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NEW SEASON: 2021 EVENTS UPDATED

FYLDE HERITAGE

MURDER MYSTERY BEDFORD

THAMES VALLEY K

Swift Success LEEDS SWIFT RESTORED

LONDON’S COACHES

PLUS Vol 24 No 02 JULY 2021

£4.99

LATEST NEWS, VIEWS, EVENTS AND SO MUCH MORE!

1 Somebody help me here! Are these AEC Regent IIIs in this May 1965 view football specials? I suspect so, as they were 18 years old, had been renumbered and had all been withdrawn by the end of the year. Leading the pack is No 49 (LUA 427), originally No 427, followed by No 40 (LUA 420), ex-420 and No 441 (LUA 441) repainted in two-town green and not renumbered. The other buses in the line-up are probably LUAs too.

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Leeds and the AEC Regent III

Pictures: PRESBUS ARCHIVE

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s was the case with other municipalities, Leeds was eager to modernise its fleet when World War 2 was over. There was an initial shortage of both chassis and bodies, so Leeds placed large orders with both AEC and Leyland with smaller orders for Daimler and Crossley products. Main bodywork supplier was naturally Roe, the Leyland PD2/1 fleet being bodied by the chassis manufacturer. A few later PD2s received Metro-Cammell bodies. The postwar Daimlers were bodied by Brush, whilst the 20 Crossley DD42/7s carried standard Crossley bodywork.

The Roe-bodied AEC Regent III arrived on the streets of Leeds in 1947, one year after the Leyland PD1 and one year ahead of the Daimler CVD6, although utility Daimlers were still being received in 1946. The 20 Crossleys were on the scene in 1949.

A grand total of 209 AEC Regent IIIs were delivered between 1947 and 1954, the final five being bodied by Metro-Cammell.

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2 Here’s No 441 (LUA 441) in regular service this time laying over in Leeds bus station, also in May 1965.

Bus & Coach Preservation

SWIFT SUCCESS 12 The sole survivor of 120 Leeds City Transport AEC Swifts has returned to the city for the first time since 1985, following a 25-year restoration. NICK LARKIN reports.

RETURN JOURNEY: Rear-engines in Leeds 16 Although slow to get underway, Leeds amassed a sizeable fleet of rearengined buses in the 10 years prior to its absorption into West Yorkshire PTE, almost all bodied by Roe with chassis divided between the Daimler Fleetline, the Leyland Atlantean plus 120 AEC Swifts.

ON THE ROAD 18 DAVID JUKES presents a round up of older vehicles captured in action this April.

A MIDSOMER VINTAGE COACH JOB 22 GRAHAM BILBÉ explains how he worked on Midsomer Murders — and lived to tell the tale!

THE TIME HAS COME FOR TRIPLE SIX 26 ASHLEY BLACKMAN discovers not a garden find, but a barn find in deepest darkest North Yorkshire. Thames Valley 666 (HBL 68), a Bristol KSW6B, lives on and will soon begin its full restoration, having spent its life after service safely preserved in a barn.

CHARITY IN BLACKPOOL 31 SIMON GILL reports on two former Lytham St. Annes Corporation buses that have moved to Blackpool as a prelude to being included in a visitor attraction on the Fylde Coast.

AFTER THEY WERE FAMOUS: Saloon Selection 38 What a variety we have for you this month. Dating from 1937 to 1970 — we’ve got ’em covered!

COACHING CLASSICS: London’s Coaches London’s coach operators come and go — do you remember these?

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THE MODEL PAGE 44 This month NIGEL APPLEFORD brings us the second part of his round-up of East Kent model buses and coaches — single-deckers and coaches.

OFF ROUTE Does anyone remember Prudle, a regular passenger on a Southdown Queen Mary? NICK LARKIN reports.

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3 Here’s No 622 (NUB 622) threading its way through central Leeds in August 1964.

BUSMART 53/I B&CP’s comprehensive advertising section, where you can buy or sell any bus-related item.

Here we take a look at some of the earlier Regents when still in service The three Kodachrome slides from which these views were taken are in excellent condition, the earliest being 57 years old.

The unknown photographer certainly new what he was doing!

Leeds City Transport Roe-bodied AEC Swift No 1070 (AUB 170J) has returned to the road following 25 years’ absence. Read the full story on page 12. NICK LARKIN

July 2021

COVER

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Vol 24 No02 JULY 2021

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CONTENTS

NEWS PLUS The latest news from the world of bus preservation.

Editor: Philip Lamb

07887 883 421 busandcoachpreservation@gmail.com

Contributing editors: Ashley Blackman info@ashleyblackman.co.uk Simon Gill simongill217@gmail.com David Jukes david.n.jukes@btinternet.com Nick Larkin nicklarkin721@btinternet.com News editor: Nigel Appleford

nigel.appleford@btinternet.com

Design and layout: Mark Grafton housegrafton@gmail.com Administration/Readers’ ads/ trade advertising sales: Sandra Lamb 07887 883 421 presbusps2@btinternet.com

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Printed by: Acorn Web Offset Ltd, Loscoe Close, Normanton Industrial Estate, West Yorkshire. WF6 1TW. Distribution by: Seymour Distribution Ltd 2 Poultry Avenue, London. EC1A 9PP. Editorial contributions: We welcome digital images, but regret we are no longer able to take any responsibility for prints or transparencies, unless they have been specifi cally commissioned by ourselves. If e-mailing please send only high-resolution images. Contributors are responsible for verifying copyright. Items accepted will be paid for at our standard rates in force at the time of publication.

Documentation must accompany all contributions.

Articles are also welcomed, but we advise that when these are of a longer nature (ie 500 words or more) that you contact us fi rst to discuss your ideas. Neither the Editor nor Meteor Books can be held responsible for any loss/damage however caused.

Please send your contributions to: E-mail: busandcoachpreservation@gmail.com Opinions and views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor nor of Meteor Books.

We are unable to guarantee the bona fides of any of our advertisers. Readers are strongly recommended to take their own precautions before parting with any information or item of value, including, but not limited to money, manuscripts, photographs or personal information in response to any advertisement within this publication.

Bus & Coach Preservation is published on the first Thursday of the month preceding the cover date. All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be produced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted.

© 2021 Meteor Books E-mail: busandcoachpreservation@gmail.com ISSN 1462 1886

July 2021

1 Leopards on parade at Tinkers Park, Summer 2020 HUGH JONES

NEW HOPE FOR THE 2021 SEASON

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thought it would be interesting to look back to my thoughts in last July’s issue.

It was fairly upbeat with thoughts on how to proceed with events etc in what were the current circumstances with phrases like ‘social distancing’ appearing in the magazine for the first time.

There was hope then, and there still is now! A few events did take place during the last year, most notably at the Transport Museum, Wythall, which along with others, made super-human efforts to put on events, keeping the rally scene alive. We are hoping, hope above all hope, that the rally scene will suddenly come alive in 2021, now many restrictions have been lifted, firstly at Wythall at the end of May, and then at the end of June at the London Bus Museum.

We booked a holiday cottage in the Lake District over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, and the week following last year. We were intending to visit events in Morecambe and Workington and then enjoy a few days off. The events never happened and nor did our holiday. It was moved firstly to September, and then again to the equivalent week this year, but there are no events in the area! So we will be missing

Wythall, instead making our 2021 debut at the London Bus Museum on Sunday 27 June. LBM is expecting a good turnout, and so are we! We have lots and lots of bargains and a whole year to catch up on!

Returning to my thought of a year ago, I suggested that a return to road runs was one way of keeping everything going, and we did see a revival of that concept with Showbus leading the way.

However, a few Midlands enthusiasts, Dave Bickley and friends, really went to town organising a series of four runs across the West Midlands, the last of which will have just taken place by the time you read this. The good news is that this run almost passes the end of our road, so a report on this and the LBM event next month — a huge step forward in the return to normality. Hope to get out and about again in search of restoration stories when we return from our hols too!

Hopefully, you will chose to advertise your forthcoming events with us. We offer the best rates and have a good following throughout the bus enthusiast fraternity, and please help us in another way too — take out a subscription!

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EDITORIAL

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NEWS PLUS

Report and picture: PAUL WILLIAMS/MoTGM MUSEUM UPDATES

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Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester reopens The Museum of Transport Greater Manchester has announced that it is to reopen on Saturday 5 June.

It has confirmed its plans after progress on the easing of the lockdown in England was maintained, and the Museum says that it is looking forward to welcoming visitors again after a hiatus — except six weeks last autumn — lasting over a year.

Museum spokesman Paul Williams said that time has been spent improving the museum’s displays: ‘We’ve been able to improve some of the museum’s displays while we’ve been closed and in particular we’ve had a move-round so that some buses that were slightly tucked away are now in more prominent positions. For example our 1930 Manchester Leyland Tiger, No 28, is now the centrepiece of a ‘Manchester’s buses at war’ display in the condition it would have been in on 1 September 1939, the day of the great evacuation.’

Other changes include bringing Leigh 84, the museum’s unrestored Leyland TD7 with utility Northern Coachbuilders body, back to Boyle Street for assessment before restoration begins. Says Paul:

1 Leigh 84 is an ‘unfrozen’ Leyland TD7 with a very early utility body. After some years in offsite storage it’s now back at the museum for assessment and a coat of wartime grey paint before restoration begins in the medium term.

‘No 84 is a very rare survivor, an ‘unfrozen’ Leyland with very early utility body, but it’ll need a thorough restoration programme. For now we hope to give it a quick coat of grey wartime paint to make it more presentable while it waits its turn in the queue.’

The museum will be open 10.00 to 16.30 on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays initially whilst Wednesday opening will be reviewed later in the year. No appointment will be needed, but social distancing and mask wearing will be needed dependant on government guidance.

2 The Museum of Transport Greater Manchester has worked on improving its displays during the lockdown — this is the update ‘orange wall’ telling the story of SELNEC and Greater Manchester PTE.

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Bygone Salford event to mark a return to the road for Museum’s buses United — and the museum hopes all will be represented at the event. Free rides will be on offer and more details will be published in advance on the museum’s Facebook page and on its website: TS • EVE EN N www.motgm.uk EV ENTS • EV •

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and the museum hopes to get as many buses mobile as it can. Salford City Transport was a local operator, of course, and its dark green buses were famously amongst the smartest in the country; but others served the town too such as Manchester, Bolton, Leigh and of course big independent Lancashire

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After a year’s delay due to Covid-19, the planned ‘Salford 100’ event will be held a year later than planned, and renamed ‘Bygone Salford’ on the basis that ‘Salford 101’ wasn’t as snappy.

The event is planned for Saturday/ Sunday 16/17 October based on the museum in Boyle Street, Manchester,

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the year for film and TV work — in fact they have many vehicles that get used.

‘Look out for a mobile phone advert that has been playing on TV’, said the spokesperson, ‘and you will get an idea of another vehicle that will be presenting

Do you know your Wee L, Big L or Corpy?

If not then this book can answer that. Many museums have been forced to ‘stretch the envelope’ to find ways of maintaining members and visitors’ interest during lockdown while also trying to keep the funds coming in.

Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust (GVVT) managed to complete the purchase of Bridgeton Bus Garage last August and member Ed Bonner has used the lockdown to produce this very interesting 36-page colour A5 book which not only provides a short history of the project and the garage but also looks into the work of the Trust and its relationship with the people of Glasgow, its work and events in and outside of the garage, the story being told by the people who have been involved.

The cost of printing the book has been donated by a member, so all proceeds will go to the work of the Trust.

The book is available via the GVVT online shop: www. gvvt.org/shop/ Price is £5 (£6 including postage and packaging) and the book is available now.

itself at a special event.’

You can keep up to date with all forthcoming events (both bus and railway) at the Epping-Ongar railway via social media, and of course in the news section of Bus & Coach Preservation.

