: "We understand this is a challenging time for the coach industry."

It added that financial support such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Business Interruption Loan Scheme were available. "We continue to work closely with representatives from the coach sector to understand the ongoing risks and issues the sector faces and how these could be addressed."

Back in Blackpool, Emma and her colleagues have taken out £10m in loans to keep the company going. They applied to the local council for a grant but received only £10,000. "It's a drop in a pint glass," says Emma.

She knows that had her business not been in good financial health before the pandemic, it would have folded, taking 750 jobs in one of the most deprived corners of the country with it.

But Emma also wonders what would fill the void left if coach holidays vanished for passengers, too.

"We are more than just a business," she says. "We're family."

Related Topics

• Travel & leisure industry

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• Published 17 March 2021

27 th Apr, 2024

Coventry entrepreneur Harry Shaw dies aged 87

COVENTRY businessman Harry Shaw has died aged 87.

One of the city’s most famous exports, his coach company – named after himself – has for decades been used by many Coventrians.

Harry Shaw is one of the UK’s largest privately owned coach and travel businesses.

The famed entrepreneur started the family business in 1951 with a milk float and two milk churns which he delivered by the jug directly to houses in the city.

But Harry Shaw’s coaches was formally established in the mid-1960s, purchasing his first vehicle in 1964.

The trademark sky blue coaches has transported people from across Coventry and Warwickshire on school outings, trips to the seaside and to and from Coventry City football matches.

They have transported many Coventry City sides to matches including the 1987 FA Cup winning side.

His sons Robert and John joined the business in 1981 and the 1980s saw the company grow rapidly as a coach travel agency.

Harry Shaw continues to expand and develop with new orange coaches continuing to serve residents today.

Robert said: “I am quite emotional. He was a kind, generous and loving person. And he was a brilliant businessman.

“He had tremendous vision. He could spot an opportunity everyone else had missed.

“It is an incredibly recognised name and it seems as if everyone had a specific Harry Shaw memory.

“The name makes some people think of home or childhood while some say they remember seeing Harry Shaw coaches in Paris or London.

“The one thing he would have wanted is business to carry on, and it will.”

The company’s Facebook page posted: “With great regret we must confirm that our founder Harry Shaw has passed on at the age of 87.

“Harry was a truly inspirational businessman and a proper head of family. He will be sadly missed.”

Harry Shaw’s funeral will take place at St Bartholomew’s Church, Binley, on Wednesday, November 21, from 1pm.

Donations and enquiries concerning the funeral should be made to A. Pargetter and Son Ltd, City Mews, Lamb St, Coventry CV1 4AE. Tel 024 76 223343.

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Reviews of Harry Shaw. (Travel Agency) in Coventry (Warwickshire).

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01778 342224 [email protected]

49 High Street, Maxey Peterborough, PE6 9EF

Monday - Friday 09:30-17:00

GREAT DAYS OUT

London theatre, live shows, top UK attractions, famous homes & gardens, sea, scenery, sights and shops!

COACH HOLIDAYS

99% would book again! Door2Door travel & creative itineraries.

Top quality vehicles, friendly drivers, competitive prices.

100+ ideas for your next adventure...

Great days out from £22.50.

Shows, events, famous homes & gardens, top attractions, sea, scenery, sights, shops! Over 35 local pick up points.

Coach Holidays from £450

99% would book again! Top-rated drivers & creative itineraries packed full of inclusions!

Trusted Coach Hire

Professional, experienced drivers. Modern, clean coaches. Free planning & booking service.

Azalea Mania

Stody Lodge + Cream Tea

Suffolk Cruise

Lunch + Cream Tea

Starlight Express

New for 2024

Extra Great Days Out Released

You won't find these in our brochure... Our 2024 Great Days Out have just got even greater!

English Tourism Week 2024

Find out why 33% are more likely to holiday in the UK and the top activity for early 2024 is confirmed as 'trying local food and drink'. Sounds tempting...

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

You asked, we provided! 2024 is now on sale and expected to sell fast! Book early to secure your preferred date for our annual festive extravaganza! You won't find this in our new brochure.

