Our Story
The History of Maynes Coaches from 1947 to 2023
A Legacy: Seven Decades of Success
Today, the distinctive livery of Maynes can be seen hard at work, both in the United Kingdom and abroad, many miles beyond their home base at Buckie. The company beginnings however were considerably more localised and at a somewhat slower pace.
The coach operating business was established by James Mayne in 1947 following two years’ operating a local taxi, car and limousine hire business. For prestige occasions the fleet included a Rolls Royce. Having assessed there was sufficient local demand to justify expanding into the coach business the first coach was purchased in 1947. This was a 29 seat Duple bodied Bedford OB, purchased from Nobles Tours of Aberdeen. Initially the business operated from premises at 6 West Cathcart Street (now used by the Millbank Garage as stores) but following the purchase of the former Miller’s bus garage, was transferred to the neighbouring Cluny Lane premises and yard. At the time of purchase the garage and yard was used by Alexanders who continued to rent and share the premises until around the mid-fifties when Alexanders new purpose-built facilities were opened at 26 East Cathcart Street.
Expansion
The decision to expand proved to be so successful that a second coach was quickly acquired. The backbone of the coach business was dominated by private hires. Typically this included work from the local fishing communities along the Moray coast, football supporters to Buckle Thistle’s away matches, local church groups and local school and Sunday school outings. Although the car hire, taxis and car repairs were to continue, they were not to be subject of further expansion.
During the fifties and sixties the coach fleet was slowly but steadily expanded to four or five vehicles following the award of school contracts from Banff County Council’s education department. Smaller capacity mini coaches were also introduced to cater for an increasing private hire market. Apart from a couple of minibuses all other vehicles were purchased second-hand. Usually three to four-year-old vehicles were acquired and would be kept on average for around three years. Apart from the occasional Leyland the fleet comprised of Bedfords and Fords.
Despite concentrating on private hire and contract work a number of road service licences were granted during the late fifties and early sixties. These were mainly express type services for fisherman travelling from Buckle to Ullapool, Lochinver and Gairloch, where the local fishing fleet would be based for the season. Unusually, a road service licence was granted in 1963 which allowed tours and excursions to be operated from Lochinver. This licence was however relinquished in 1966.
With the death of the original founder in 1966 the business was managed by his son “Donnie”, who continued to expand the fleet in line with an increasing workload. Following the opening of a new lamp manufacturing factory on the outskirts of Buckie a number of new local services were introduced in 1967. These “workers express services” operated from Buckpool and Portessie to the AEI bulb factory at Marchmont Road and continued to operate until the factory closed in 1987. Prior to the closure of the factory a new warehouse was built on a site next to the original factory, with both premises linked by a narrow connecting passage. The significance of the new building for Maynes would not become apparent until 1993!
Era of Change
1972 was a milestone and turning point for the company when the first new full-size coach was purchased. Delivered in the spring of 1972 MSE 10K was a 45 seat Plaxton bodied Bedford, which was acquired for the first foreign private hire which took pupils from Buckle High School to Belgium. Although secondhand vehicles continued to be purchased it became policy to purchase at least one new coach every year. Bodywork by Scarborough based Plaxton or Blackpool based Duple was the order of the day for both new and used coaches although second-hand Caetano and VanHool bodied Bedfords were acquired in 1976 and 1985.
Whilst the market for contract and hire work was always well contested, the provision of quality vehicles and service saw an increased demand for long distance national and international private hires, with a client base out with the traditional local area being established.
1982 however saw the current proprietor, Gordon Mayne, thrown in at the deep end following the sudden death of his father. He continued with the policy of regularly buying new vehicles to match customer demands and over the next few years expanded the fleet even further. New coaches continued to be Bedfords, the majority of which were fitted with Plaxton coachwork. New smaller sized vehicles were also to a higher specification, fitted with luxury coach seats rather than the standard minibus type seats.