New book helps mark 20 years of Southampton & District Transport Heritage Trust The Southampton & District Transport Heritage Trust celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Trust Chairman David Hutchings has written a new book commemorating Southampton’s Buses.

The book, published by Amberley, is available from all normal Amberley stockists including Meteor Books. (See our advert in Busmart.)

Alternatively the book can be purchased thought the Trust. Order the book for £13 including P&P from S&DTHT, 104 Oaktree Road, Southampton, SO18 1PH. (Cheques should be made payable to S&DTHT). For BACS payments e-mail: webmaster@sadtht.co.uk Please remember to include your address when ordering! All proceeds from Trust direct sales will be invested in the restoration of the Trust’s bus collection.

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Picture: KEITH VALLA

Bridgeton by Bridgeton

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Thanks to the lockdown, the bus department of the Epping Ongar Railway has deliberated as to what the future of its planned events that should have taken place will be. On 5 September 2021, therefore, the Railway will be hosting the ’70 years of the RF’ event.

A representative of the organising committee spoke exclusively to Bus & Coach Preservation. ‘We have already got one vehicle, that many won’t have seen for some years prepped for service, but the push is on to try to get a couple more surprises out of the bag.

Notable star vehicle is RF136; “This appeared at one of our events still with the paint wet inside, we have continued to work on this and we think the problems are now solved so that too will be entering service.”

Whilst most will know that the bus group uses its RTs mainly on the 339 service to the railway, what you may not know is that they are also hired out during

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South East Bus Festival October 2021 confirmed

Report and picture: AMANDA BLAIR/CTV

Crich Tramway Village Prepares to Open Crich Tramway Village is planning to open its indoor exhibitions and Workshop viewing gallery from 17 May 2021.

Some major restoration projects are continuing. These include London County Council No 1 (Bluebird), Newcastle 102, London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) 1622 and Blackpool Brush Railcoach 298.

In addition, Cardiff horsecar No 21, which has been on loan to Crich for around 12 years, will be returned to The National Museum of Wales, whilst Derby No 1 and Halle 902 will be going into store, the latter having spent time on loan in Blackpool.

These movements have provided an opportunity to refresh the display in the Exhibition Hall, enabling recent

acquisition, 1913 Barnsley & District Combination Car (a vintage bus), to be displayed in the centre and tramcars Gateshead 5 and Southampton 45 to be more easily viewed.

Workshop Co-ordinator and Duty Engineer, Dan Heeley said: Following a difficult year in 2020, it is important that we move forward with restoration, for which we have received funds and assistance from our partners, including the Blackpool Railcoach Fund and The Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation for Blackpool 298.”

Crich Tramway Village is open Saturday–Thursday, with Covid-19 measures in place. Please visit website for opening days and times and latest Covid19 guidelines: www.tramway.co.uk

New home for Guernsey Albion Having failed to find a buyer at auction, Guernsey Railways 161 (ESV 215, 8230) has subsequently found a new owner.

A sale was concluded post auction to James Eastwood of Troopers Lodge Motor Services, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire.

Report: JOHN WAKEFIELD Picture: JAMES EASTWOOD

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The organisers of the annual South East Bus Festival have confirmed that this year’s postponed event will go ahead at Kent Showground on Sunday 10 October.

Co-organiser Richard Lewis said: ‘After the disappointment of having to cancel last year’s event, and the need to postpone this year’s, we are delighted to announce that the 2021 South East Bus Festival will take place in October, once again as part of the Kent County Agricultural Society’s Heritage Transport Show.

‘We hope that, by selecting a date towards the end of the bus events season, when Covid-19 restrictions should have eased significantly, we will be able to operate as near normal as possible, but all aspects of the festival will be reviewed to ensure compliance with any Government regulations still in force at that time to give a safe and enjoyable day out for our visitors, volunteers and participants. ‘This will be our tenth event, and while we had expected to celebrate that milestone in 2020, we are pleased that we will be able to do so later this year.’

One significant difference this year is that the event is being held on a Sunday, due to the availability of the showground and a need to avoid clashing with other local events, but the 2022 South East Bus Festival will revert to a Saturday and is already confirmed as being held on Saturday 2 April 2022.

To keep up to date with the latest vehicle entries and other news, or to ask questions about the event, people can visit the South East Bus Festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ southeastbusfestival and click the ‘Like’ button to receive notifications of new postings. Full information about the bus festival is shown on the event’s website at: https://southeastbusfestival. wixsite.com/sebf.

Bus & Coach Preservation

A former Stagecoach Alexander-bodied Dennis Trident has joined the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust (RVPT) fleet.

Back in early 2019 RVPT members Malcolm Smith and the late Douglas Bailey (see obituary, B&CP, October) thought it would be a good idea to have a low-floor, easyaccess bus for RVPT events and a Trident would be ideal, especially as Stagecoach were starting withdrawal of this type. Douglas was keen to acquire 18139 (PX04 DND), as it had been the bus he brought to the Ribble 90 celebration events in 2009 and additionally it had been Chorley allocated, the garage from which he had worked. Douglas contacted Stagecoach and outlined his reasons behind the request; a letter duly arrived from Stagecoach in November 2019 confirming it they had reserved 18139 and kindly agreed to donate it to the RVPT when disposal fell due.

That arrived in April 2020. The bus was in generally good condition, as it had come straight from service and despite the limitations of working under Covid-19 restrictions, the lower-deck windows had been removed to allow some remedial work to the window pans. In addition, the dented lower-deck panels were replaced as necessary.

No 18139 was then taken offsite for a full repaint in Stagecoach ‘swirls’, which has now been completed and the bus is currently awaiting its public debut, the RVPT Lytham Hall event having been cancelled.

In recognition of the support given by Douglas to the Trust, the RVPT Trustees have decided that 18139 will be named Douglas Bailey MBE as a fitting tribute and a plaque with photograph will be carried inside the bus. The RVPT is hoping to invite Douglas’s widow, Helen, to launch the bus in a small ceremony to be arranged.

Although Lytham Hall is cancelled this year, the Trust will be holding an Open Day and Fylde Bus Tour for support group members on Sunday 15 August, starting at 10.30, continuing until 15.00 at RVPT’s operational base at Freckleton. The Bus

Picture courtesy: GERARD BUTLER/RVPT

Tour will operate from 11.00 onwards on a 30min frequency, with the last departure at 14.30. Two vehicles will be allocated to each departure. Members of the public will not be carried, but RVPT plan some limited coverage using local media, so the public will be aware and can enjoy seeing the vehicles out and about.

The route is as follows: Freckleton Village, along the A584 to Warton, then through Lytham and St. Annes to Blackpool and along the promenade to Gynn Square. Return will be via virtually the same route. Journey time on the tour will be approximately two hours.

Carriages acquires second OB Carriages of Cambridge has acquired a second Bedford OB. KAD 882, a 1950 Duple Vista-bodied example new to Miles of Guiting Power, was acquired from Trevor Brenson in April 2021 and sent to Darren Stanford Coachworks at Shepreth for preparation to run as a full PSV. Work will include fitting a tacho and a new set of tyres. Carriages other OB is GCA 747.

Report and Picture: JOHN WAKEFIELD

July 2021

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Dennis Trident joins RVPT fleet

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Hulleys 100 Hulleys of Baslow marked its centenary on 29 April with journeys on its route 170 (Bakewell–Chesterfield) duplicated by two preserved vehicles: former Chesterfield 225 (225 LRB), a 1960 Weymann-bodied Leyland Titan PD2/30, and ex-Whites of Calver 306 (PRA 109R), a 1976 Alexander T-bodied Leyland Leopard PSU3C/4R new to Trent Motor Traction as its No 109.

Entering service the same day in a special red and cream heritage livery was Hulleys 7 (YX09 HZJ), an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 new to Veolia in 2009. The 1978 acquisition of the Hulleys’ business by J. H. Wooliscroft & Son (trading as Silver Service) is also commemorated by 15 (MK63 XAU), a 2013 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 new to Flights Hallmark, bearing the latter’s blue and cream livery.

Hulleys began bus operations in April 1921 when Henry Hulley bought his first bus to run a Bakewell — Chesterfield service. Neighbouring operators were acquired, and new areas served during subsequent years.

Henry Hulley’s 1955 death saw the business pass to his family. When his son Thomas Hulley passed away in 1971, the remaining family members, most of whom were close to retirement age, considered selling up. The company thus passed to J. H, Wooliscroft & Son in 1978, Hulleys’ name and red and cream livery was soon replaced by those of Silver Service.

The Wooliscroft family sold the Baslow garage and its operations to the Silver

Service Transport Manager and a longstanding former Hulleys employee in 1988, who reintroduced the Hulleys fleetname and modified the blue and cream livery; this will be recalled by a third heritage livery which is expected imminently on another Enviro 200. A further change of ownership in 2020 has seen the introduction of a revised fleetname and logo design and the introduction of new services following a major fleet investment.

Pictures: IAN MOORCROFT

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MUSEUM UPDATES

‘New Look’ for Transport Museum Wythall Transport Museum Wythall has launched a ‘new look’ to start the 2021 season, with a new logo and revisions to signage, posters, leaflets and merchandising. The museum location has also become more prominent and clearly illustrates its reason to be — the history of public transport.

TMW was established to promote the heritage of public transport across the West Midland conurbation through the collection and presentation of appropriate vehicles, two core fleets having prominence within the comprehensive collection — Birmingham City Transport and Midland Red. These fleets still have a major following within the public transport preservation movement and play a key role in museum activities.

The ‘Birmingham Standard’ bus design is represented by a number of exhibits at the museum, so this vehicle was chosen

to be prominent on the new logo, along with the museum location. A second logo to the same graphic-design based upon the Midland Red D9 will be used specifically for Midland Red events and merchandising.

Three vehicles will also star on a new range children’s activity items and merchandising in the ‘Little Wythall’ range. Billy the Brummie is a Birmingham Standard, joined by Mike the Midland Red D9 and Molly the Midland Red LS18.

The museum plans to develop colouring sheets, booklets and badges to accompany the range of items on sale in its shop.

TMW is fortunate in having a retired graphic designer within its membership.

He has offered to help with the project and devised the range of graphic treatments, for which the museum is extremely grateful.

Those visiting from our season start date

on 22 May will also be welcomed by a bright new gate sign.

TMW Chairman Dave Taylor said: ‘Our current branding has served us well for decades but the new logo makes it very clear who we are and what we do — preserve public transport history in the West Midlands. It is also timely as we start to build an extension to the Scania Hall. Our new logo will bring with it a more exciting range of merchandising and pocket money items that children of all ages love to buy in the shop. The ‘Little Wythall’ characters will also freshen up our popular school activity programmes’.

Full details of museum opening times for 2021 are listed at www.wythall.org.uk.

Don’t miss the special events for Midlands Municipals on Bank Holiday Monday 29 August and Midland Red Day Sunday October.

Daimler Roadliner available for preservation Daimler Roadliner/Plaxton Elite, RDG 308G is looking for a new home. The coach was new to Black & White Motorways in June 1969, later passing to Aytons of Crewe. It currently resides with its last operator, Carr of Pluckley, Kent, but is now in a poor condition having been off the road since January 1988. Carr’s attempted unsuccessfully to find a buyer via an internet auction site, but are not willing to let it go for scrap. Anyone seriously interested in saving this now rare vehicle should contact Carr’s on 01233 840651.

Report: JOHN WAKEFIELD Picture: MARK SMITH

July 2021

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SWIFT SUCCESS

The sole survivor of 120 Leeds City Transport AEC Swifts has returned to the city for the first time since 1985, following a 25-year restoration. NICK LARKIN reports.

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o point in anyone trying to show traditional Yorkshire stoicism — this was an emotional moment. Standing against the magnificent Victorian Gothic backdrop of Leeds Town Hall was, on the streets of its home city in 36 years, the only surviving AEC Swift from 120 delivered to the much-missed local municipal bus operation between 1966 and 1971.

