Obituary – Phillip Hodgson 1944 – 2025

On 13 April 2025, Phil Hodgson, Pelican Bus and Coach’s recently retired South of England Sales Manager passed away at the age of 80.

After working most of his life in the bus and coach industry, Phil joined Pelican in 2012 to manage Pelican’s short lived venture with BMC. With the demise of BMC, Phil then came up with an alternative ‘off-the-wall’ plan that involved Pelican approaching Yutong to persuade it to enter the UK market. A statement from Pelican said this idea ‘changed the 106-year history of Pelican and transformed the careers and livelihoods of so many people there as, a decade later Pelican has gone on to make Yutong a mainstream vehicle choice in every sector of the UK bus and coach market’.

“He would see the best in everyone and would always help and encourage younger, less-experienced colleagues” – Richard Crump, Managing Director at Pelican Bus and Coach 

Remembering Phil, Richard Crump, Managing Director at Pelican, said: “Phil was an amazing person that left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was a true gentleman, honest, thoughtful, kind and generous with a most graceful outward manner, always replying with his trademark ‘never better’ when asked how he was. At Pelican and beyond, he will be hugely missed every day by everyone who ever came into contact with him. He would see the best in everyone and would always help and encourage younger, less-experienced colleagues. He was a true friend to me and so many other people and his loss leaves a huge gap in our lives. On behalf of everyone at Pelican, our thoughts are with his wife Diane, his daughters Leanne and Philippa and the rest of his family and friends. Phil, you will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”