David Ogden Holidays celebrates 50 years as Scania Irizar arrives

David Ogden Holidays is a further coach operator to celebrate a significant anniversary in 2025 as it marks 50 years in the industry.

The St Helens business was founded by David and Joan Ogden (pictured above, left) in 1975 with a minibus. A birthday party will be held at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool on 8 and 9 December, including entertainment and accommodation.

In addition, several other special tours will operate this year upon which Mr and Mrs Ogden will travel to recognise the milestone. The operator now has 10 coaches and several smaller vehicles that are used for feeder work.

Over 300 departures from its own programme are delivered per annum by David Ogden Travel, representing around 80% of overall workload. Its brochure is compiled by Mr and Mrs Ogden’s daughter Carol.

Short breaks in Britain and Ireland dominate alongside a smaller number of trips to mainland Europe, although Mr Ogden notes that the latter tours will not return to pre-2020 volumes.

Nevertheless, part of the 50th anniversary celebrations will be a departure in August to Lake Bled in Slovenia and onwards to Austria. Mr Ogden notes how the business delivers such a ‘special’ tour each year, and for the 2026 edition, not only will he and his wife travel, but Mr Ogden expects to cover some driving.

To help celebrate the half-century, the operator recently took delivery of a Scania Irizar i6S Efficient coach. It will be used on the Slovenia and Austria departure next month and was collected by the Ogden family from Scania UK at Worksop in early July.

The new arrival is a 53-seater that is prepared for PSVAR. Fitted are a centre sunken toilet, a boiler, a fridge in the dash, twin monitors, wood-effect flooring, USB charging points, and more. It is finished in the standard Ogdens Travel red and white livery with the addition of 50^th anniversary decals.

In its earlier years, the operator favoured Leyland and then DAF coaches, but another Scania represents a continuation of the more recent choice of that marque. “In 2023 I bought a Scania Irizar i6S Efficient to see how it went – and it went well,” says Mr Ogden.

A second-hand example formerly with City Circle then followed, and while an issue with that coach developed while it was in continental Europe, Mr Ogden notes that backup was excellent.

The manufacturer’s service point at Trafford Park has supported the first two Scania coaches but the 50^th anniversary vehicle will be looked after by Haydock Commercial Vehicles, which is now owned directly by Scania. A further coach from the Swedish builder is expected to join in March 2026, Mr Ogden adds.

Scania UK Regional Account Manager Richard Austin (pictured above, right) handed over the new vehicle. He has congratulated Ogdens on the 50^th anniversary and describes the arrival as “a stunning coach.” A cherished 25-plate registration mark completes it.