Once again resplendent in its two-tone green Leeds City Transport livery and looking very much at home, Roe-bodied AEC Swift 1070 (AUB 170J) caused major interest among both bus drivers and in fact everyone else, as a forest of mobile phones emerged. Some more senior members of the public had fond memories of Leeds City Transport and a couple even worked for it. No wonder there was the odd quivering lip!

SOME HISTORY Leeds City Transport had the biggest AEC Swift fleet outside London, Examples of underfloor-engined sister, the AEC Reliance, had been running since 1962. First appearing in 1964, the Swift was a rear-engined chassis with many similarities to the Leyland Panther, following the reluctant marriage between the two manufacturers.

Unloved in London, the Swift was more successful elsewhere, with East Kent, Blackpool, Rochdale, Cardiff and Great Yarmouth being amongst its operators.

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2 No 1070 seen after its career serving gliding schools.

The Leeds fleet began with a sole Swift in 1966. No 51 (GUM 451D), the operator’s first rear-engined singledecker, was exhibited at the 1966 Commercial Motor Show. The bus, which had Roe dual-door bodywork, spent some years in preservation before being deemed too far gone for restoration and was sold for scrap to Joe Sykes, Barnsley in 1995.

This was followed by Nos 52-100 (JNW 952-60E, MNW 161-75F, MUG 476-85F, MUB 186-99F and MUG 100F. All had 48-seat dualdoor bodywork — Nos 61-75/86-

1 Newly restored Leeds Roe-bodied AEC Swift 1070 (AUB 170J) pauses against the magnificent Baroque backdrop of Leeds Town Hall.

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100 being bodied by Metro-Cammell, the remainder boasting locally built Roe bodywork.

Subsequent Swifts had the 11.3 litre AEC AH691 engine rather than the less efficient AH505 8.2litre unit.

Park Royal-bodied 1001- 50 (SUB 401-SUB 50G) were followed by the final batch of buses — 1051-70 (AUB 15170J, which differed considerably from their predecessors.

Costing £9,034.68 each, these buses boasted fully automatic transmission, V-shaped windscreens, and a front panel matching that of the latest double-deckers.

Seating was surprisingly sumptuous, even incorporating headrests.

Swifts were used across the Leeds City Transport network, including ‘Fastaway’ limited-stop services, one of which was operated jointly with Bradford Corporation.

This operator also ran Swifts, but had failed to reach the giddy heights of one-person-operation, so its contribution was crew-operated.

Fittingly, the last of the 1971 batch, 1070 (AUB 170J), was the final Leeds AEC in service when it was finally withdrawn on 22 February 1985.

3 The Swift in Ash Hill Lane inbound to Leeds city centre.

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5 No 1070 in East Moor Lane, Leeds.

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July 2021

RESCUE AND RESTORATION Despite its historic status, Leeds 1070 had never been unduly cosseted. New in July 1971, the bus served at several Leeds depots including Headlingley. As with the entire Leeds Swift fleet it passed to West Yorkshire PTE in 1974. In 1981 the bus was fitted with a horizontal rear grille to assist ventilation.

The bus was first withdrawn on 31 October 1984, having been treated to a tour of Leeds the previous Sunday, but was reinstated on 20 November 1984 after a fire at Torre Road depot led to a vehicle shortage.

No 1070J was sold to the Rufforth Gliding Club for various uses and then Burn Gliding Club. When the Swift failed to build up air, the decision was taken to scrap it, and an offer of £650 was received from a breaker. But thankfully the Swift had a saviour. Craig Temple had grown up in Leeds, and caught the bus enthusiasm bug from his dad. ‘I remember the Swifts in their final days and really liked them,’ said Craig.

After graduating from University and working for a while as a driver for Premier Travel, Craig joined Blazefield as a management trainee, Having been made redundant, he continued as a driver, before becoming operations manager with Wrays of Harrogate as well as working in the haulage industry.

Having heard that Transdev Blazefield was dropping a route, Craig obtained four O-licences under the Harrogate Coach Travel name. A council contract from Acaster Malbis to York used the Connexions name and Craig adopted this for his fleet. Sixty drivers and 40 buses are now employed on a wide network of stage and school routes.

Meanwhile he has built up a collection of vehicles including among others, three Leeds ‘Jumbo’ Leyland Atlanteans — eventually set to be one fully restored vehicle. Then there’s former Premier AEC Reliance 13

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The bus was repainted at Reliance, Connexions finishing off the dark green bits. New decals, supplied by A. D. Bell were fitted the evening before our photoshoot, which saw the bus make its triumphant return to Leeds.

WEB 411T and Millers of Foxton example XER 123T, not forgetting new-to West Yorkshire PTE Leyland Olympian B144 RWY, now back in original Metro Coach livery, South Yorkshire PTE Leyland National FWA 475V and Alexander Strider-bodied Volvo B10B-58, M393 VWX, which Craig remembers collecting as a new vehicle for Harrogate & District. The Swift was the first of all these vehicles, however, and has now been owned by Craig for 25 years, Some work on the brakes was carried out by Ebor Trucks, and Craig well remembers laying on his back underneath the vehicle to red oxide the chassis. ‘I don’t think I could do that nowadays!’ he admitted. ‘I did do

7 The swift meets Leeds 35587 (Y69 YGF), a Wright StreetDeck in central Leeds.

8 A return to The Headrow — the stop outside Leeds Art Gallery.

some bodywork but at the time felt a bit out of my depth.’

The Swift languished in storage until around five years ago, when, deciding it was time for action, Craig sent the bus to restorers Reliance Coachworks. Engine work, framework and some new panels were fitted and attention paid to the floor, some correct spec seats were supplied by Ashley Wakelin, and a new steering column shroud was fitted. Attention was also paid to the leaking roof, and some new ceiling panels fitted.

The bus was repainted at Reliance, Connexions finishing off the dark green bits. New decals, supplied by A. D. Bell were fitted the evening before our photoshoot, which saw the bus make its triumphant return to Leeds.

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Pictures: NICK LARKIN

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6 Swift’s Roe bodywork is clearly inspired by BET style popular in the 1960s/ early 1970s.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

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9 Later Leeds Swifts had AEC’s 11.3-litre engine.

10 Unusual door opening system courtesy of Leeds City Transport.

11 Sensible cab layout, but look at those pedals!

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LEEDS TOUR Venues covered included the site of the former Headingley depot, the Swift’s old home, Leeds University, the Town Hall and Art Gallery, the former Leeds City Transport Offices at Swinegate, now sympathetically restored as a hotel, and the Charles H. Roe, a Wetherspoons pub paying tribute to the Swift’s bodybuilder.

The bus created major interest wherever it went, including amongst young children at a Whinmoor school, who were able to admire the vehicle but not board as, said the teachers reluctantly, no risk assessment had been carried out!

So there we are, the Swift re-conquers Leeds, a city much changed since the bus was last there.

12 Great survivors!

Bodybuilder’s badge and period road safety initiative.

13 Rear aspect of bus also owed much to BET design.

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One recent positive development is that First has adopted the Leeds City fleetname for local buses and they are once again green, a colour scheme paying homage to former municipal operator and a credit to all concerned.

Concluded Craig: ‘It’s been really good to have the bus finished. It’s something I thought at one point I might never see. The Swift’s return journey to Leeds had certainly been a long one!’

MANY THANKS

We were truly honoured to be aboard the Swift for its Leeds return, and many thanks to Craig. Craig would welcome any help in locating the correct Leeds seat moquette for the bus. Connexions can carry out painting and a wide variety of mechanical work to preserved vehicles.

Details via craig@connexionsbuses.com

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July 2021

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RETURN JOURNEY

Rear-engined Leeds A

lthough slow to get underway, Leeds amassed a sizeable fleet of rear-engined buses in the 10 years prior to its absorption into West Yorkshire PTE, almost all bodied by Roe with chassis divided between the Daimler Fleetline, the Leyland Atlantean plus 120 AEC Swifts.

1 Leeds first rear-engined doubledeckers were 10 Roe-bodied Daimler Fleetlines, new in 1964, the first of which, No 101 (101 LNW), was a Commercial Motor Show exhibit. Some of the batch, including No 104 (104 LNW), saw nearly 20 years’ service with Leeds and subsequently West Yorkshire PTE.

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Pictures: PRESBUS ARCHIVE

2 The following year saw the arrival of nine Weymann-bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1s, which with the same MCW-style bodywork, appeared outwardly similar. Seen here in service in June 1976 is the now preserved No 331 (CUB 331C).

3 Operators were demanding more stylish bodywork for rear-engined double-deckers, Alexander came up with a revised front-end design using fibreglass to good effect.This was soon copied by both Weymann and Roe. No 348 (HUA 348D) was a 1966 Weymann (MCW)-bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1. Similar Daimler Fleetlines joined the fleet at this time.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

4 Both Atlanteans and Fleetlines continued to be purchased, from 1968 all 33ft long and with dualdoors. Daimler Fleetline 171 (UNW 171H) demonstrates the late-1960s style of Roe bodywork.This was one of a batch of 20 delivered in 1969.

5 Like our featured bus, No 1070, No 1056 (AUB 156J) was from the final batch of 20 Roe-bodied Swifts new in 1971.

6 Finally this pair of buses at Leeds bus station demonstrate the changes made in styling in the first decade of rear-engined double-deckers. On the left is 458 (ANW 458J), a Roebodied Leyland Atlantean PDR2/1 new in 1971. A total of 314 dual-door 33-footers were ordered prior to the formation of the PTE — 229 Leyland Atlanteans and 85 Daimler Fleetlines. Thirtyfoot examples totalled just 95 (55 Atlanteans and 40 Fleetlines). Alongside is another example from the authority’s first batch of Fleetlines — No 103 (103 LNW).

July 2021

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RETURN JOURNEY

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ON THE ROAD

presents a S E K JU ID les DAV older vehic il. f o p u d n pr rou ction this A a in d e r u t cap

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Bus & Coach Preservation

STRATFORD’S SUPER 8 A Timebus of St Albans-organised running day held on 18 April commemorated the 50th anniversary of the final RLH-class buses in London Transport service. Route 178 (Clapton Pond–Stratford) was the last; the final survivors of these lowbridge Weymann-bodied AEC Regent IIIs dating from 1950, RLH1-20 (KYY 201-20), and 1952 RLH21-76 (MXX 221-76) were replaced in April 1971 by AEC Swift single-deckers operating new route S3 (Stoke Newington– Stratford). (1) Seven of the eight RLHs attending the event are lined up on Montfichet Road at the start of proceedings — the lead vehicle is RLH53 (MXX 253), owned by Mr A. Totten and restored at Ward Jones Commercial Vehicles at High Wycombe. RLH53 resided in the USA from 1972 until 2012 and was repatriated with RLH69 and RLH71 — the three buses remaining together during those 40 years.

(2) RLH71 (MXX 271), currently part of Roger Wright’s London Bus Company, was restored in this non-authentic version of London Transport livery by 2010 while preserved in Oregon. It is seen on The Grove, Stratford, displaying route 178 blinds and carrying the larger nearside rearview mirror and wheelarch-mounted indicators fitted in the USA. (3) Also seen on The Grove is Timebus’ RLH23 (MXX 223) — the first UK-based RLH to be relicensed for commercial passenger carrying service in 1987. (4) The Church of Saint John the Evangelist and the Stratford Martyrs Memorial overlook Timebus RLH44 (MXX 244) as it proceeds along Stratford Broadway. This RLH was converted by Brewster’s of Wrotham into London Country mobile uniform store 581J in 1970/71, a role it relinquished in 1982 for a short spell as a temporary office at Stevenage garage before sale for preservation the following year.