Traditionally a number of second-hand coaches were acquired during the spring to cover the extra summer workload of tours and picnics. Whilst most of these acquisitions would receive the standard blue and white livery some would operate in their previous owner’s colour schemes before being resold at the end of the season.
Fleet Changes
By 1987 Bedford and Ford had both ceased manufacturing bus and coach chassis, leaving the market to the heavyweight builders such as Leyland, DAF, Volvo and Scania. Although manufacturing excellent products these were considerably more expensive than Bedfords. Dennis, whose name was synonymous with fire engines and refuse vehicles, had ceased bus chassis manufacture during the fifties. Recognising a demand for a non-heavyweight chassis they re-entered the bus market with a new medium weight “Javelin” chassis. From 1988 to 1999 Maynes would acquire 31 new Dennis Javelin coaches, with coachwork by Duple, Plaxton and Berkhof. As is normal practice new vehicles are kept for around two to three years.
Smaller capacity vehicles were also regularly replaced, with the emphasis on coach-derived vehicles rather than van derived minibus conversions. Typical of recent deliveries were Auto bus Classique bodied Mercedes Benz 814D’s and the well-appointed Caetano bodied Toyota’s. The most unusual purchase during that period was a vintage Duple bodied Bedford OB coach identical to the first vehicle purchased in 1947. The vehicle has been fully restored and is available for private hire services.
Attention has also given to the registration number of all new vehicles. During the seventies and eighties new vehicles usually carried the Banffshire “SE” mark with double or triple numbers such as LSE 444P, VSE 66X, A999B5E etc. During the nineties however the “SE” mark gave way to such numbers as H1O BCK and J20 BCK (BCK being the registration on the local fishing fleet), J20 DJM and P500 GSM (both representing family names).
On The Move
During 1992, with a fleet of around twenty vehicles, it became apparent that the Cluny Lane premises were totally inadequate. Around this time the “For Sale” signs were erected on the former Alexanders garage in East Cathcart Street which had been put on the market by Stagecoach who were considering a move to a new yard on the Marchmont Industrial Estate. Despite discussions with Stagecoach on the possibility of sharing the garage facilities it was decided to remain at Cluny Lane. The East Cathcart garage has since been demolished and replaced with a supermarket. In 1993 however the former lamp factory warehouse became available and following formal acquisition of the site the business was transferred to the spacious depot towards the end of 1993. The original Cluny Lane garage is still owned and is occasionally used for storing delicensed vehicles.
Travel The Mayne Way
To enhance the professional approach of the company in the 1990s all drivers were trained to the Bus and Coach NVQ standard. Maynes coaches were a pioneer of this scheme in Scotland and continued to train staff within the scheme till its demise. All drivers were kept up to date and issued with new style uniforms. The company also encouraged driver pride with all drivers, were wherever possible, allocated their own coach. During 1995 the company was also awarded the ISO9002 status in recognition of the standards of quality management and in meeting customer requirements
The type of work operated by the company in the 1990s ranged from regular school and works contracts to complete European tour packages, which were tailored to include hotel accommodation and ferry travel for the specific requirements of the customer.
Although remaining a privately owned family run business the company had over the last fifty years, been transformed from a one vehicle business to a modern fleet of 25 coaches, this in turn had generated employment in the mid-1990s for over 30 members of staff. Given the increased dependence of the motor car and the general decline in bus usage the achievement is all the more remarkable,
Maynes coaches had set a standard which was envied by many within the coach industry, these standards reflects the hard work and dedication of all involved in the company since it began nearly fifty years ago. During 1997 Maynes Coaches held an open day to the public. The company invited vintage coaches from the north of Scotland to join the 1947 Bedford ob at the Buckie depot.
