In 1973, the raising of the school leaving age to a compulsory 16 placed extra demands on the fleet and by 1975 the number of buses was back up to 17.

The death of Thomas Hulley in 1971 prompted the remaining directors to consider there futures in the business, all were close to retiring age and so the decision was taken to sell. By 1976 there was various interest in the business but no firm offers.

Nina, John (Jack) and Benjamin Hulley resigned their positions as directors in 1978, their posts being filled by the Wooliscroft family, owners of Silver Service at Darley Dale. Hulleys was now a wholly owned subsidiary of J H Wooliscroft & Sons Ltd. The land that was once a petrol station was sold separately for a housing development.

The new company maintained the same operation as Hulleys, making only minor changes to the routes that were already operated.

After only ten years, the Hulleys name was reinstated when Wooliscrofts decided to sell on the Baslow operation. The company was purchased by Arthur Cotterill, Silver Service transport manager and Peter Eades, a Hulleys mechanic and driver for 40 years.

The following few years were used to re-establish a very well respected business, the use of the Hulleys fleet name a sign of the faith the new directors had in the old company’s principals.

An increase in fleet size to 19, and a move towards vehicles available for private hire as well as the stage carriage work operated for so long, saw Hulleys once again become one of the Peak District’s major operators.

In the mid 90’s, a small holiday and summer excursion programme was set up with regular travellers coming back year after year.

In late 2000, Arthur took the decision to retire. He stayed on until June 2001 to allow Richard Eades, Peter’s son, to settle into the role of Transport Manager.

The business today now operates a fleet of 19 modern vehicles. The backbone of the business remains stage carriage, as was established in 1920, with private hire, schools contracts and a summer day excursion programme making up the rest of the work.

Whilst the company has come a long way since its establishment in the early part of the twentieth century, it maintains the traditions and standards that have been associated with Hulleys for so long.