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Life of trailblazing female West Midlands coach company boss remembered with unveiling of commemorative blue plaque

A blue plaque has been presented to a long-running West Midlands coach company in honour of a powerhouse female business leader who was a driving force in the industry for 50 years.

By Beverly Rademacher
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Women in Bus & Coach in Lye presented the honorary plaque to Prospect Coaches on Wednesday February 25 in recognition of the achievements of its late managing director Ros Hadley.

Ros worked within the family business and was seen as a strong figurehead in a male dominated industry and the plaque credits her 'exceptional leadership and service' to the UK coach sector'.

Prospect Coaches in Lye where a plaque was unveiled commemorating the late Ros Hadley. L-R: Ros's son Nathan Hadley, Laura Hadzik (national chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Karen Tiley (Midlands chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Nathan's wife Claire Hadley-King and the couple's sons Tom King and Jake Hadley, with the West Bromwich Albion first team coach to the rear
Prospect Coaches in Lye where a plaque was unveiled commemorating the late Ros Hadley. L-R: Ros's son Nathan Hadley, Laura Hadzik (national chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Karen Tiley (Midlands chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Nathan's wife Claire Hadley-King and the couple's sons Tom King and Jake Hadley, with the West Bromwich Albion first team coach to the rear

It was Ros's father Geoff Watts who founded Prospect 70 years ago and in a strange twist of fate they both died in 2024 just a few months apart - Ros in June and Geoff in November.

Ros Hadley pictured with her father Geoff Watts at Prospect Coaches
The late Ros Hadley pictured with her father Geoff Watts at Prospect Coaches

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Industry representatives gathered at Prospect Coaches in Lye for the unveiling of a blue plaque in memory of the late Ros Hadley. Women in Bus and Coach presented the plaque in recognition of Ros's contribution to the industry over 50 years
Industry representatives gathered at Prospect Coaches in Lye for the unveiling of a blue plaque in memory of the late Ros Hadley. Women in Bus and Coach presented the plaque in recognition of Ros's contribution to the industry over 50 years

Today the family firm, headquartered in Lye High Street, is run by Ros’s son Nathan Hadley, MD, supported by his wife Claire and two of their sons Jake and Tom, both 20, who all work within the business.

The unveiling of the plaque, bestowed by Women in Bus and Coach, marked a “proud moment” for the family, and a chance to remember their friend and colleague from members of the bus and coach industry who worked alongside Ros throughout her career which spanned half a century.

Karen Tiley, chairperson of Women in Bus and Coach in the Midlands, manager for CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport) Midlands and South, who was good friends with Ros, described her as "one of the most passionate women in this industry".

The blue plaque installed at Prospect Coaches in Lye in memory of the late Ros Hadley. Women in Bus and Coach have bestowed the plaque in recognition of Ros's enormous contribution to the industry
The blue plaque installed at Prospect Coaches in Lye in memory of the late Ros Hadley. Women in Bus and Coach have bestowed the plaque in recognition of Ros's enormous contribution to the industry

Laura Hadzik, chairperson of Women in Bus and Coach - of which Ros was a founder member, said: “The blue plaque initiative is a national campaign to recognise women who’ve been trailblazers in the bus, coach and community transport industry. Ros was the first woman I met when I joined the sector 20 years ago. She’s been an incredible contributor to not only Prospect Coaches but the wider sector over the last 50 years.

“For her to be recognised with a blue plaque - I think it’s a really fitting tribute to her incredible career given Ros was a really big supporter of Women in Business and Coach since its inception.”

Prospect Coaches in Lye where a plaque was unveiled commemorating the late Ros Hadley. L-R: Ros's son Nathan Hadley, Laura Hadzik (national chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Karen Tiley (Midlands chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Nathan's wife Claire Hadley-King and the couple's sons Tom King and Jake Hadley, with the West Bromwich Albion first team coach to the rear
Prospect Coaches in Lye where a plaque was unveiled commemorating the late Ros Hadley. L-R: Ros's son Nathan Hadley, Laura Hadzik (national chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Karen Tiley (Midlands chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Nathan's wife Claire Hadley-King and the couple's sons Tom King and Jake Hadley, with the West Bromwich Albion first team coach to the rear

Ros’s son Nathan Hadley had the honour of unveiling the plaque onsite at Prospect Coaches’ Lye depot.

He said: “It’s a very proud moment for the family. Mom was in the business for 50 years and it was a big loss to Prospect Coaches and the industry when she passed away. To have that recognition - not just by family and friends but the wider coach industry - it’s massive for us.”

Prospect Coaches in Lye, where a plaque was unveiled in memory of the late Ros Hadley, to recognise her work as a female powerhouse in the industry. Pictured l-r - Tom King, Karen Tiley (Midlands chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Laura Hadzik (national chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Claire Hadley-King, Nathan Hadley, Jake Hadley
Prospect Coaches in Lye, where a plaque was unveiled in memory of the late Ros Hadley, to recognise her work as a female powerhouse in the industry. Pictured l-r - Tom King, Karen Tiley (Midlands chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Laura Hadzik (national chair of Women in Bus and Coach), Claire Hadley-King, Nathan Hadley, Jake Hadley

Prospect Coaches dates back 70 years to 1956 when company founder Geoff Watts bought a black cab and started Prospect Taxis from the family home and shop in Cemetery Road, Lye, Stourbridge. In 1964 a coach was purchased and this led to the formation of Prospect Coaches.

On its journey to success the company went through a series of acquisitions bringing many local companies into the fold.

On January 1 1974 Hayes coaches was acquired and Prospect Coaches began operating from its current site in Lye. This was also the day Geoff’s daughter Ros started working within the business.

Following the sad deaths of father and daughter in 2024, third generation family member Nathan Hadley - Ros’s son - has been steering forward the business which employs around 60 staff in Lye and nearly 100 at its relatively new Birmingham depot.

Nathan Hadley, MD at Prospect Coaches in Lye, which looks after the transport for a number of sports teams including West Bromwich Albion's first team
Nathan Hadley, MD at Prospect Coaches in Lye, which looks after the transport for a number of sports teams including West Bromwich Albion's first team

The Lye location is the focus of Prospect Coaches (West) Ltd’s core home to school and college contracts, supporting many schools and colleges locally as well as providing corporate travel and transport for elite sports teams including West Bromwich Albion’s first team. The company also provides transport for a raft of local football teams and their supporters - travelling up and down the country to sporting fixtures each week.

The Birmingham depot, meanwhile, is a base for the firm’s contract as a FlixBus operator - which provides transport to towns, cities and airports 24/7.

Around 100 jobs have been created in the last 12 months with the opening of the depot, with further expansion planned.

Nathan, who joined the company in 2007 after a career in the military, said the firm will boast a 200-strong workforce by June this year, with recruitment already underway for a variety of roles.