The eddie brown tours Group has travelled a long way since the purchase of the first vehicle in 1949. The company began in the little Blacksmiths Shop in the pretty Yorkshire village of Helperby where Eddie and the late Gwen Brown began their ‘Quality Coach Operation’. The company is now run by the second generation of the ‘Browns’ – their daughter Deirdre and co – director Philip along with Eddie’s caring encouragement. The ‘Quality’ aspect – customer care and total satisfaction - for coach hire, excursions and holidays is still their main goal. This also applies to the highest vehicle standards, professional drivers and knowledgeable office staff who are always helpful and serve all with their famous ‘Northern Smiles’.

1949 – From the first 20 seater Commer purchased at a cost of £200, the company grew steadily, with a core business based on school contracts and private hire work for local societies, works and social groups.

1950’s – Company business grew steadily as a range of excursions and holidays were introduced offering destinations from the coast to the countryside.

1980’s – The expansion of pick up point areas to include the city of York and its surrounding villages helped to increase company business. A network of over 26 local agents in shops and post offices was also established, many of which are still agents for us today. At this time, the company fleet had expanded and was now operating 14 vehicles.

1985 – This year saw the purchase of the first brand new full executive coach at a cost of £62,000 marking the company’s commitment to passenger safety and comfort.

1990 – A new venture was undertaken with the purchase of Yorktour, a local Handling Agent in York which increased the company’s operation in the Corporate Hospitality sector along with offering guide services in over 8 different languages to both individuals and groups. This year also saw the opening of our Travel Shop in York city centre in the shadows of Clifford’s Tower. Set in the heart of this historic city, the Travel Shop sold holidays and excursions as well as a full range of sightseeing tours for the many thousands of tourists who visit York each year.

1991 – A new generation took the wheel with Eddie's daughter Deirdre and Philip Brown becoming Co–Directors, managing the Tour and Operations aspects of the business respectively.

1995/6 – A major achievement with the Coach Industry Award for ‘Coach Driver of the Year’ followed by UK Coach Rally Award Driver of the Year in 1997.

1999 - A year for celebration with the company’s 50th Anniversary and the commissioning of a special livery for one of our executive coaches at a cost of £180,000 to mark the event.

1999/2000 – Further recognition for the company in the annual and highly prestigious Coach Industry Awards as a ‘Coach Operator of the Year’ Finalist.

2000 – The Millennium year brought fresh ideas and business with the take-over of another of North Yorkshire’s most prominent coach companies - Wrays of Harrogate. This prestigious family run Operator worked closely with eddie brown tours for many years in the running of European Tours. With the two businesses joined together, the company now operated a fleet of more than 50 quality coaches from its 3 regional bases and the eddie brown tours Group offered an enviable and comprehensive service to passengers throughout Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Both eddie brown tours and Wrays of Harrogate have been proud finalists in the ‘Coach Operator of the Year’ Awards. This year also saw the company rewarded with the Investors In People Laurels and it is our aim to maintain this achievement in future years.

2001 – We were delighted to receive a Silver Award for ‘Coach Operator of the Year’.

2002 – A major investment in our future with the purchase of 2 brand new executive coaches, at a cost of almost £500,000, to maintain and improve on the quality of our coach holidays. Our ‘Easy Legs’ coaches were introduced with a reduced seating capacity of just 42 seats and a number of passengers enjoyed this extra legroom and comfort on a variety of UK & European holidays during the second half of the year. The 2003 holiday brochure saw the official launch of our new coaches with a range of ‘Easy Legs’ departures.

2003 – Another landmark year! The fulfilment of a long held ambition to move our Head Office to larger premises, bringing our vehicle fleet and operational/sales staff together. From early May, Boroughbridge became home to our new Head Office with Directors, Operations department, Sales team and Engineering staff working ‘side by side’. The move ensures the continued smooth operation of our Wrays of Harrogate and eddie brown tours coach fleet as well as hundreds of holidays, excursions, private hires and group holidays arranged by us each year. In November, another 'Big Move' saw the re-location of our York and Harrogate Travel Shops to a new Travel Centre at our Head Office site. All our friendly travel clerks made the move to bring the whole company under one roof. The Travel Centre was 'christened' with our 2004 brochure launch which saw almost 1000 of our valued clients visiting Boroughbridge to collect their new brochure and book holidays. We were also proud to be re-awarded our 'Investors in People' laurels, a mark of the company's continued commitment to staff welfare and training.

2004 - A great response to our 2004 holiday brochure and new style colour brochure for Excursions marked by an increase in passenger bookings for the year. During a busy summer with fully booked tours travelling throughout the UK and across Europe, a new style holiday brochure for 2005 was prepared with many new and updated holidays launched in November at our popular 'Big Event' at Head Office - our 3 day promotion saw over 1000 clients visit us and enjoy lunch, refreshments, slide shows and much more - how will we better it in 2005?!

2005 - A busy start to a celebratory year saw another increase in bookings and a great response to our holiday brochure. Early summer saw the arrival of the latest additions to our luxury vehicle fleet with the purchase of 2 brand new 49 seaters from Plaxtons. Meanwhile, everyone at Eddie Brown Tours Group celebrated a very special occasion in May - Eddie's 80th! The birthday boy enjoyed 2 wonderful party's hosted by his daughter Deirdre and a number of loyal customers and many old friends of the family were there to enjoy the celebrations.

2006 - As well as expanding our range of great value excursion destinations and luxury coach holidays, 2 new services were introduced to our private hire department. Spring saw the purchase of a VIP class coach with tables, reduced capacity seating, flip-down TV screens and on board kitchen area. With its stunning maroon and gold livery, this coach was an instant success with corporate clients and was quickly under contract to professional rugby teams from Bradford and Hull for match transport.

Following a busy summer, this coach was upgraded to a newer Mercedes Touro vehicle with a luxurious leather interior and eye-catching charcoal and silver livery. Wedding and special occasion transport became increasingly popular and in response, one of our newer vehicles underwent a transformation with a stunning new livery of balloons and popping champagne bottles to become our ‘Celebration’ coach. In addition to exhibiting at a number of Bridal Fayres throughout the year, this coach has already been used by wedding parties both near and far – the perfect way to ensure your guests arrive in style!

2007 - Due to the increase in work for our VIP class coach, a second vehicle was purchased early in the year with matching livery to provide additional capacity for our extra sports team contracts. The VIP coaches have also been used on a number of private group tours and have proved to be very popular with clients both on UK and European holidays.

For over 50 years, our company policy has remained unchanged ‘If a job is worth doing, do it well or not at all.’