You send us the best messages

"Everything was perfect - the trip down and the service at the venue was first class" Afternoon Tea with Elvis, Mar '24

"A superb show, possibly the best yet, and perfect seats! Thank you so much for a brilliant service!" Cirque du Soleil Alegria, Feb '24

"You must be very proud, every trip we have been on is the best" Cruising into Christmas, Dec '23

"A lovely day out yesterday - as always, well planned, and excellent service all day. The boat trip was very enjoyable, and the afternoon tea was exceptional." Lee Valley Cruise, Oct 23

"We had a great time, made even better seeing Les driving us. As always he was great, thank you so much." Windsor day trip, Sep 23

"The coach party got on really well and everyone appeared to mingle happily, especially in the bar before and after dinner!! It is always nice to see familiar faces and also to make new acquaintances on our Shaws holidays." Ayrshire holiday, Aug 23

"Thank you for a wonderful trip to Suffolk yesterday. Carl’s driving, as always, spot on and very safe. What can I say about Jan the guide. She was excellent, never had one so good." Suffolk Lunch Tour, July 2023

"I just want to say thank you to him (Graham) for being so kind, professional and caring, to all." Cotswolds day trip, Jul 23

"All (outings) were brilliant, well balance and informative. In 20 years with Shaws, this was the best overall yet." Lake District holiday, June 2023

"Graham was lovely and as always made us feel completely at ease throughout our trip" Litchfield day trip, May 2023

Meet Ian Pearson - our Group Sales Manager

Ian has been with the company since 1990, after moving to Coventry from his native North East.  He hs worked in the holiday industry since leaving school, and enjoys the diversity that it offers, along with the people that he has met and dealt with over the years.  Ian is keen to develop our growing Group Travel business, and always welcomes the opportunity to discuss and meet Group Organisers, to offer advice and assistance in putting together either bespoke or pre-packaged tours either by coach, air or rail.

Over the years we have developed and nurtured a strong and loyal working relationship with many large organisations such as Rotary, the Federation of Women's Institutes, Probus, U3A's, schools and colleges, large companies' sports & social clubs, CIU Clubs, as well as many individual Group Organisers who enjoy providing group tours on behalf of their colleagues, family and friends.

Please take a look at a selection of the Testimonials to see what some of our Group Organisers have had to say about their experiences.

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Want to know more? Just pop in your details below and we'll be in touch very soon.

City Cruiser Holidays Ltd (T/A Harry Shaw Group Travel) Mill House Mill Lane Binley Coventry CV3 2DU

Tel: 024 7660 8443

Harry Shaw Environmentally Friendly Coach Hire

It has been 25 years since the ‘Euro 1′ standard required the fitting of catalytic converters to petrol cars, reducing the levels of carbon monoxide being released into the environment. Euro 6 is the latest in this series of standards and seeks to reduce pollutants such as hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter as well as carbon monoxide.

Harry Shaw has committed to operating the most environmentally friendly coaches available in Europe, all of our fleet is euro 6, the highest standard possible in Europe. When comparing coach hire prices please remember to ask what age the coaches are, any coach registered before 2015 is not Euro 6.

Harry Shaw Clients

• Coventry Building Society
• Jaguar Cars
• Coventry City FC
• Network Rail
• Coventry University
• Warwick University

Harry Shaw Coaches

• All of our coaches come with seat belts as standard

70 Seater – Weekends only

This vehicle moves people quickly, efficiently and safely. It can save hiring 2 coaches.

• Air conditioning
• Climate control
• Most energy efficient people mover

53 Seat Executive

53 reclining seats, climate-controlled air conditioning, W/C.

• Reclining Luxury Seats

Coach Tourism Association Chair Robert Shaw: ‘Let’s step up’

Robert Shaw became Chair of the Coach Tourism Association (CTA) in December 2020 . At that point, the sector was approaching the end of its worst year in memory. The key summer season had been almost wiped out by COVID-19.

But while Robert sees a lot of work ahead to return coach tourism to a strong position, he also sees opportunity. That can be best leveraged through work with colleagues and peers, he says. CTA is a key part of that. It brings together like-minded operators and suppliers alike.

