Obituary – Frank Ritchie, Go Coach Hire

Frank Ritchie of Go Coach Hire, Sevenoaks sadly passed away very suddenly on 4 October 2020.

Having distinguished himself in various roles in the bus and coach industry over some 40 years, he had managed the daily operations at Go Coach Hire in Sevenoaks for the last seven years.

An Aberdonian by birth he entered the industry as a bus driver in his home city, but very soon progressed to the coach industry as a Scottish Citylink driver.

In 1987 after moving to England, Frank joined Metrobus during a period of rapid development and soon became the excursion and holiday passengers’ favourite entertainer. With his outgoing personality and amazing sense of humour he became popular at hotels, tearooms and coach stops all over the UK.

With his customer relations and HR management skills, Frank became part of the management team at Metrobus Southlands Travel in 1998.

In 2003 Frank became a partner of ‘Plan -It Travel with John’ followed by time at DJ Coaches of Gravesend until 2013 when he joined the team at Go Coach Hire Ltd with his old friend, Austin Blackburn.

A statement from Go Coach Hire said: “Frank was a real family man, with a large family whom he loved dearly, and by whom he will be sorely missed, as he will by all who knew and respected him. Frank was extremely sociable and developed a great circle of friends, all of whom will consider it a privilege to have enjoyed his special, wonderful and loyal friendship.

“The industry has lost another of its great characters who will feature in the happiest of memories and recollections for many years to come.”