THE man responsible for making his surname one of the region’s most recognisable has died following a short illness.

Frank Applegate, who developed the coach company which has transported generations of children to and from school and tourists around the continent, has been praised as a “loving” and “selfless” man who would do everything he could to help people when they most needed it.

Born in Sea Mills, Bristol in 1934, Frank and his family was evacuated to Bevington during the Second World War after two bombs hit their house.
There they took on the tenancy of The Crown at Bevington – nicknamed The Ramping Cat – while Frank finished his education at Berkeley Senior School.

While at the school Frank met Beryl who would become his wife when they married in Stone in August 1957.

After 18 months as a painter and decorator and five years in the RAF, Frank began what would become a lifelong career in the coach business working as a driver for Stumps Coaches in Berkeley.

It was during a period working for Bevis’ Coaches in Bussage – where he cycled to and from each day from his Thornbury home – that Frank decided he wanted to form his own coach company.

He approached owner Brian Bevis with his idea who offered him one of his older vehicles in exchange for Frank doing unpaid 16-day tours in Ireland and Scotland in 1967.

Fifty years on and the Applegates fleet has now grown to 15 coaches based at the company’s headquarters on the A38 near Berkeley.

He didn’t step back from his 24-hour role with the company until two years ago when the company was sold. and even then kept a close eye on it.

“While he always had his business hat on he would do absolutely anything for anyone,” his eldest daughter Karen Reece told the Gazette.

“He was a loving and selfless man who so many people miss.”
He died after a short illness with his family at his side.

Frank is survived by his wife, three daughters Karen Reece, Sandra Gillison and Michele Harris, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

His funeral will take place at All Saints Church in Stone on Tuesday at 11.30am.