Coaching has been part of Robert’s life for over 40 years. He is a Director of Coventry-based Harry Shaw, an operator that was at the forefront of the ‘shuttle’ concept to mainland Europe in the 1980s and 1990s and which has developed its coach holiday offering significantly since that market was overtaken by low-cost airlines.

The days of hundreds of coaches from across the UK sprinting to and from sunnier climes are not likely to come back, regardless of the fallout from the pandemic. Robert regards those as the industry’s heyday, something that should sometimes be looked back at fondly. But for now, the task at hand is to rebuild. And recent events show that demand is – finally – starting to return.

Coach Tourism Association: Looking forward to 2021 season

Since 22 February, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the government’s pathway toward a relaxation of restrictions in England, many operators have reported a surge of interest in coach holidays.

Even speaking before that date, Robert believed that the domestic season was likely to begin in May. Subject to Westminster’s timeframe staying constant, that now looks to be an accurate prediction.

But he adds to that by suggesting that 2021’s peak will extend beyond the traditional end of season.

“I am convinced that we are in for a good year of domestic tourism. But the season will be different, and it will be later than is usual.”

However, Robert cautions against expectations that an unlimited supply of hotel beds will be available to coach passengers if 2021 does go with a bang. It is quite likely there will not; some hotels are unable to accept coaches, and with the UK’s exit from the EU now complete, it remains to be seen whether there is a shortage of seasonal labour.

Frustrations were raised during the summer period of relaxation in 2020 about some attractions being unwilling to accept groups. While the planned date in England of 21 June for all restrictions to be removed has been welcomed, it is in theory possible that curbs could return later.

That poses a difficulty for operators and tour planners. Robert’s advice is to push ahead and cross any bridges when they present themselves. Indeed, such an approach is not new to the coach tourism industry. “A lot of what we do already is speculative,” he says. “Advertise, put things in brochures but include a disclaimer. Then approach attractions when you have bookings in the bag.”

Concentrate on the now – but also on the future

If 2021 proves to be a strong year for domestic coach tourism, it will bring overdue respite to a sector that has been hammered by the pandemic. But while completing plans for 2021, one eye should also be kept on a longer game, Robert says.

“Before COVID-19, domestic coach holidays were not an ideal choice for some people. In certain sectors of society there was almost a stigma attached to them. It was not the most fashionable thing to do.

“But we now have an opportunity – and a challenge. We must provide the best holidays possible and encourage repeat business. We have to step up to the mark with our coaches, hotels and service.

“The coming year will also represent a unique chance to win back some customers from cruises. As an industry, we lost a significant number of passengers to cruising. They are out there now, and they are looking for holidays.”

Constant improvement for coach tourism to thrive, says Association

Ensuring that standards are higher than ever may not be hugely challenging, Robert continues. The coach holiday industry has long seen continual improvement. As an example, he points to the vehicles of the 1980s – many even without air-conditioning – and compares them to those of today.

While domestic coach tourism is looking positive for later in 2021, the international market is a lot less certain.

One operator in South East England has already suggested that it wants to restart day trips to Belgium and France in May. Robert suggests that it may be later when overseas travel can resume with any degree of certainty. But it will return, he says. If all goes well, that could mean that the Christmas markets programme in 2021 will be fruitful.

Something else that is likely to be a fallout from the pandemic is a greater focus from customers on financial stability.

The Specialist Leisure Group’s collapse in May 2020 “left a nasty taste in some people’s mouths,” says Robert. Harry Shaw has already found itself being questioned on its consumer protection policies. Refunds are another topic that bookers are interested in.

“The travel industry as a whole did not get itself a good reputation for refunds in 2020. If things are cancelled in 2021, I believe that customers will want to make sure that they are refunded quickly.

“As a business we always refund as promptly as we can when needed. That has to be done to maintain confidence in our sector.”

Greater interest in consumer protection when booking may represent a change to how some customer-instigated contact is handled, but Robert takes the view that communication in the reverse direction will also develop.