(5) Several RLHs passed to Samuel Ledgard of Leeds for further service, but RLH32 (MXX 232) was not one of these — the smart blue and white livery was applied by Timebus in 2007 to commemorate those sister vehicles which last ran on the company’s sale to West Yorkshire Road Car 40 years’ previously. The bus is seen passing Stratford High Street Docklands Light Railway station with the Unex and Stratosphere Tower dominating the skyline. Passing the Stratford Eye are (6) Ensignbus RLH61 (MXX 261), which was repatriated from Canada by the company in 2004 after a 33-year exile, and (7) RLH69 (MXX 269), as restored by the London Bus Company after its return from the USA with RLH53 and RLH71. (8) RLH48 (MXX 248), seen outside Stratford’s Central Baptist Church, forms part of the London Bus Museum’s collection since its 2015 acquisition from Richard Proctor for continued preservation; Mr Proctor bought the RLH in 1984, first restoring then regularly rallying the bus over those 31 years.

Pictures: SHANE ROSS

July 2021

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ON THE ROAD

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All pictures: DWR PICTURE LIBRARY

ON THE ROAD

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Bus & Coach Preservation

ON THE ROAD

9 EASTER OUTING

(9) Spotted by chance on Easter Sunday in the delightfully named village of Wetwang was former East Yorkshire 674 (VKH 674), a 1957 Park Royalbodied Albion Aberdonian MR11L. It is seen later the same day leaving Fridaythorpe — the highest village in the Yorkshire Wolds, showing off the operator’s marvellous livery in which it is preserved.

Picture: ANTHONY HICKS HEMEL HAPPENINGS

(10) Seen in Hemel Hempstead’s town centre on 27 April is locally based Barnett’s Coaches’ OUI 8350, a 2000 Alexander ALX400-bodied Volvo B7TL new to London Central as its AVL45 (V145 LGC), fitted with a replacement Alexander Dennis Enviro lower front panel. (11) Sharing capital roots is Vojo’s Play Bus H561 GKX, a 1991 all-Leyland Olympian new to Armchair of Brentford for operating tendered London route 65, seen here in Jarman Way later the same day.

Pictures: GRAHAM KIDDLE

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July 2021

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A MID SOME R

VINTAGE COACH JOB GRAHAM BILBÉ explains how he worked on Midsomer Murders — and lived to tell the tale!

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ost readers will be familiar with the longrunning Midsomer Murders television drama series which remains popular despite the remarkably large proportion of local characters that have been ‘bumped off ’ over the years.

Back in 2009 when filming season 13, an episode entitled ‘The Sword of Guillaume’ involved a liaison between the fictitious town of Causton and the reallife city of Brighton & Hove. The producers decided the required coach trip should involve a slightly ‘retro’ vehicle, as considered appropriate for a small operator in their sleepy backwater. John Bedford’s well-known Great Ouse Valley PNM 757M, a 1974 Plaxton Panorama Elite III-bodied Bedford YRQ kept near Maidenhead, was selected.

A WALK-ON PART My brother, Richard, was recruited as driver and asked to arrange some temporary minor modifications to suit filming; two pairs of seats were turned, and adjacent tables installed. He duly re-arranged the seats on the Tuesday, but in the process somehow managed to twist his ankle.

Richard was able to drive the coach to Brighton the following morning, but at about 10.30 he phoned me

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in Reading, knowing I was ‘semi-retired’ at the time, to ask if I could take over the job — the first I had heard of it! Richard could drive the coach with a bit of pain, but they wanted the coach driver to do some walking parts — which he couldn’t do . . .

I dropped everything and headed to Brighton (arriving around two hours later) after packing a bag for a short stay and leaving a note for the wife! The props crew had in the meantime applied easy-peel vinyls for ‘J.C. Motors, Causton’ to 757 which carefully concealed its Great Ouse Valley fleetnames.

1 ‘Movie star’ John Bedford’s well-known Great Ouse Valley PNM 757M, a 1974 Plaxton Panorama Elite III-bodied Bedford YRQ inside the Pavilion Gardens — the building with the narrow archway is just visible through the trees.

(See text) GRAHAM BILBÉ

2 The author with actress Rosina Carbone (who played the wife of the ‘dodgy’ antiques dealer). In my haste to grab suitable uniform for a coach driver I picked up my cherished original Doncaster Corporation ‘HoochyCoochy’ purple-stripe tie!

COURTESY GRAHAM BILBÉ

Bus & Coach Preservation

Richard was soon heading back to Reading in my van (which he hated as he found it harder to drive than the coach with a crocked foot) and I was installed in the Bedford, which I had never seen before, armed only with the mobile numbers of the owner and my brother in case anything went wrong — thankfully, it didn’t! The coach was already parked on the lower level at Madeira Drive, a location very familiar to road transport enthusiasts as the end of the famous London to Brighton runs, with the afternoon spent filming scenes there and on the pier. This included some of the cast disembarking and later re-boarding the coach, while I carried some of the baggage alongside the coach to go in the boot.

3 3 Setting up a camera mount and lights inside the coach, showing the tables temporarily fitted.

GRAHAM BILBÉ 4 The large camera installed in the front of 757 for on-theroad shots.

GRAHAM BILBÉ

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5 5 Rainy Friday afternoon at Pease Pottage Services — note ‘Filming in Progress’ sign.

GRAHAM BILBÉ

6 6 A Sunday out in Hemel Hempstead with John Nettles directly behind the coach. Note the assorted luggage props by the boot! GRAHAM BILBÉ

July 2021

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! One scene requiring several takes was with the cast onboard waiting for a ‘straggler’ (a coach trip scenario we are all familiar with!) who arrives in the midst of an argument with her ex-husband, who was trying to persuade her to take him back. Having vigorously pushed him back out of the door with suitably vitriolic comments, she then calls out ‘Drive on, driver!’ at which I had to start the coach and move off.

Being unfamiliar with the coach, this was my first experience of moving it — complete with all the stars onboard — and after about the seventh take I was a bit concerned about the batteries having started and stopped the engine very frequently. Fortunately the run to Brighton must have topped them up well and it was a nice warm day.

I recall we parked the coach overnight at the Lewes Road bus garage before one of the logistics crew took me back to the seafront and the famous Queens Hotel.

ALL ABOARD Early Thursday morning lovely Kerry of the logistics team took me for a little drive around the filming route before going to collect the coach. I brought it down to the Hotel to pick up the actors (more stragglers — unscripted this time!) before driving a little way up the A23 to turn and be filmed arriving in Brighton and passing the Pavilion.

For this we had an ‘invisible’ radio-connected crew crouched down below window level, to whom the camera crew could relay messages. Fortunately, given the delay at the hotel, they managed to get the arriving shot at the first attempt — we had just the right amount of other traffic to look authentic without obstructing the view. It was quickly reported the shot looked good, so ‘swing right round here’, by the Old Steine bus stops, ‘then turn left and almost immediately left again . . .’

This part was NOT on Kerry’s earlier run-through and nobody mentioned the ‘almost immediate’ bit was turning left through a very narrow archway into the Pavilion Gardens! I am not that familiar with Brighton, so this came as a moderate shock. But having been reassured by the radio crew this had all been measured and the coach WOULD fit, I edged carefully through, dreading the prospect of looking rather unprofessional in front of all the stars on board, but more importantly damaging John Bedford’s lovingly-preserved and very original coach!

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Regrettably film crews cannot always be trusted on such occasions as they are more intent on getting the shots they want than looking after someone else’s old vehicle, but I am pleased to say on this job Director Renny Rye’s team proved to be very honest and helpful. Again, there were a few shots taken on and around the coach, but later filming was mostly concentrated in the Pavilion building so I had a chance for a quick visit to The Lanes, without which no trip to Brighton is complete. We then dropped the cast back at the hotel and put the coach back to bed before I could join them in the bar.

ON THE ROAD Friday morning was relatively free, although we collected the coach reasonably early and parked up on Madeira Drive again while more shots were filmed on the pier. I took the opportunity for a gentle trundle on the Volk’s Electric Railway, after which it was time for some on-theroad interior shots, going up the A23 with the large camera set up at the front of the coach. This restricted driving visibility, but fortunately I had got the ‘feel’ of 757 by this time and it was mostly open road sections.

We dropped off the camera crew to film a few more passing shots on the road, then turned around to the southbound services near Pease Pottage. I was ‘released’ after shooting a couple more scenes, heading back to Maidenhead with the coach in the middle of a Friday evening rush-hour, and then home. But not for long . . .

CAUSTON ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES Early Sunday morning I collected the coach again and drove over to Hemel Hempstead’s old town for a full day’s filming; apparently the High Street is regularly used as Causton’s main street. I parked the coach in the car park close to St Mary’s Church to film the departure and arrival scenes, where again I was required to load and unload suitcases from the coach boot as part of the background scene.

This required an element of acting on my part as they were all empty, but I was supposed to make them look heavy! In some ways this was a rather tedious day as it kept 24

7 John Nettles and Brian Capron (the Mayor of Causton and organiser of the coach trip) exchange muted greetings alongside 757.

GRAHAM BILBÉ

8 The view from the bottom of the Church steps.

GRAHAM BILBÉ

coming over to rain, so the actors and extras would pile onto the coach to wait for the ground to dry for continuity.

Although most of the ‘bigger-name’ stars kept themselves to themselves, ex-Coronation Street actor Brian Capron (playing the rather dodgy Mayor of Causton) was brilliant, sitting at the front of the coach with me and a couple of extras, regaling us with tales of filming in various different places. An all-round nice chap, very unpretentious, and very thrilled about the filming in Brighton as he could bike to the job from his home in Hove!

One of the shots required John Nettles, in a brand-new ‘product placement’ Mercedes, to drive quickly down the High Street and pull smartly into the car park’s front bay in order to catch the coach as it was ready to depart. The requirement must have been quite specific and difficult to get right; on about the seventh take, John just clipped the kerb with the back wheel, blowing out the tyre — and that take — with another delay while the wheel was changed.

They either got it right with the next take or gave up on that scene, although I don’t recall seeing it in the finished episode even after all the time spent on it!

A trip down to the filming base for a catering-van lunch then back to the church car park for more of the same.

Eventually all was done, and I left about six; by the time I put the coach away it had been a very long and tiring day, with much of it spent waiting for things to happen.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

9 Filming at Thame, Oxon, and preparing the other very short-lived members of the J.C. Motors fleet.

GRAHAM BILBÉ

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10 The Ulsterbus Leyland Tiger had the bare minimum to cover existing logos, here positioned in the yard.

GRAHAM BILBÉ 11 The whole fleet of the fictitious J.C. Motors. (I never did find out the identity of the Iveco midibus!)

GRAHAM BILBÉ

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12 At last darkness fell, only to be replaced by substantial floodlights…

The hooded villain (played by Saskia Reeves) is seated left.

GRAHAM BILBÉ

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AT J.C. MOTORS’ YARD The final sequences involving the coach were shot at a small industrial yard in Thame. These were set up in the late afternoon before hanging around until darkness fell.

Essentially the eponymous murder weapon was placed under the Bedford’s floor (ie on top of the engine) and involved some scene-setting views of the J.C. Motors’ yard. Two other vehicles were hired for the purpose with minimal amounts of vinyl ‘disguise’ applied as they were only going to be seen fleetingly – and in the dark at that!

They were Ulsterbus 1337 (RXI 3337), a 1990 Alexander N-bodied Leyland Tiger (we think hired from dealer stock before FITTING THE BILL The director came over at the end of the job and thanked me for being so helpful throughout, then added: ‘It was a shame about the other chap hurting his foot, but I must admit visually you fitted the bill rather better — more what we had in mind.’

I replied: ‘The “other chap” was my little brother, but I’ll see him alright.’ He was a bit nonplussed and hadn’t realised we were related!

As with most filming jobs, there was a lot of waiting around — at least not in the cold on this occasion – and some tedious ‘re-takes’ and long days, but I do have the memories, a few photos, and John Nettles’ script (which he inadvertently left on the coach) as a nice little souvenir.

