About us
30 Years ago in 1994, Ray and Joan Heather established R&J Coaches.
Their fleet consisted of 2 vehicles; a DAF Jonckheere P599 and a DAF LAG Panoramic SB3000.
The company initially operated out of Ashford Town football club.
Ray had over 25 years coach driving experience all over the UK and Europe before starting R&J. He was famously known for driving round Paris without a map! His son Michael joined him in the year 1999, taking his PSV test not long after so he could drive and carry out maintenance of the vehicles. Ray and Joan took retirement in 2014, and Michael then took over the business as managing director.
Sadly, Ray passed away in 2020, but Joan still pops into the yard for a cup of tea, and we continue the family business with the same high values and family ethos Ray and Joan started 30 years ago.
Their fleet consisted of 2 vehicles; a DAF Jonckheere P599 and a DAF LAG Panoramic SB3000.
The company initially operated out of Ashford Town football club.
Ray had over 25 years coach driving experience all over the UK and Europe before starting R&J. He was famously known for driving round Paris without a map! His son Michael joined him in the year 1999, taking his PSV test not long after so he could drive and carry out maintenance of the vehicles. Ray and Joan took retirement in 2014, and Michael then took over the business as managing director.
Sadly, Ray passed away in 2020, but Joan still pops into the yard for a cup of tea, and we continue the family business with the same high values and family ethos Ray and Joan started 30 years ago.
MEET OUR TEAM
Michael
Michael joined his parent’s business straight out of school after doing his mechanical apprenticeship. He passed his PSV test at 20 years old and was soon out coach driving. A year later he drove his first European tour, and many more followed.
Gary
Gary is our operations manager who joined us in September 2016, bringing a wealth of knowledge from his previous operations experience of running over 65 vehicles. He has helped us grow from the then 9 vehicles we had, to the 22 we have today.
Dave
Dave is our workshop manager joined us in July 2022. Dave brings 20 years of knowledge and experience in the PSV maintenance and engineering industry including 11 years working in a Mercedes main dealership. Dave looks after our fleet of Mercedes at our in-house workshop.
Michael joined his parent’s business straight out of school after doing his mechanical apprenticeship. He passed his PSV test at 20 years old and was soon out coach driving. A year later he drove his first European tour, and many more followed.
Gary
Gary is our operations manager who joined us in September 2016, bringing a wealth of knowledge from his previous operations experience of running over 65 vehicles. He has helped us grow from the then 9 vehicles we had, to the 22 we have today.
Dave
Dave is our workshop manager joined us in July 2022. Dave brings 20 years of knowledge and experience in the PSV maintenance and engineering industry including 11 years working in a Mercedes main dealership. Dave looks after our fleet of Mercedes at our in-house workshop.
Grahame
The voice at the end of the phone, Grahame joined the business in 2012 working alongside Michael and Gary in the office. Grahame is a vital cog of our day-to-day runnings.
Winston
Our office dog, he enjoys his day laying in the front of the heater in the office after a walk and greeting all the staff with a very loud bark! He sometimes can be heard in the office background during a phone call.
The voice at the end of the phone, Grahame joined the business in 2012 working alongside Michael and Gary in the office. Grahame is a vital cog of our day-to-day runnings.
Winston
Our office dog, he enjoys his day laying in the front of the heater in the office after a walk and greeting all the staff with a very loud bark! He sometimes can be heard in the office background during a phone call.