Around 500 people from Moray and beyond came to inspect the premises, vehicles on display and to meet the staff and family members from Maynes Coaches. 1998 brought to the fleet one coach to the company that will be remembered by locals and passengers from all over the world. She was given the name flipper by local schools that entered a painting and naming competition. The paint scheme was designed by office staff and won a competition by the coach magazine CBW it was judged at the UK coach rally to be a winner returning with two trophies and of course many a turned head. During 1999 Maynes passed accreditation to the industries flagship quality scheme “Coach Marque” being the first and for a long-time only member to pass the audit programme in Scotland. The fleet profile continued to change mainly to Volvo and Scania coaches with Dennis coaches in the minority with the work now undertaken requiring a stronger workhorse.
Travelling Through The New Millennium
The year 2000 brought to Maynes for the first time Bova DAFs. The fleet now increased in size to 27 coaches one of which brought the top Scottish Coach award back to Buckie from the UK coach rally. The company now was becoming more involved with the touring market. Coaches were picking up in all areas of the UK to undertake UK and European tours with incoming tours becoming a very important part of the Maynes business. During 2001 Maynes were invited to join the Guild British Coach Operators. After passing the audit Maynes were proud to become their first member north of the border. 2002 brought with it a winning year. In April Kevin Mayne came a close second in the coach driver of the year competition in Brighton bringing back to Buckie with him the top Scottish coach and top Berkhof awards as well as the Alec head trophy for the runner up to coach driver of the year. Later the same year Maynes Coaches came first in the CBW coach operator awards held in Birmingham. It was attended by the Mayne family with the company coming very close to winning the best of British overall award that evening. Throughout these years the fleet stayed at near 30 coaches mainly now Volvo VanHool and Bovas with the small coaches all now Mercedes Benz. All coaches carrying the new company standard family member initials on number plates with the likes of KM03GSM, HM02GSM being a common sight on the nation’s roads.
Acquisitions
During 2003 Maynes Coaches were on the lookout for a suitable premises in Elgin. Due to increasing school contracts in the area, Maynes needed to have a yard there and for a short time had been short term renting while on the look out for something more permanent. When the site at Linkwood Way came up for sale, Maynes proceeded with the planning and built the secure yard with a rest room, store and valet point now giving the company more flexibility and safer storage of the 11 coaches based in the city. 2004 came with an offer from UK based tour operator David Urquhart travel to put one coach into there livery and work for them on their tour programme. With new Bovas on order for that season, one coach was left in white and put in there livery this being a first in the company’s history. During the previous months the company had been in conversation with model company Corgi and the idea put by Corgi to design a model coach in Maynes livery. The baby Bova as it became known, was sold out UK wide within months of coming on sale, with some Buckie folk having one on their mantle piece.
To The Future
2005 brought to the company more new coaches with the distinctive livery even getting a new revamp. The fleet now had increased to 29 with it now nearly all Volvo and Mercedes Benz, coaches with 25 being under 3 years old, this bringing the company to having one of the newest coach fleets in the UK. Maynes continued working with clients from all over the world as well as the local areas. Maynes have worked to the same principals since 1947 and have always worked with their clients, not for them. The company are proud of their quality, the team behind it and of course the company’s history. Maynes have strived to maintain the standards that have kept their fleet in immaculate condition for generations and are proud of keeping the portfolio of coaches up to date and in 2006 5 new coaches joined the fleet with the most up to date technology that the clients have learned to expect. Maynes Coaches invited customers old and new to come to the Buckie depot to inspect the new additions. All who came were very impressed with the quality finish of the new vehicles and were looking forward to travelling the Mayne way in the future.
Making The Mark
During April 2006, KM06 GSM made the long way to Brighton’s UK Coach Rally returning with the Top Scottish Coach and Best Uniform awards which made the company extremely proud. During this time Maynes also sent off applications for the Route 1 Coach Operator of the Year award. In September 2006 it was announced that Maynes Coaches had become winners of the Coach Operator of the Year – 11 – 30 vehicles and finalist in the Operator Training award. Soon after the company was found to be the winner of the Best Development of People award and runner up in the Small Business category of The Highlands and Islands Business Awards. All involved with Maynes Coaches were immensely proud of these awards with many articles appearing in local and national papers.