E-marketing and the use of social media will become more prominent as the industry seeks to attract younger travellers, while he believes that operators will publish more brochures at shorter intervals for those customers that still require a hard copy.

Driver considerations: Will those that stray return to the industry?

“Another consequence of Brexit may be that European programmes are reorganised, perhaps because a driver will not be able to spend more than 90 days of a six-month period in the EU,” Robert continues. “I don’t know if the industry has anticipated the impact of that yet.”

Drivers on a wider footing are a major consideration for coach tourism’s future. At least one operator has flagged that some drivers will by necessity have moved to other sectors during the pandemic. It is concerned that they will not return. Robert’s view is that most will come back. His larger worry surrounds attracting new staff to the industry.

“Drivers have always come and gone. Just as they may have migrated to driving vans or HGVs, I believe that many will move back to the coach holiday industry.

“I have some concerns, but to a lot of them it is a way of life that they enjoy. It is more fun that doing home deliveries in a van.

“Drivers who were perhaps getting fed up 12 months ago are now calling and asking when they can come back to work.”

Resolving the difficulty of attracting new drivers is much less clear. Robert recalls the days when Harry Shaw ran Neoplans that were futuristic for their time. Some children would aspire to drive those coaches. Things have changed a lot since, and enthusiasm among younger generations towards a career behind the wheel has evaporated.

CTA: An organisation that welcomes the whole of the sector

For the Coach Tourism Association, the pandemic has posed challenges above those that have been encountered by its members. Face-to-face engagement has long been among the Association’s strong points. That engagement has temporarily moved online, but it will return, says Robert.

“As Harry Shaw, CTA membership has provided us with a lot of contacts among coach tour operators and suppliers,” he adds. “Because we have common interests, we can share ideas and discuss challenges. That has never been more important than it is now.

“CTA has big plans for the future. I have a quote from Walt Disney that I have always reminded myself of: ‘Dream, believe, dare and do’. That sums up what we as an industry are thinking about now. Be patient, because sometimes you have to go through the worst to get to the best.”

www.coachtourismassociation.co.uk

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Coventry coach king Harry Shaw dies aged 87

His son Robert has paid tribute to his well-known father

• 12:11, 13 NOV 2018
• Updated 17:58, 13 NOV 2018

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Coventry businessman Harry Shaw has died at the age of 87.

He launched the coach company that bore his name in the 1960s and the firm has remained a household name in the city ever since.

Harry Shaw sadly passed away on Friday, November 9, with his family around him and his son Robert told CoventryLive that Harry's death had come as a "shock".

Paying tribute to his father, Robert said: "He has had a long life in business in Coventry and has many achievements.

"The one thing he always wanted to do was to help people.

"He has been in business since the 1950s and bought his first coach in 1964 and has been a big business figure for a long, long time.

"It's very sad for us personally and as a business."

Funeral details

The funeral of Harry Shaw will take place at St Bartholomew's Church, in Binley, on Wednesday, November 21, from 1pm.

The family have requested no flowers, with any donations to be made to Asthma UK via A. Pargetter & Son Ltd, Funeral Directors, City Mews, Lamb Street, Coventry, CV1 4AE.

Donations can also be made by calling 024 7622 3343.

The company

The firm was originally started by Harry Shaw in 1951 offering a milk delivery service.

Mr Shaw got the ball rolling with a milk float and two milk churns.

In the post-war era milk was not delivered in bottles and Mr Shaw delivered it by the jug direct to people’s homes.

He then imported milk vending machines from the US which were installed in Coventry’s busy car factories.

Mr Shaw then moved into road haulage before buying his first coach in 1964. This led to bases and offices in Coventry, Bedworth and Rugby.

The firm’s reputation blossomed due to the fact it replaced its vehicles - which were appropriately painted sky blue - every 12 months.

Mr Shaw’s sons Robert and John joined the firm in 1981, a decade that saw the rapid growth of its travel business as they began coach tours to Mediterranean resorts.

In 2016 the company closed it shop in the city centre - in City Arcade - with business now being done solely from its base in Binley.

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