It was difficult to piece together any of the storyline as the sequences in which I was involved were shot almost in reverse order of how they appear in the finished show.

As an episode it was significant as the first to introduce Neil Dudgeon, who was to take over the DCI Barnaby role, and only two people get murdered! I am also pleasantly surprised to see it listed as one of the ‘Fans July 2021

onward sale to York Pullman — Ed), and an anonymous Iveco midibus running on trade plate 496 JH on this occasion. The three vehicles were manoeuvred into a very compact yard through a gateway less than 9ft wide, with floodlights and a camera track unit for a rolling action shot set up, though the vehicles remained static.

We had to wait until darkness fell, taking advantage of a local ‘chippy’ in the interim – no catering provided on this occasion – until the atmospheric night scenes were in the can. Once ‘wrap’ was called, the team rapidly dismantled their equipment – including the floodlights – and left us to reverse the vehicles out through the narrow gateway in the pitch dark. Cheers, chaps!

Favourites’, and I am asked every time it is repeated: ‘Was that you I saw on Midsomer Murders the other night?’

But for me the greatest mystery is this: why on earth were so many Causton folk taking such big suitcases on a daytrip to Brighton?

13 PNM 757M in its more familiar form is seen in the afternoon sunshine at the 2018 Alton Bus Rally and Running Day. DAVID JUKES

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THE TIME HAS COME FOR

This month ASHLEY BLACKMAN discovers not a garden find, but a barn find in deepest darkest North Yorkshire. Thames Valley 666 (HBL 68), a Bristol KSW6B, lives on and will soon begin its full restoration, having spent its life after service safely preserved in a barn.

1 Bristol KSW6B Thames Valley 666 (HBL 68) is seen in service with Thames Valley.

2 Many years ago — a little dusty but safely preserved.

NEIL HALLIDAY COLLECTION 3

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3 No 666 arriving safely in North Yorkshire NEIL HALLIDAY COLLECTION

SAFELY PRESERVED Sometimes you might hear people complain that some preserved buses and coaches spend most of their time stored away and never get seen out at rallies or events.

Have you ever heard these kinds of remarks? I have and often people forget that it costs a considerable amount of time, money and passion to persevere just keeping a bus or coach stored safely for preservations sake. Many preservationists have stored vehicles for decades just to save them from conversion to a dreaded catering vehicle or the new trend of B&Bs, just think how long a preserved vehicle will last stood outside open to the elements, usually in a field, or even worse weighed in for scrap?

Bravo to those who simply save vehicles by storing them for preservations sake and have no intention of restoring the vehicle themselves, they are just waiting for the right owner to come along to pass the baton on to.

We need more people like this, don’t you think? Because Bus & Coach Preservation

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of these bus and coach preservation heroes there are so many surviving vehicles still out there in barns all over the country and all over the world, awaiting future restoration and or a new owner to take on this exciting challenge. Barn finds are the most exciting discoveries and I secretly hope we haven’t discovered all of the preserved buses and coaches yet and also that there are more to be found abroad and potentially repatriated.

There are many reasons to consider why a vehicle might have spent more time stored safely away than being seen out on the open roads. Maybe the bus or coach isn’t road safe and needs restoration work, engine and mechanical components are missing/ seized etc, other vehicles in collections are before a particular vehicle in the restoration queue, time, funds, other priorities life throws at people, you name it there are many reasons vehicles aren’t seen for years which shouldn’t be judged by onlookers.

What is the rush? The same goes for this month’s survivor barn find, Thames Valley, Bristol KSW6B, No 666 (HBL 68).

THAMES VALLEY SURVIVOR No 666 is a known survivor to many in Bristol preservation circles, but to those of you reading this that aren’t up on Bristol survivors, this article aims to share with you more about the KSW and what preservationist Neil Halliday has planned for No 666 next.

July 2021

4 Today — No 666 at home in North Yorkshire.

NEIL HALLIDAY COLLECTION 5 Scraping back the paint reveals a classic advert.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN 6 Cab seat requires serious attention!

KIRSTY BLACKMAN 7 A list of further jobs in the cab.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN

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8 Fleet number survives amongst the rust.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN

New to Thames Valley Traction Co in May 1953, No 666 lead a charmed life at Reading in service with Thames Valley until being withdrawn in February 1971 and subsequently acquired by W. H. Fowler via a dealer in May 1971 for a specific school contract in rural Lincolnshire.

No 666 was withdrawn prematurely in 1973 after a serious accident and complaints from parents that the vehicle was unsafe to transport the school children due to the lack of platform doors. Following withdrawal the KSW was replaced by ex-West Yorkshire Bristol LD6B, OWX 168 which was fitted with the required platform doors. As No 666 was no longer required it was delicensed and put into storage as the proprietor thought the bus too good to be sold and would act as a spare vehicle. For the next 42 years, No 666 resided in storage at Fowlers gathering dust and despite many enquires to purchase from the preservation movement, Mr Fowler refused to part with the bus. On the passing of Mr Fowler senior, his son continued to run the successful business and in 2015 decided it was time to pass No 666 on for future preservation.

Neil Halliday was given an early tip-off that the bus may be for sale, so a meeting was arranged with Mr Fowler and a deal was done for Neil to purchase the KSW for preservation. By August 2015. No 666 has been transported to its new home in North Yorkshire where it has been safely stored and preserved awaiting its turn for restoration ever since.

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TIME FOR RESTORATION Fast forward to May 2021 and the KSW is still in remarkable condition having been dry stored for 42 years and is like a time capsule inside with nothing having been altered since the bus left service as Thames Valley No 666 in 1971.

Neil has decided the time has finally come for the KSW to be restored to its former glory to represent how it would have looked in service with Thames Valley back in the 1950s.

The first job to be tackled is getting the KSW out of the corner it has been parked in since arriving in North Yorkshire. The building has recently been extended around the KSW, remarkably a wall and girder has been taken down safely around the bus without a dent or scrape enabling the KSW to move into a new space last month with plenty room around it for restoration to begin.

Neil has planned for any mechanical work to be carried first, including checking over the gorgeous Bristol AVW engine, rebuilding the platform area and beginning the removal of beading/strapping and panels for framework to be assessed and then new panels and beading fitted. A new offside wing will need to be fabricated and attention to the cab panel which has

9 Bristol AVW engine is ready to roar back to life.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN 10 Some seat restoration will be required.

Upper-deck lowbridge deprivations were an everyday fact of life.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN 11 Shade of Tilling moquette needing reviving.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN 12 Former Brighton, Hove & District K5G CAP 211 spent a short period with Thames Valley on a riverside tour.

KIRSTY BLACKMAN

suffered some rot. The interior cab area will receive some restoration TLC along with the interior which as it is still a time warp will be assessed as to what can remain preserved and cleaned up rather than stripped out for new. All windows will be removed and refitted with new rubbers after coach painting into the famous Tilling red and cream with black-lined Thames Valley livery. Neil has a full new set of tyres to be fitted which once dressed, will be the icing on the cake like a pair of well polished shoes.

I am very much looking forward to seeing Neil progress with this restoration as I know it has been something he has been waiting for the right moment to get started on, if there is ever a right time? He will be secretly fitting some authentic West Yorkshire destination blinds and taking the KSW to Baildon, Neil’s home town to relive his childhood memories of riding on KSWs through West Yorkshire. Neil is also planning on taking No 666 to many Thames Valley events, so something to look forward to.

Also interesting to note is that No 666 has a neighbour in Thames Valley K5G, CAP 211 as they reside next door to each other. Is this the largest Thames Valley collection of Bristol K types under restoration north of Watford Gap? Answers on a postcard.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

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EWSBURY BUS MUSEU WEST RIDING OMNIBUS PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Ask the conductor for

A Return to Heath Common!

BUS RALLY AND RUNNING DAY

Sunday 27th June 2021

HEATH COMMON WAKEFIELD

Just put WF1 5SL into your Sat Nav

10.30am to 4.30pm • Visiting Buses • Tombola Fun • 25 Running Vehicles • Trade Stalls • Heritage buses to Wakefield City Centre and both Westgate and Kirkgate railway stations To bring a bus or coach, call us on 01924 265528 For Trade Stalls, call us on 07956 579684

Event Programme £4.00 Anti-Covid-19 measures will be in place – please bring a face covering with you

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/dewsburybusmuseum On our website www.DewsburyBusMuseum.org West Riding Omnibus Museum Trust – Registered Charity No. 702232

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1 Awaiting a return to promenade tram tours inside Rigby Road depot on 30 April 2021 were 1937 Brush Railcoach No 621 and Balloon car No 717 ‘Walter Luff’. They are flanked by Balloon No 715 on the left and OMO car No 8 on the right. SIMON GILL

C H A R I T Y

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SIMON GILL reports on two former Lytham St. Annes Corporation buses that have moved to Blackpool as a prelude to being included in a visitor attraction on the Fylde Coast.

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n B&CP, December 2018, David Jukes reported on the Blackpool Heritage Trust and the Heritage Tram Tours that have been established in the town. At that time three buses were included in the collection but, with the help of a charity, this has been expanded to provide a more representative selection of buses that have operated along the Fylde Coast. We were kindly invited along to see the first two former Lytham St. Annes Corporation buses arrive at Rigby Road depot.

BLACKPOOL HERITAGE TRUST The Trust is a non-profit making organisation established in 2014 to promote the retention, preservation and continued operation of Blackpool’s unique collection of heritage tramcars on the tramway for which they were built.

It encourages the operation of Heritage Tram Tours, operated by Blackpool Transport Services (BTS), but is not part of BTS’s commercial operation and receives no commercial sponsorship, instead reliant on private donations and supporters’ goodwill.

July 2021

2 Two of the illuminated trams in storage: Trawler FD241 (originally 737 until 2015) and Warship ‘HMS Blackpool’ F736.

SIMON GILL

HERITAGE TRAM CHANGES Whilst not giving too much away about the Company’s future plans, it is no secret that Blackpool Transport is about to commence a phased series of essential redevelopments at Rigby Road depot in order to re-purpose it for the future for both buses and heritage trams. This work will be spread over a number of years.

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3

In 2020 the Trust’s volunteers were honoured to be given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. As a result, the amount of space currently occupied by the heritage department will progressively reduce leaving less space in which to work and to store heritage trams. In order to facilitate these changes, it was necessary to re-assess the trams stored at Rigby Road and it became apparent they had too many.

For some time BTS has been able to assist various organisations and individuals by storing trams on their behalf entirely free of charge because it had the space available.

With circumstances changing it can no longer continue this arrangement. We understand all affected owners were contacted and have been fully understanding about the reasons and grateful for the support and assistance provided in the past. This will result in some trams leaving but it is important to note the core collection will remain.

TRAM TOURS RECOMMENCE In the meantime, Blackpool Heritage Trams returned to Blackpool’s famous promenade on 29 May, and it is intended they will continue through to the end of the year. Due to the huge success of pre-booking the tours in 2020 the Promenade, Coastal and Illumination tours are now available to pre-book online at www.blackpoolheritage.com. Over the coming weeks, BHT will be announcing the return of its special tours, along with a couple new ones.

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3 A splendid looking Lytham St. Annes No 10 (JTD 381) in St. Annes on 20 April 2013, the day it was collected from Alan Rydeheard.

KEITH SEVERN

4

4 Added luxury from the chrome-plated Clayton heater on the lower saloon front bulkhead.

SIMON GILL

QUEENS AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE In 2020 the Trust’s volunteers were honoured to be given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. This enables them to widen public access to a rich part of the nation’s heritage. In doing so they are developing a wide variety of skills, creating a major contribution to the welfare of their local community and fulfilling the purposes of wellbeing, learning and education.

