A chain of travel agents is celebrating 80 years in business with the addition of a new branch in St Neots.

The Hunts Post: Syd Pennell, Premier Travel coach driver of the year 1956Syd Pennell, Premier Travel coach driver of the year 1956 (Image: Archant)

A chain of travel agents is celebrating 80 years in business with the addition of a new branch in St Neots.

Premier Travel Group, which has 18 stores across East Anglia including one in Huntingdon, began in 1936, originally operating local bus services from around Cambridgeshire, it is now one the most successful travel company’s in the region.

Chairman Renford Sargent, who has been the group for over 50 years, said: “We first started with local bus services between Cambridge and the surrounding market towns before adding express bus services and coach tours to seaside resorts.”

Then as plane travel became popular the founding owners saw a chance to move from coach booking agencies to travel agencies in the 1960s when they operated holidays from Cambridge Airport to the Channel Islands.

“We then started to add America and Asia to our programme and we had a portfolio of core destinations which we will still sell today, including Australia and New Zealand, Canada and South Africa,” added Mr Sargent.

After employing staff in one branch in Cambridge, the company now employs around 240 members of staff across the group, many of whom have been with the business for more than 10 years.

“Celebrating our 80th anniversary is a fantastic achievement for the Premier Group and something we are incredibly proud of.

“We are celebrating with a series of events throughout the year and will be launching the next wave of activity shortly in the coming months.”

As a part of its celebrations the company are rejoicing after taking over ownership of Wish You Were Here Travel Agency, in High Street, St Neots.

Having held a position in the town for over 20 years, Wish You Were Here Travel Agency has built a loyal client following and an excellent reputation.

Director Paul Waters said: “The investment in a St Neots branch is a natural move forward for the company, based on the success of our established Premier Travel brand in the local area.

“Whilst maintaining the same excellent service as before, we hope to offer the existing customers of Wish You Were Here Travel a broader range of holiday options and hope to attract new customers moving forward.”

The store will continue to operate with the same team of friendly staff as before, although the branding will change to Premier Travel.