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rHE popularity of tours operated by the associated coach operators, Stanley Spencer's Tours (Mantester) Ltd. and Happiway Holidays Ld., is largely attributed to the choice alternative touring programmes, and e regular renewal of the companies' oiling stock. Jointly, the two organiza-. runs operate 21 vehicles of their own, further 21 coaches being hired each tar to give an operating fleet of 42. Three of the companies' coaches are I-seat Leyland Leopards with Duple !pine 36-ft. Continental coachwork. he remaining company vehicles are 1-seaters, comprising Ford Thames, edford and Albion chassis with Duple 'eoman, Bella Vega and Firefly coach odies respectively. Both companies' !hides are in a silver and blue livery. he progressive fleet replacement means sat vehicles in active service are rarely tore than two years old, a fact very much ppreeiated by the passengers who often tke the trouble to write to the cornanies commenting on this fact. The trger vehicles are operated on tours 'here the extra length and width do not reserl any difficulties, Bournemouth, 4argate and Eastbourne being centres
at which they were employed during the 1963 season.
The Spencer organization was founded in Bury in 1919 and Happiway's was formed in 1921 in Oldham and Liverpool. Over the years a large number of feeder licences have been granted to carry passengers going on British and Continental" holidays, these operating from many cities and towns in Yorkshire and Cheshire, and covering almost the whole of Lancashire.
Typical of the British tours offered are the seven days in Torquay, the price ranging from £13 10s, to £18 10s., according to the time of the year the holiday is taken, or the five, sevenand nine-day Scottish tours from £15 5s. In the latter case tourists can visit Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, seeing some beautiful scenery en route. The principal places in Britain served by the two companies are the Isle of Wight, Scotland, Ilfracombe, Bournemouth, Hastings, Torquay, Newquay, Folkestone, Eastbourne, Margate, Ramsgate, Penzance, Wales and the Wye Valley, most of which have well maintained their popularity. Records show that Eastbourne and Ramsgate have increased their attraction for northerners over the past four years.
Experience indicates that the majority of people prefer a holiday at a different resort each year, says Mr. W. Cochrane., the companies' secretary, and by offerirg a wide choice between the two programmes they are able to meet individual preferences so that thousands of passengers return to them season after season. There are, of course, a certa:n number of people who for various reasons favour the same place for a
period of years before even considering a change. Overall the demand is greater for tours based on one centre, with day excursions from that centre, rather than for " progressive" tours. Reduced prices offered in connection with earlyand late-season tours have stimulated the demand in this connection in recent years, an interesting point being that quite a number of regular passengers now take an out-of-season.tour in addition to their main holiday. On five-day tours the mileage works out at an average of about 560, whereas on the Scottish nine-day tours this figure rises to something like 1,100.
The companies encourage drivers to enter coach rallies at the resort from which they operate when it is convenient, and on the two occasions when entries have been made in the Paignton Coach Rally, double successes have been scored. In the first case the premier prize went to a Happiway coach and the second to a Spencer vehicle. On the second entry last year the positions were reversed, Spencer's winning the cup and Happiway's being runner-up. On these occasions the tourists invariably enter into the spirit of the competition and enthusiastic but friendly rivalry is engendered between the parties. Passenger interest in this rally is rapidly becoming one of the features of the group's Torquay tours.
Mr. E. Holden, managing director of both organizations, told me that 10 years ago their popular Continental coach tours were mainly to Switzerland and San Remo, but there has been a marked change since then with the innovation of
coach-air tours, Spain emerging at t head with Italy and Austria very dc behind. However, Continental coachholidays, involving a certain amount progression prior to arrival at the eenti are extremely popular. At the prese time coaches are hired on the Contine] but this may well change in the futu if and when the restrictions imposed I foreign governments are removed.
The companies' coaches are taken o of service in the winter and are not usi for private hire work, but a ful equipped garage with experienced mai tenance staff ensures that the vehicles a kept in perfect condition exclusively f the touring season. A certain numb of the driving staff are kept on durii the winter, but at this period they a mainly on servicing work. M.P.