During November Corgi again announced that it was to produce another model of a Maynes coach. One of our Vanhool coaches was selected to feature in a diorama scene and is part of a 1000 item limited edition.
60 Years In Coaching
In the beginning of 2007 Maynes took delivery of 4 new coaches from Vanhool and 2 Mercedes coaches from Esker, these additions further enhancing the Company fleet profile.
Maynes were then operating over 30 coaches of all sizes.
We held an open day when over 1500 people came from across the UK in April 2007 to our Buckie depot, the company continued to grow and expand, Orkney expansion,
During early 2006 we were contracted by Orkney Islands Council to provide transport for passengers from cruise ships. The demand for coaches there on peak days was more than what could be met locally, so we sent vehicles for the summer season 2007, Quickly, John O’Groats Ferries discovered that Maynes had an established base on Orkney. The ferry company became another customer, an arrangement that continues to the present day. Around a third of the Mayne fleet spends its summers in Orkney, where mileages covered are minimal. The Orkney work ensures that during the summer season, Maynes’ fleet is stretched as far as possible. With our workshop and maintenance facilities invested in at St Margret’s Hope, replicating a mini Buckie, we operate a tight ship over the summer months. New coaches were specifically purchased during 2009 and onwards for the expand for JOG ferries and still today new liveried coaches are invested in, that currently operated for JOG Ferries during the summer season.
The Mayne family continued to invest and grow with the expansion of the fleet and changing dynamics of purchases from Vanhool to Neoplan Tourliners, the sad loss of Director Sandra Mayne in 2011 was a hard time for the entire family, Sandra had put so much into the company over the years, Sandra often went unseen, was the back bone of Maynes and the rock of the family.
During 2013 and 2014 Maynes returned to VDL and VanHool and combination of the Futura 2 and TX that combination continued until 2017 and the company’s 70th year when a massive investment in full size coaches began toward the Mercedes brand and the Tourismo coach product, and the company began a reshaping and rebranding a new livery and into the new fresh look. This all also at a time when the company planned our 70th open day with 3500 people coming and from across the UK, a fantastic day to see vintage vehicle and stalls.
As new school contact started the 2018 the company’s licence increased to 45 and the company invested in purpose built new orders into brand new coaches for the contacts, the company continued this huge investment plan to develop a 3 stage approach, Image, Environment and Market Value, by having the fleet in our own area again and having a key strategic advantage back it was great to be back in our own area again, local market was good as well as across the UK doing what we do well.
70 Years And Counting
The company kept doing and planning our investments for new coaches and bought new Tourismo, UNVI, EVM, Neoplan and Mobipeople as the mainstay of the fleet going into the late 2010s this saw the company’s fleet say at around 45 coaches at a competitive size continuing to do UK and European touring work and private hire for our clients across the globe including our key corporate clients for the markets in our own Moray area.. our company found itself awarded UK operator of the year and continued to attend events to promote Maynes, that to be truthful was in effect a small to medium family coach operators in a small fishing town way up in the north of Scotland, as 2020 approached the world became a little weird, the bus stop came, and everyone…. wanted to get off.
2020 saw us come from looking at one of our best years ahead to the world stopping. Director Kevin Mayne became a spokesperson for the coaching industry and worked tirelessly for CPT and the wider industry, a sore point was that we lost one of our busiest clients David Urquhart Travel, that then led us to design and build from scratch Maynes Holidays and in the midst of COVID, launch our own Holidays company Maynes Holidays. We became on call for the NHS created a Vaccination bus across the north of Scotland and had response minibuses on call 24/7 for the NHS too, it was a hard time for the entire world.
