Buddens Coaches founder dies aged 93

Peter Budden, who set up and ran Buddens Coaches until ill health forced him to take a back seat.

Mr Budden was born in West Tytherley shop, which his father Albert ran along with the Post Office and bakery.

He delivered bread and groceries in the village as a boy, worked in the shop and bakery and assisted with the carriers and bus service.

He served in the RAF during the war and sailed to Africa and the Suez Canal. He was demobbed in September 1945 and set up a coach business with the four buses his family owned.

The firm soon expanded, operating transport for soldiers based in the south who were from Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester and wanted to go home when they had 48-hour passes.

The business was so successful, Mr Budden had to hire additional vehicles and drivers to meet demand. Once Lockerley Army Camp closed in 1958, he secured contracts with Hampshire County Council transporting schoolchildren, as well as running passenger coaches to the seaside.

A bout of ill health in the 1970s forced him to take a step back from the business and his son Simon took over. Buddens Coaches continued to thrive and Mr Budden continued to take a lively interest in the business.

His daughter Judith MacRowan said: “He was a shrewd businessman who accomplished a great deal during his life. From an early age he was driven by an ambition to improve and enlarge the family business.

“He was blessed with amazing powers of persuasion and, at his behest, you could find yourself doing all manner of things you’d no idea you wanted to do.”

Mr Budden enjoyed travelling and had a keen interest in sport, supporting Southampton FC, as well as enjoying boxing and snooker.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years Evelyn, children Ted, Simon, Mark and Judith, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

The funeral was held at St Peter’s Church in West Tytherley on February 4 and donations were made to Cancer Research UK and The Alzheimer’s Society.