BTS Head of Heritage, Bryan Lindop said: ‘Having worked with this remarkable and talented group of volunteers now for over five years, it fills me with great pride to see them achieve this pinnacle of national recognition. It takes a lot of dedication, commitment, sheer grit and determination to maintain the high standard of excellence that they have become renowned for. The volunteers, the community that they serve and indeed the nation’s heritage adoring public who come to Blackpool to benefit from the sheer feel-good factor that the heritage tram tours create, are inspiring new generations to cherish and appreciate their heritage; to participate in something culturally unique and life-affirming and, by doing so, ensuring that future generations will be able to continue to enjoy this inspiring public amenity’.

Bus & Coach Preservation

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Derek Calrow OBE, a retired stockbroker from Bury, has a keen interest in Lytham St. Annes Corporation buses, having bought several for preservation. These are No 24 (TJ 6760), a 1934 Leyland Lion LT5A; No 45 (BTF 25), a 1937 Leyland Titan TD4c and No 10 (JTD 381), a 1948 Leyland Titan PD2/1, all with Leyland bodies.

He and his wife set up the Barbara and Derek Calrow Charitable Foundation in 2018 to provide donations to local causes for the benefit of the community. With the approval of the Charity Commission the two oldest buses have been transferred to the charity to ensure their long-term maintenance and survival.

Derek was awarded the OBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours for voluntary and political service in North West England. He has raised thousands of pounds for charities over the years as well as serving as honorary president of Bury FC, a governor at Bury Grammar School and chairman of the Bury Parish Church Step Inside Appeal.

MOVE TO BLACKPOOL BTS is committed to heritage and it forms part of its business strategy. The enforced shutdown of heritage operations during the Covid-19 pandemic provided Bryan Lindop with an ideal opportunity to focus on the future as part of a Covid-19 recovery plan. He considers it important to have historic buses on-site, in addition to trams, as they tell an integral part of the

5

5 The moquette inserts in the seats added warmth to the lower saloon.

SIMON GILL

6

6 The functional driver’s cab with added tachograph under the steering wheel on the right.

SIMON GILL

story strengthening the heritage offer for visitors to the Fylde Coast.

A lower saloon from Lytham St. Annes English Electric tram No 43 forms part of the Trust’s collection, but apart from some material that BTS acquired with Squires Gate depot, it has very little to represent its close neighbour.

The three Lytham St. Annes buses had been on loan to the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust, but the agreement was about to expire so the opportunity to work with Blackpool Heritage Trust has presented itself at the right time. Leyland Lion No 24 (TJ 6760) and PD2 No 10 (JTD 381) were therefore moved to Rigby Road depot on 30 April 2021, where they were met by local MPs Paul Maynard (Blackpool North) and Scott Benton (Blackpool South) who welcomed their arrival.

The TD4c No 45 is currently undergoing an extensive restoration and will follow in due course.

Bryan was delighted and told us: ‘The buses fulfil three obligations here at Blackpool Heritage. Firstly, it enables us to provide a home for this wonderful charitable trust and its vehicles for as long as it wants it.

Secondly, it enables us to provide an aspect of Blackpool and Lytham St. Annes’ history which otherwise would not be represented here and thirdly, it is part of our remit to attract and work with as many charitable organisations as possible in order to help regenerate our heritage and work towards creating a visitor attraction for the Fylde Coast to which these buses will eventually form a part’.

7 The rear of Leyland PD2 No 10 (JTD 381) as it heads past Leyland Lion LT5A No 24 (TJ 6760) at Fairhaven Lake. SIMON GILL

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July 2021

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THE FIRST PD2s The youngest of the three buses, JTD 381, is one of six Leyland Titan PD2/1s delivered in 1948 to Lytham St. Annes Borough Council as fleet numbers 10-5. They were the second batch of new vehicles to be delivered after the end of World War I2, the first being six Leyland Titan PD1s in 1946. They reportedly all arrived in convoy, creating quite a stir as they passed through the town.

These buses were the first Leyland vehicles delivered with the more powerful 9.8-litre O.600 engine but were the last to be delivered to Lytham to the old dimensions of 26ft long and 7ft 6in wide, subsequent deliveries being

34

to the post-1950 dimensions of 27ft long and 8ft wide.

All featured a brown interior with moquette inserts in the lower deck seats and a Clayton heater on the front bulkhead of the lower saloon — sheer luxury!

JTD 381 Registered on 4 May 1948, No 10 (JTD 381) was immediately put to use primarily on ‘main line’ services 11/11A to Blackpool and later the 11B/11C routes. It was one of two PD2/1s still in service on 1 April 1974 when, following local government reorganisation, it became part of the Fylde Borough Council Transport fleet, retaining the

8 The two Leylands together at Fairhaven Lake as PD2 No 10 (JTD 381) passes Lion LT5A No 24 (TJ 6760) on the way to Blackpool.

SIMON GILL

Bus & Coach Preservation

same fleet number but with a very simplified monosyllabic ‘Fylde’ fleet-name.

Following expiry of its Certificate of Fitness, No 10 was withdrawn in November 1974. Maintenance department records show it had covered approximately 954,000 miles — quite a feat considering the furthest the bus had probably ventured was to Blackpool and back! The same records give an overall life average fuel consumption of 10.5 mpg. Due to the delayed delivery of six Leyland Atlantean AN68/1Rs with Northern Counties bodies (with internal fitting out completed by Willowbrook) No 10 was retained until April 1975.

July 2021

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9

9 The socially distanced handover at Rigby Road on 30 April 2021 was attended by from the left: Keith Severn, Scott Benton MP (Blackpool South), Bryan Lindop (Head of Heritage, Blackpool Transport), Derek Calrow OBE and Paul Maynard MP (Blackpool North).

SIMON GILL 10 Alan Rydeheard (right) bids a fond farewell to No 10 as it is collected by Keith Severn (left).

KEITH SEVERN COLLECTION

CONSERVATION No 10 was bought immediately for preservation by Blackpool’s Chief of Police, Alan Rydeheard, who owned it for many years. It appears the PD2 has remained almost as originally delivered in 1948 other than routine engine and gearbox overhauls with replacement of parts as required. The only work on the body has been the renewal of the floor, fresh varnish applied to the wooden window surrounds and some accident damage repairs.

Derek had got to know Alan Rydeheard, who was also a director of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society until 2010, so when the time came to dispose of No 10, Alan contacted him as he was keen to see it go to a good home. The bus was acquired on 28 March 2013 and they remained in contact until Alan sadly passed away on 13 December 2019, aged 91. Derek has now passed No 10 on to Keith Severn in recognition of all Keith’s help with his vehicles.

Unlike many vehicles of its age, No 10’s good condition has enabled it to be ‘conserved’ rather than needing a major restoration/rebuilding exercise. That said, it is likely it will have some work done once TD4c, 10 No 45, is finished.

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THANKS

Next month we will take a detailed look at the rescue and restoration of Lytham St. Annes’ first diesel bus, Leyland Lion LT5A No 24 (TJ 6760) and its significance to Blackpool.

In the meantime our grateful thanks to Derek Calrow OBE, Keith Severn, Bryan Lindop and Paul Turner for all their help and making us so welcome at the handover.

BLACKPOOL HERITAGE BUSES No REG INFO No 364

B364 UBV

Leyland Atlantean AN68D/2R with East Lancs coach-seated body new 1984 to Blackpool Corporation

No 857

D257 FYM

Leyland Olympian ONLXB/1RH with Eastern Coach Works open-top dual-door body new 1987 as London Buses L257

No 24

TJ 6760

Leyland Lion LT5A with Leyland rear-entrance body new 1934 as a Leyland demonstrator*

No 45

BTF 25

Leyland Titan TD4c with Leyland full-front body new 1937 to Lytham St Annes – off-site under restoration*

No 10

JTD 381

Leyland Titan PD2/1 with Leyland body new 1948 to Lytham St. Annes **

No 501

HFR 501E

Leyland Titan PD3A/1 with Metro-Cammell body new 1967 to Blackpool Corporation ***

No 554

PFR 554H

AEC Swift MP2R with Marshall dual-door body new 1970 to Blackpool Corporation ***

Buses on loan

*On loan from Barbara & Derek Calrow Charitable Foundation **On loan from Keith Severn ***On loan from Martin Gurr (General Manager of Heritage Operation) and Garry Conn (Commercial Manager of Heritage Operation)

Bus & Coach Preservation

AFTER THEY WERE FAMOUS

Saloon Selection What a variety we have for you this month.

Dating from 1937 to 1970 — we’ve got ’em covered!

Top: This month we start a long way back . . . 1937 all-Leyland TS8, Chesterfield 23 (ERA 95) spent many years as a mobile canteen. It was eventually scrapped to be replaced by the now preserved Crossley-bodied Leyland Tiger PS1 47 (JRA 634).

Pictures: PRESBUS ARCHIVE

Right: Former Maidstone & District 1939 ECW-bodied Leyland TS8, FKO 76 was, when surplus to requirements, sold to British Railways Civil Engineers’ Department in York.

It is seen here outside York Railway Works’ Central Sundry Stores accompanied by sister vehicle FKO 73 (left).

Bottom: Also new in 1939, the onetime Southdown 80 (FUF 181), a Harrington-bodied Dennis Falcon, was acquired in the late-1960s by a charity, the Independent State of Cuckfield.This was a different age of bus preservation when, with few events and a different angle on the direction of the movement, many preserved vehicles made only a few appearances, with those based in the South of England choosing the annual London–Brighton Run, on which the Falcon was a regular, to delight the public. Whilst the Falcon is no more, the Independent State of Cuckfield is still a charity. Another venue to spot the Falcon was the Bluebell Railway where, in June 1970, it was caught waiting outside Horsted Keynes station.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

Below: New in 1964 East Lancsbodied AEC Reliance, the former Rochdale 23 (ADK 723B) was caught on camera at the Manchester Museum of Transport in March 1981, when with Broughton House, a disabled ex-serviceman’s home in Salford which, as a disabled village survives today, a privilege not enjoyed by the Reliance.

Above: Whatever happened to the cadets, marching bands, gymnastics clubs etc of the 1970s and 1980s? Must have gone out of fashion like former East Kent 1968 Marshall-bodied AEC Reliance OFN 709F, which is seen here when with the Urmston Division Guide Band in August 1984.The bus later returned to PSV use with Hulme Hall Coaches and by 2010, had been preserved in East Kent colours, making its last public appearances in 2015. By 2018 it had also fallen out of favour and was languishing in a scrapyard.

July 2021

Above: Many of London Transport’s unpopular AEC Swifts prematurely left the London scene finding a plethora of new homes and uses. New in 1970, Marshall-bodied AEC Swift SMS158 (EGN 158J) did a good job cornering the preserved bus insurance market during the 1980s whilst with Chapman Stevens Insurance, no doubt aided by the Swift! Seen here in Grays, Essex in July 1981, SMS158 was acquired by Hants & Sussex in 1990 as a source of spares.

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AFTER THEY WERE FAMOUS

Left: Fairs and circuses found a variety of uses for withdrawn buses and coaches. Here former Potteries 1957 Weymannbodied AEC Reliance 691 AEH acts as an advance booking office for Austen Bros London Festival Circus in Workington in September 1975.

COACHING CLASSICS

1

London’s Coaches London’s coach operators come and go — do you remember these?

1 We begin our tour with a rare view at Euston Square Coach Booking Office of LYM 729, a Tillings Transport 1951 AEC Regal IV with ECW coachwork similar to that fitted to London Transport’s RFW-class. This coach and its four sisters were rebodied in 1960 with ECW MW-style coachwork. Tillings Transport Ltd was formed from the business of Pat Hearn of Kings Cross upon nationalisation in 1948 to continue coach operation in London. Control of Tillings passed to Eastern National in 1962, and in 1974 Tillings was merged with Timpsons of Catford and Samuelsons New Transport to form National Travel (South East).