Maynes Holidays launched with our first livery on our coaches and continues to seek our holidays online and via our brochure’s send to our clients doors, our selection of pick up points from Buckie to Aberdeen Inverness and Perth is advertised mainly via our STV advertising on TV. We also have a Maynes Coaches TV advert too both are used to sell our brands across the television to folk and hopefully attract new clients and people to use us. We now have 5 coaches in Maynes Livery and since 2020 in our 4th Brochure, clients can use our Maynes Holidays Website to book Maynes Connect to book concert travel, we launched it in 2018 and it’s grown to a great added extra to get folk to an event without the need to drive, to venues from Aberdeen to Glasgow Edinburgh and Inverness.
Suddenly in July 2020 and at quite a shock for the family, we lost our Managing Director, Gordon Mayne. It was a sad time for the family, the team around us and the entire industry, Gordon was the lifeblood of the company, a Boss, a Dad, a Grandad and Great Grandad, and had build the company up to be what it was today, had seen the company grow from a few coaches outside his kitchen window with Sandra and the boys, into the world known name that the folk knew, so many people knew Maynes were from Buckie, but had no idea where Buckie was, Gordons standards were imbedded into everyone that worked with Maynes and who he met in the wider industry, Gordon was well respected by the industry and the wider coach family and that respect was shown at his resting place, and across the town as he was laid to rest.
The company continues to be and has grown to be the Mayne way, that the way it has been set before us in the last 76 years, and in the last generations we have seen sadness, joy happiness, expansion and greatness, as the Covid pandemic as eased the company has slowly retuned to the new normal, we have invested in new coaches on 2021 with 4 new Neoplan Tourliners joining.
Maynes began working for the world famous brand Walkers Shortbread when the existing operator decided to return the work in 2022, this saw us receiving a large contract that also required an increase of driver pool refresh of coaches and rethink on staffing as team members on shift from 4am to 10pm working with Schools it would see Maynes change its position locally, as this important contract would require 2 shift patterns across a Mon-Fri 12 months a year scope. Definitely widened the goals for the company locally and growing the business together too.
Exploration of scope for zero-emission in the Maynes fleet is progressing, Maynes have already discussed zero-emission coaches with some clients and the Scottish Government, Late 2022 Maynes purchased adjacent land next to its Buckie depot for expansion, the project and the land expansion aligning the business model to Net Zero, was a critical step going forward. Maynes’ business on Orkney would also suit battery-electric if funding is forthcoming from the Scottish Government to assist in developing that too, Vehicles there cover around 100 miles per day.
The company continues its coach purchase programme in 2022 with 2 new Irizar I6 coaches and 2 new Mercedes Unvi midi coaches and in 2023 have an intake already already of 4 new MPVs from Mercedes 2 new Irizar I6 coaches 2 new Temsa HD12s 2 new Tourismos and have 3 new Tourismos and 3 coaches from EVM on order for later in the year. Early in 2023 we also launched our new Maynes Legacy brand….. so what’s next for Maynes?
Earning Recognition
Late 2022 we were delighted to have been awarded 2 awards at the prestigious Route One Awards which makes us immensely proud of our team. Maynes Coaches came home from the award ceremony with the Medium UK Coach Operator of the Year and Kevin Mayne won the Above and Beyond Award. The Above and Beyond category recognises the industry member who, or the business which, has gone above and beyond in working to support, promote and advocate the sector through the difficult period since March 2020. It recognises efforts directed towards both their own business and the wider industry, and the results that such work has delivered.The routeONE Awards are the most sought-after accolades for the coach industry, ‘The Oscars’ of the coach, bus and minibus industry, the routeONE Awards bring together over 800 coach and bus
professionals for a truly inspirational and entertaining ceremony.
