History of Greys

After a brief flirtation with minibuses in the mid seventies, Greys Coach Travel sprang into life in 1979. Ray and Sylvia Goodall owned and ran a shop called Record News. Based in College Street you could buy anything from records and cards to newspapers and toys.   At the end of 1979 they decided to run their first excursion to see Don Williams in Brighton. Ray and Sylvia then began their own day excursion programme, mostly one off concerts, sold from the shop in College Street.   In September 1982 it was all change with the shop in College Street being sold and new premises being built in Stable Lane. Record News occupied the main building (our present site) and Greys Coach Travel had a small office next door (now the Folly Tree Café kitchen!).   In 1983 the first weekend break was organised to the Blackpool Illuminations, and in 1987 the first continental holiday to Opatija in the old Yugoslavia.   A familiar sight around Petersfield from 1986 was the new Greys coach driven by Ray.   In 2001 Ray and Sylvia decided to retire and Jamie Munro approached them with a view to taking over the business. So the 1st of January 2002 saw a new era begin for Greys Coach Travel, operating from the old Record News shop in Stable Lane.   March 2003 saw another company formed, Munro and Farrell Ltd, a partnership between Jamie and Ray Farrell. A coach was then purchased, with the Greys livery, and a whole new chapter began.   Always looking for different and exciting destinations Ray and Jamie really pushed the boat out in 2005 when they drove to Russia! A wonderful adventure that we are keen to repeat in 2008.   The number of day excursions and holiday’s has steadily grown and a full time driver, Brian Jones, joined the Greys gang in March 2006. May 2007 saw the first coach traded in for a new vehicle and the following year (2008) saw a second vehicle bought.   Greys are continuing to operate many varied day excursions, holiday’s and private hire work so why not come along and become a part of our history!