User:Mhockey/bbg

British bus industry in the years following privatisation. It was acquired by the Cowie Group (now Arriva) in August 1996.

Origins
The group can be traced back to 1987, when a Salisbury based businessman and chairman of Salisbury City Football Club, Ray McEnhill, set up a company called Drawlane to enter the bus and coach market. Its first acquisition was Shamrock & Rambler, a Bournemouth coach company. Later in 1987 it bought Midland Red North, and two more, North West Road Car and London Country South West (rebranded London & Country), in 1988.

McEnhill brought in more private investors, and expansion continued. London & Country began tendering for London Regional Transport routes, and more acquisitions followed: Crosville and Midland Fox in 1989 and the Guildford and Woking operations of Alder Valley (rebranded Guildford and West Surrey) in 1990.

In 1991 McEnhill became chairman of the National Express Group, and Drawlane took a 25% interest in NEG.

Formation of British Bus
In 1992 British Bus plc was formed to acquire the Drawlane companies, although the interest in National Express was excluded.


 * Crosville Cymru in 1992