History
The company's founder Norman Frost bought a Crossley lorry from the War Department in 1921. A second Crossley with charabanc bodywork was purchased the following year. A Dickens bus body was fitted to the chassis of the original vehicle in 1924. Felix settled down to operate the Derby to Ilkeston via Chaddesden, Stanley and West Hallam route which remains their core service to this day. At about this time, Mr. Frost was asked to name one of his vehicles. He made his choice using a popular song of the day, "Felix Kept On Walking" as inspiration.
The vehicles were originally based on New Street in Stanley, where Mr. Frost's parents lived. In 1937, a house and garage were built on Station Road, and are still the base of the firm today.
Norman Frost owned the company until his death in 1975. It then passed to his nephew, Geoffrey Middup.
In early 2009, "Felix the Cat Creations Inc.", a large United States company, approached Felix and claimed it owned copyright for images of cats used next to the Felix name. While it provided no evidence, Felix decided they couldn't afford to fight any court case, so as a result all cat images were removed from every aspect of the company.
In December 2011 it was announced that the bus operations (Black Cat, (Ilkeston Hospital-Ilkeston-West Hallam-Stanley-Chaddesden-Derby)and the Ilkeston Flyer (Ilkeston-Derby, limited stop)) would be sold to Midland General, a subsidiary company of Wellglade, the owners of TrentBarton, who also operate a Black Cat between Ilkeston and Derby, and the other two Ilkeston Flyer departures earch hour. This transfer took place on 29 January 2012, the bus services then operating from Trent's Meadow Road garage in Derby, as a separate unit.
The coach holidays and day excursions are now operated under the Felix name by Swiftsure Coaches in Burton-on-Trent.
Felix continue to operate some school journeys into Kirk Hallam, but this is to end at the end of March, due to withdrawal of subsidies by Derbyshire County Council.
The operators licence expires at the end of April 2012, it was not renewed and operations from Stanley came to an end.
Read more about this topic: Felix Bus Services
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