Later 2022 Kevin Mayne attended the Business In Parliament even as Karen Adam MSP’s guest of honour. during the 2-day event Kevin was able to talk at length with a number of influential persons regarding the future of Scotland, Travel, Tourism and of course was championing the Coach Industry. The conference event was very future focused for businesses across Scotland, and Maynes Coaches will continue to be a vital part of the business community in, Moray, Speyside, Banffshire & Buchan Coast and the rest of Scotland. The event was 2 days of interaction and engagement at the Scottish Parliament Business in Parliament event. It was good to chat independently and in-depth with so many attendees MSPs and Ministers about the challenges, changing futures, and the pathways we all are forging as a business. Early 2023 We were proud to share our 2 new Mercedes Tourismo Coaches specificly ordered for Maynes Holidays and ready for their first tours. we also took further delivers of 3 new 29 seat unvi midi coaches and saw 2023 take 18 new coaches to the fleet, with 10 of them for the new Maynes legacy brand.
We have been building towards our future steps and into NetZero, Coaching is already one of the greenest ways to travel and our fleet have one of the most environmentally conscious and sustainable ways towards improving our future world. The Scottish Government have been working as a world leader in bringing the coaching industry into the forefront of future thinking and development. With research and development, case studies and companies working in collaboration with our trade body CPT. With that in mind we have one of the world’s first NetZero Fully Electric coach types with us on demo to try out here in Moray, as we built our company towards the future. We have very ambitious plans to roll these NetZero coaches out in our Moray and Orkney Depots in the next 3 years. The company then agreed to join a consortium for the Scotzeb2 fund and actively worked to bring 12 new zero emission coaches to Moray and Orkney for 2024. With land acquisition at our Buckie depot, and planning to begin, with development for next us to use Next-generation Ultra Low Emission and NetZero fleets, we also have plans for Hydrogen Coach should that become available in the future, for long distance coach work.
The first of our 6 new 2024 coaches arrived 3 Mercedes Tourismo coaches, ready for our livery and be registered for the road. with confirmed orders of 3 new neoplan tourliners soon to arrive in March this year will see a further investment to our fleet.
We added further depot plans with the planning application granted early 2024, the company began to look at the options of the expansion and develop more space in the land adjacent to the march road depot, this giving near 20 coach parking bays and more car parking spaces.
Maynes Coaches have recently become the first privately owned coach operator in Scotland to obtain the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Earned Recognition accreditation.
This significant achievement reinforces Maynes Coaches commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence in line with the company’s principles. As well as the ER Accreditation, Maynes also continued our membership of The Guild of British Coach Operators and undertook the audit module proving our longstanding commitment of upholding the Guild Standards. Maynes Coaches have been a proud member of the Guild for over 20 years. The DVSA Earned Recognition is an accreditation program designed to recognise operators who have demonstrated a consistent track record of compliance with road safety standards and regulations. The Earned Recognition accreditation strictly accepts only the elite transport operators who work to exemplary standards and as such we are extremely proud of Team Mayne for rising to these top standards.
To attain this recognition, Maynes Coaches underwent a rigorous evaluation of its fleet operations, driver performance, maintenance practices, and adherence to road safety legislation. The award continues the Mayne family’s goal of operational excellence, the company’s proactive approach to enhancing road safety, protecting the well-being of its drivers and the public, and reducing its impact on the environment. It also further enhances the company’s reputation as a reliable and responsible coach travel partner. This accomplishment proves the consistent and rigid driver safety standards we uphold as a company. It is also testament to the hard work and organisation of our driving engineering and operating staff, day in and day out. We look forward to continuing our pursuit of excellence and demonstrating why Maynes have been the name to trust in travel since 1947.
Building Our Legacy Towards The Centenary.
Jimmy Mayne had a thought in 1947 that there was a need in the Buckie area for him to expand his taxi business further. 76 years on we can only wonder what he would think of his idea now? Our office is now a modern, spacious workplace for our team, and our family, has grown to be bigger than ever.
The new additions, the awards that the company have received over so many years, the standards that the company have managed to keep over the last 76 years are what you can expect from a family owned coach operator that has set a high standard for the next generation of Maynes to sustain and although the method of how we operate may have evolved, our family values will never change.
