The latest addition to the fleet of Henry Cooper Coaches is a Volvo B8R fitted with I-Shift gearbox and Plaxton Panther 3 bodywork. The 53 seater coach is fully PSVAR compliant and has a rear floor level mounted toilet.
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The previous VVK, a Plaxton Volvo B10M seen in Newcastle Upon Tyne on school duties. The term Scholars was used in the north east as an alternative to School Special |
The coach to previously carry the cherished 526 VVK registration was a Volvo B10M with Plaxton bodywork which I drove on a regular basis during my weekend coach driving exploits. It was always a pleasure to drive the Henry Cooper vehicles, knowing that the whole fleet were kept in tip top condition. VVK was the last vehicle to join the fleet with a conventional manual gearbox. The next vehicle to join the fleet, a Volvo Plaxton Excalibur, was fitted with a Volvo G8 gearbox and then automatic gearboxes took over for subsequent deliveries.
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| 526 VVK with Volvo Plaxton Excalibur EX 180 |
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| VVK at York railway station on rail replacement duties. At the rear is Plaxton Elite 671 MBB, a Volvo B12BT |
When the Volvo Plaxton Elite joined the fleet the vehicle was entered by Plaxton in the European Coach of the Year competition which took place in France,
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Henry Cooper and his brother started the company in the early 1920's with a Reo Speedwagon. The brothers split and Henry continued to run the company until his death in 1963. His daughter Lilly took over the running of the operation which, at the time, had two Bedford OB's and an SB.
Lilly's son Graham came into the business and, following Lilly's death, now runs it with his wife Pamela and daughter Jade.