Pictures: PRESBUS ARCHIVE

2

3

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2 Samuelsons New Transport was a BET Group operator owned by London Coastal Coaches which also operated Victoria Coach Station. Samuelsons garage was opposite the coach station and is today used as an arrivals terminus. Pictured here in February 1974 is 1965 Harrington Grenadier-bodied Leyland Leopard L2T DYM 453C in British United Airways livery, which airline used Samuelsons for transfer work. Said livery had been adopted as the fleet livery replacing the previous green and cream. Following service with National Travel (South East), this coach passed to Wrights of Penycae.

3 Empire’s Best was a subsidiary of south-east London operator Banfield’s Coaches, which was taken over in 1960. Empire’s Best ran a London–Clactonon-Sea express service calling at Chelmsford and Colchester. LMD 545C, seen here in April 1970, was one of a pair of AEC Reliances with dual-purpose Willowbrook BET-style service purchased specifically for this service. A little basic maybe, but who cared going home from a boozy trip to Clacton on a Saturday night!

Bus & Coach Preservation

5 The growth in air travel mushroomed during the 1960s and 1970s posing a major headache in transferring passengers and crews between Heathrow airport and central London. One beneficiary of the demand was Hall of Hounslow trading as Silverline Coaches. Hall held contracts with both Pan Am and TWA. VYH 49G was a 1969 AEC Reliance/ Plaxton Elite seen here in April 1971.

Such was the volume of this work, Halls also employed Roe-bodied Leyland Atlanteans on behalf of TWA. Silverline later merged with Valliant-Cronshaw.

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6

6 On the same sunny April 1971 day, Hall of Hounslow (Silverline) 1970 Plaxton Elite-bodied AEC Reliance DGC 105H in Pan Am livery leaves Heathrow airport bound for central London 7 World Wide’s unique 1970 44-seat Plaxton Elite-bodied Mercedes-Benz O.302 ONK 657H had been an exhibit at the 1969 Scottish Motor Show and was entered in the following year’s Brighton Coach Rally. World Wide subsequently purchased several Mercedes-Benz O.302 integrals.

World Wide was established in 1964 with American Express as a major shareholder. In 1976 American Express sold its shares to the Ewer Group (Grey-Green), which had owned 70% of the shares since 1974.

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July 2021

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COACHING CLASSICS

4 During the 1960s and 1970s, Essex County Coaches traded under the Galleon Tours name, before changing its legal name to Galleon Tours in 1981.

AJD 529C was a 1965 AEC Reliance with 37-seat Plaxton Panorama coachwork used on extended tours.

4

COACHING CLASSICS

8

Pictures: PRESBUS ARCHIVE

8 In 1968 long-established express operator Birch Bros sold its Bedfordshire–London routes to United Counties, leaving it to concentrate on private hire work.

Seen here in July 1973, Birch K64 (BUL 64H) was a 1970 Seddon Pennine 4 with Plaxton Elite coachwork. Birch began as long ago as 1837 using a horse-drawn carriage.

It sold out to the Ewer Group in 1979.

9 Rickards was established in 1912 using charabancs on sightseeing tours etc. In 1936 it received the Royal Warrant, awarded to transport the Royal Household to official events etc. In 1965 Rickards was acquired by British Eagle International Airlines, one of the principal independent UK scheduled airlines of that time.

British Eagle wished to provide its passengers with an improved service between its London terminal at Knightsbridge and Heathrow. In 1967, however, Rickards was sold to Frames Tours. The combined business being known as FramesRickards. (Who remembers the tour guide on the TV with the umbrella?)

Rickards was also a pioneer in Railair transfers. Seen here on tour in the capital in May 1979, MRO 181L was a 1973 AEC Reliance with 44-seat Plaxton Elite coachwork.

9 10

10 Not the same Frames! This Frames was a London-based travel agent, the coach being a member of the National Travel South East fleet running under contract. Caught on camera in September 1979, LYU 561P was a 1976 Willowbrook 008 Spacecar-bodied AEC Reliance.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

11 Not the most elegant of coaches, Glenton Tours PYT 154R was a 1977 Volvo B58 with Duple Dominant I 34-seat centre-entrance coachwork.

Glenton Tours became known for its centre entrances allowing two lucky passengers to sit up-front with the driver affording superb views. The doorway was narrow presumably to allow s little extra legroom.

Glenton normally employed Plaxton coachwork, the Panorama and the Elite appearing better ‘balanced’ with a centre entrance. Glenton Tours was established in the early-1920s. From 1988, its tours were contracted out to Tellings Golden Miller, some of its coaches being painted in GT livery.

This view was captured in January 1983.

12 13

12 Frames again! Here the travel agent is working with Thomas Cook.

Turning out of Regent Street in May 1978 is XGS 737S, a 1978 Plaxton Supreme-bodied Leyland Leopard under contract from Armchair of Brentford.

13 The fleets under the control of the George Ewer Group came and went, but Grey-Green was always there.

Operating a mixed fleet of Bedfords and Leyland Leopards in the late-1970s and 1980s, the livery seen here was applied across all Ewer fleets, the lower colour reflecting the fleet to which the coach was allocated. For example orange for Orange Luxury, Red for Birch Bros, Blue for World Wide etc. Naturally Green was reserved for Grey-Green as demonstrated by CYH 790V, a 1979 Duple Dominant II-bodied Bedford YMT.

July 2021

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COACHING CLASSICS

4 11

THE MODEL PAGE

This month NIGEL APPLEFORD brings us the second part of his roundup of East Kent model buses and coaches — single-deckers and coaches.

T

he East Kent Road Car Co Ltd was formed on 11 August 1916, an amalgamation of five local companies. It expanded by the takeover of other operators and the introduction of new routes.

It served the eastern tip of Southern England and established depots at Canterbury, Deal, Margate, Herne Bay, Ramsgate, Dover, Folkestone, Ashford and New Romney with a head office at Canterbury. It also operated into East Sussex at one time, its routes around Rye and Hastings being exchanged with Maidstone & District for that operator’s routes in Ashford. In 1928 the Southern Railway took a 49% shareholding in the company which consequently became part of the BET group.

In January 1969, East Kent became part of the National Bus Company, its dark red and cream livery giving way to NBC poppy red and white. For some years East Kent and neighbouring Maidstone & District shared management functions but this ended with the break-up of the NBC. Fleetnumbers were not introduced until 1977.

Following deregulation of bus services on 26 October 1986, East Kent was sold to a management/employee buyout on 5 March 1987, and by summer 1993, the company had been sold to Stagecoach. The coaching operation was sold off together with two garages, the remainder now trading as ‘Stagecoach in East Kent’.

Top: EFE’s ubiquitous Bedford OB/Duple Vista coach appeared as East Kent MKK 40 in October 1996. MKK 40 was one of four OBs in the East Kent fleet, all acquired as a result of takeovers. This example came from A. Saxby & Sons (t/a Enterprise) of Margate in 1953.

Model pictures: NIGEL APPLEFORD

Centre top: Corgi Classics released this 1:50 scale set of a Bedford OB/Duple Vista coach and an AEC Regal/Duple A coach in 1991. Both vehicles were acquired with their operators — the Regal from Auto Pilot, Folkestone and the OB from Sergeant of Cheriton.

Centre bottom: The only East Kent model release so far from Oxford Diecast is this June 2017 model of nowpreserved Beadle/Leyland FFN 446. East Kent took 28 of these semi-chassisless vehicles between 1950 and 1952 incorporating the running units from prewar Leyland TD5s within a fully fronted coach with bulkhead behind the driver. Three appeared as FFN 445-7 in 1950 and a further 25 (GFN 256-80) in 1952. These coaches remained in service until the mid-1960s with most later receiving cream roofs.

Bottom: Although East Kent had standardised on the AEC Reliance for both bus and coach work, in 1971 it acquired 30 Leyland Leopard saloons from Southdown to speed up the rollout of OMO in the Folkestone area, all with Marshall bodies. 1963-built 265-89 AUF had curved rear domes, whilst 100-4 CUF of 1964 had the later BET standard peaked domes and wrap round screens. EFE released a native 36ft Reliance with single headlights (DJG 358C) in September 2010 and an exSouthdown Leopard (104 CUF) with twin headlamps in August 2012.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

THE MODEL PAGE In vehicular terms, the early days saw the company acquire a selection of different chassis makes, often from operators taken over, although these generally had a short service life with East Kent. Early chassis purchased by the company included Tilling-Stevens, Leyland, Dennis and Morris-Commercial. The fleet was left in a poor way after World War 2, so a number of chassis were re-bodied, while Beadle of Rochester supplied a number of single-deck coaches built on prewar Leyland TD5 units. AEC became the preferred supplier of underfloorengined single-deckers, the company standardising on the Reliance and later Swift chassis for buses and the Reliance for coach chassis, although some single-deck Daimler Fleetlines were acquired secondhand, Fleetline double-deckers having been operated. Under NBC that option was replaced by Bristol and Leyland products.

Post-deregulation Scania and MCW models were purchased.

Top: OOC also released a model of a BET-style Marshall-bodied AEC Reliance, OFN 738F in February 1997.This batch had five-bay rather than the earlier six-bay bodywork.

Centre top: East Kent’s first batch of 12m coaches comprised AEC Reliances with Plaxton Elite II coachwork delivered in 1971. EFE released two models of this prototype, one without registration plates and a deluxe model with registration WJG 472J. The models were released in August 1993 and February 1997 respectively.

Centre bottom: When East Kent became an NBC subsidiary, poppy red livery and Leyland Nationals inevitably followed. East Kent was an early recipient of the National and EFE has put out two 11.3m single door examples. A model of 1115 (MFN 115R) was released in March 2011 in post-deregulation red/cream livery, whilst a model of 1078 (NFM 78M) in NBC livery was released in January 2016. Correctly 1115 has the later short pod and 1078 the earlier long pod.

Bottom: Also during the NBC era the AEC Reliance was superseded by the Leyland Leopard for coaching duties. B-T Models released this Leyland Leopard/ Duple Dominant 8809 (VJG 809T) model in March 2012. The model is rather basic featuring a plastic body, but etched stainless steel frets, which would appear to be fairly accurate, are available to enhance this model.

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THE MODEL PAGE

In model terms, East Kent had a number of unique body designs, many supplied by Park Royal, so die-cast models will naturally be of any ‘standard’ types already produced, but some of the unique single deck buses and coaches have been produced as whitemetal or resin kits

(or as a conversion for existing die-casts). These are normally produced in short runs and as far as I know none are currently available. Some of the acquired bus and coach examples have also been produced by kit manufacturers.

FLEETLIST EXCLUSIVE FIRST EDITIONS (EFE) 1:76 4MM SCALE: Ref:

Identity:

Released:

Run:

Notes:

15703

AEC Reliance/Plaxton Panorama Elite II *

Aug 993

15703DL

AEC Reliance/Plaxton Panorama Elite WJG 472J

Feb 1997

17226

Leyland National 1115 (MFN 115R)

Mar 2011

Post-deregulation livery

17312

Leyland National 1078 (NFM 78M)

Jan 2016

NBC livery

20117

Bedford OB/Duple Vista coach MKK 40

Oct 1996

26625

Plaxton Paramount III 3500 8243 (SIB 8243)

Jun 2014

35204

AEC Reliance/Marshall DJG 358C

Sep 2010

Single headlamps

35307

Leyland Leopard/Marshall 104 CUF

Aug 2012

Twin headlamps

2,425

* registration numbers not carried

ORIGINAL OMNIBUS COMPANY (CORGI) 1:76 4MM SCALE: 40203

AEC Reliance/Marshall OFN 738F

Feb 1997

3,600

45003

Volvo B10M/Van Hool Alizee 8505 (IIL 3505)

Apr 1998

7,600

In Stagecoach Set with Leyland Olympian

42719

Volvo B10M Van Hool Alizee 8505 (IIL 3505)

Sep 1998

5,000

Certificated Release.

