Felix Bus Services
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| Founded | 1921 |
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| Ceased operation | April 2012 |
| Headquarters | Stanley |
| Service area | Derbyshire |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Routes | 2 |
| Website | www.felixbusandcoach.co.uk |
Felix Bus Services was a bus company based in Stanley, Derbyshire. The company operated bus and coach services in Derbyshire between 1921 and 2012.
The company's founder Norman Frost bought a Crossley lorry from the War Department in 1921. A second Crossley with charabanc bodywork was purchased the following year. A Dickens bus body was fitted to the chassis of the original vehicle in 1924. Felix settled down to operate the Derby to Ilkeston via Chaddesden, Stanley and West Hallam route which remained their core service until the sale of operations. At about this time, Frost was asked to name one of his vehicles. He made his choice using a popular song of the day, "Felix Kept on Walking" as inspiration.
The vehicles were originally based on New Street in Stanley, where Frost's parents lived. In 1937, a house and garage were built on Station Road, which was the base of the firm until its final demise.
Norman Frost owned the company until his death in 1975. It then passed to his nephew, Geoffrey Middup.
In early 2009, "Felix the Cat Creations Inc.", a large United States company, approached Felix and claimed it owned copyright for images of cats used next to the Felix name. While it provided no evidence, Felix decided they couldn't afford to fight any court case, so as a result all cat images were removed from every aspect of the company.
In December 2011 it was announced that the bus operations (Black Cat, (Ilkeston Hospital-Ilkeston-West Hallam-Stanley-Chaddesden-Derby) and the Ilkeston Flyer (Ilkeston-Derby, limited stop)) would be sold to Midland General, a subsidiary of the Wellglade Group, who also operated a Black Cat between Ilkeston and Derby, and the other two Ilkeston Flyer departures each hour. This transfer took place on 29 January 2012, the bus services then operating from Trentbarton's Meadow Road garage in Derby, as a separate unit.
The coach holidays and day excursions are now operated under the Felix name by Swiftsure Coaches of Burton-on-Trent.
Felix continued to operate some school journeys into Kirk Hallam until the end of March 2012, when subsidies were withdrawn by Derbyshire County Council. The operators licence expired at the end of April 2012, it was not renewed and operations from Stanley came to an end.
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