B-T MODELS 1:76 4MM SCALE: B008

Leyland Leopard/Duple Dominant II 8809 (VJG 809T)

Mar 2012

OXFORD DIECAST 1:76 4MM SCALE: 76BI001

Beadle-Leyland Coach FFN 446

Jun 2017

CORGI CLASSICS 1:50 6MM SCALE:

Model pictures: NIGEL APPLEFORD

97750

AEC Regal/Duple ‘A’ CKE 707 Bedford OB/Duple Vista KKO 745

Above: EFE released a model of East Kent Coaches 8243 (SIB 8243) in post-deregulation livery during June 2014. No 8243 was a 1991 Volvo B10M-60 with Plaxton Paramount III 3500 body, ex-Parks of Hamilton and originally registered H826 AHS. It survived into Stagecoach days.

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1991

10,000

East Kent Set

Above: OOC has released two models of Van Hool Alizee coach 8505 (IIL 3505), in a Stagecoach Set (45003) with a United Counties Leyland Olympian in April 1998, and as a single vehicle (42719) in September 1998.

No 8505 was on a 1987 Volvo B10M-61 chassis, originally registered E623 UNE and transferred from fellow Stagecoach subsidiary Cumberland Motor Services in 1995. The figures in the model would appear to be rather oversize!

Bus & Coach Preservation

OFF ROUTE

Prudle the Parrot

Does anyone remember Prudle, a regular passenger on a Southdown Queen Mary?

NICK LARKIN reports.

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D

oes anyone remember a parrot, who was a regular passenger on Southdown’s 12 (Eastbourne–Seaford–Brighton) service who was much-loved despite talking incessantly and even confusing crews by giving false bell signals?

B&CP contributor MALCOLM PELLING, a Southdown conductor and driver in the 1970s does. Prudle, an African grey parrot, used to board regularly at Seaford with his lady owner.

Recalls Malcolm: ‘The bird went everywhere and was the UK.s champion talker. He would sit on the front seat and regale all with cries of “hold tight please!” and “you’re going too fast!” Later he learned to mock the bell. Prudle’s announcements were better than some conductors. We all loved Prudle and it was a sad day when he passed away.’

Malcolm also recalls possibly the most embarrassing incident of his career. ‘I was working a ‘back-loader’ through Peacehaven. We had stopped to allow passengers to get off. I was about to ring the bus off when I saw an elderly gent walking as briskly as he could. I saw he was holding one of those large leather shopping bags that were once so common. As soon as he was on the platform, I rang the bell and called out to him to hold tight. With much annoyance he glared at me. Then I discovered he only had one arm!

I sheepishly went to collect his fare.’

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1 Working the 12 from Brighton’s Pool Valley bus station, though without any avian passenger on board is Southdown 1961 Northern Countiesbodied Leyland PD3/4 881 (2881 CD), accompanied by 1948 all Leyland PD2/1 365 (JCD 65).

NICK LARKIN COLLECTION

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RIBBLE RETURNS

Ribble buses, once a familiar sight from Liverpool to Carlisle before the identity was abandoned by Stagecoach, are back, but in a small way.

Transdev Blazefield has launched a new Ribble Country network in partnership with Lancashire County Council, using 18 new locally completed Mellor-bodied Mercedes-Benz minibuses. The operator says the brand name ‘reflects the heritage of well-known bus operator Ribble.

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Bus & Coach Preservation

OFF ROUTE

3 3

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VEGAS OR BUS!

Yet another celebrity has come out of the proverbial depot to admit to a love of buses.

Comedian and actor Johnny Vegas bought a traditional Maltese bus (a ‘bitsa’ with some Bedford chassis and suspension components which entered service in 1972) on the Internet, not realising that getting it back home would cost £5,000.

Now called Patricia, the now rebuilt (complete with shower!) vehicle has been joined by an American school bus and other ancient machinery for a new ‘glamping’ site set up by Johnny with help from assistant Bev Dixon in North Yorkshire.

Johnny said that he once had a beloved camper van but added: ‘I do love vintage stuff we’ve got an amazing transport museum in St. Helens.’ Buying the bus had been a ‘drunken decision,’ however.

The story, its many disasters and of course, the effects of covid-19 on the business are the subject of a four-part series, ‘Carry on Glamping’, which can now be viewed on the All-4 catch-up site.

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VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY

National Express West Midlands is resorting to an unusual way to ensure people can enjoy seeing its heritage fleet in action this year.

At the tine of writing it does seem that rallies will be going ahead, but in any case NXWM has a trick up its sleeve.

The Virtual Bus Bash is being organised for 21/22 August involving an online stream of the heritage fleet driving through the Black Country.

NXWM’s Nikki Houghton said: ‘At least now whatever happens people will be able to see some of the buses’.

Vehicles range from 1952 Birmingham ‘Standard’ Daimler CVG6, MOF 102, to 2001 Alexander-bodied Dennis Trident, Y716 TOH.

July 2021

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Walsall Northern Counties-Daimler Fleetline XDH 519G, and 2001 Alexanderbodied Dennis Trident Y716 TOH are both members of the NXWM Heritage Fleet.

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OFF ROUTE

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WOT NO WIRES?

Pictures: CHRIS HALL

Teesside’s trolley system finished 50 years ago, but this picture, with GAJ 15, a 1950 Sunbeam F4 rebodied by Roe in 1965, and 1960 Sunbeam F4A VRD 186, in Birchington Avenue, will bring back many memories.

Hang on though, isn’t something er missing? We’re thinking trolleybus wires here...

The picture was in fact taken for a 20th anniversary commemoration in 1991, when the two trolleys were towed around the system.

We must point out that 1991 was in fact 30 years ago and it’s half a century since the last Teesside trolley boom was detached from the wires.

Thankfully both trolleys are still very much with us!

Unable to organise a trolleybus 50 event due to covid-19 restrictions, the Teesside 500 Group has produced a special tribute issue of its newsletter. See: Teesside500Group.co.uk

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Bus & Coach Preservation

BUSMART

BUY, SELL AND EXCHANGE YOUR BUS-RELATED ITEMS HERE!

FEATURED BUS FOR SALE

INDEX Buses and coaches for sale

I

Bus and coach parts for sale

II

Restoration services

II

Bus and coach parts wanted

IV

Storage available

IV

Books, magazines and videos for sale

IV

Books Wanted

V

Photographs wanted

V

Models for sale

V

Models Wanted

V

Societies

V

Events

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Our other categories (not listed this month): Accommodation Assistance available Assistance wanted Buses and coaches for hire Buses and coaches wanted Heritage bus services/tours Miscellaneous artefacts for sale Miscellaneous artefacts wanted Model Parts wanted Museums Photographs for sale Property for sale Reunions Shared ownership Sponsorship Wanted Storage/Workshop facilities Storage Wanted

VEHICLE: Bedford OB/Duple Vista MFM 38 Chassis No 141575; Body No 56137. New to Crosville (SL70) 7/50. Sold as a restoration project, no engine, however gearbox is present.

Extra front wings and other parts included. Has current V5c in sellers name.

PRICE: £5,000

CONTACT: Jonny Brenson on 07747 600289 or email jnathan20@hotmail.com Located in Essex.

ADVERTISING RATES DON’T FORGET PRIVATE ADVERTISERS GO FREE! Genuine private readers’ classified lineage ads are FREE and may include one FREE image.

All ads will appear in the next available issue, e-mail your requirements to Presbus Publishing, presbusps2@btinternet.com marking all correspondence ‘ADVERTISING’. Please note we do not accept private ads over the phone.

e-mail: presbusps2@btinternet.com

TRADE ADVERTISING Trade adverts are also accepted, for which our standard rates apply.

These also apply to display advertising should private readers require it.

For our latest competitive rates please call or e-mail Sandra Lamb:

07775 828 421 e-mail: presbusps2@btinternet.com

BE SMART: USE BUSMART!

Volunteers

BUSMART

BUS AND COACHES FOR SALE 1963 Ipswich Regent V with Neepsend bodywork and semi automatic gearbox, converted to a playbus, but is now empty of seats and fittings. Mechanically running, Bodywork is tatty, but frame seems to be in good order. Will need recovery from South Wales. Offers over £1,000 to Mike 07733 302242 (eve)

RESTORATION SERVICES

Central Bus Restorations Ltd

We repair, refurbish and restore both modern and vintage vehicles.

Both mechanical and body work including woodwork undertaken.

Work undertaken in stages to meet individual requirements.

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Traditional coachpainting.

We are located close to Junction 15 of the M6 Leyland Lynx Mk2 Cardiff 262 (J262 UDW) is available for spares or repair, the photo was taken a few years ago. Was a runner, but no longer starting, would need recovery from South Wales. The bus is complete mechanically, some seats are tatty. The Mark II's were rebuilt by Cardiff about 20 years ago, No 262 later saw service in Swansea until 2015.

Offers over £600. Mike 07733 302242 (eve)

BUS AND COACH PARTS FOR SALE

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Largest varied stock of vehicles and spare parts in the UK 1990 to pre‑1940. Hundreds of vehicles, thousands of spare parts. UK and Continental vehicles including: AEC, ATKINSON, ALBION, EDFORD, B.M.C, COMMER, DODGE, FORD, LEYLAND, MAUDSLEY, SCANIA, BRISTOL, SEDDON, THORNYCROFT, VOLVO etc.

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www.rushgreenmotors.com

OUR SALE OR RETURN SCHEME OFFERS THE CHANCE TO:

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Langley, Hitchin, Herts SG4 7PQ Tel: 01438 354174 Fax: 01438 353560

Do you have to unload a project that has now become a burden? Is your landlord, wife or partner being unreasonable? We may be able to help by marketing your bus, completing unfinished work if necessary and resolving the problem for you.

We are the specialists for classic buses in the UK. Our job is to field the enquiries, humour the tyre-kickers and work to match a vehicle to a need. With no hassle for you.

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RUSH GREEN MOTORS

CLASSIC BUS CENTRE

The We can sell your bus for you!

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Coach seats: 2x Bedford OB, 8x Duple or Plaxton £5. each. Keith Burbidge, - Bournemouth. 01202 423909

e-mail mark1969owen@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.centralbusrestorations.co.uk

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22x Caution seat signs, New/Old Stock, Black on Cream Plastic. £20 plus p&p. 2x Bell Push £5 each plus p&p. 6x internal light glasses 27cm long. £7 each plus p&p. Geoff Heels 07776 485208, email geoffthebus@yahoo.com

Call 07860 562165 / 01782 791757

• Store your bus at no cost in secure facilities.

• Respect any conditions you may wish to make (e.g. UK preservation only).

• Sell it on your behalf at an agreed price.

• We have in-house coachbuilding facilities to complete a restoration.

Telephone 01291 689361 or email Bob at classicbuscentre@gmail.com Bus & Coach Preservation

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COBUS COACH REPAIRS & REFURBISHMENT

Commercial and Vintage Coachwork Specialists  Specialist Repairs & Resprays  Highest-End Restorations  Custom Renovations  Insurance Approved

 We Have an Extensive Range of Parts in Stock and also Available to Order  Our Experienced and Friendly Staff Provide Both Impartial and Friendly Advice

Old and obsolete coach parts always wanted Unit 3, Hunmanby Industrial Estate, Bridlington Road, Hunmanby, Filey, North Yorkshire, YO14 0PH

Telephone: 01723 892997 E-mail: cobusuk@btconnect.com

BUSMART

BUS AND COACH PARTS WANTED Dark green moquette 20 metres minimum for 1943 Guy Arab coach/bus, call Tim on 01621 851817 or timjepson411@gmail.com Interior light surrounds for Park Royal-bodied PD2. Please contact Steve on 07970 667785.

STORAGE AVAILABLE Double- and single-deck space in dry building on Fylde Coast, £75 per calender month. Enquiries 07464 814269.

BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND DVDs FOR SALE The Best of British Buses No.3 Leyland Tigers.1927- 1981.Hardback. Great B&W photos, unmarked white pages. £3.95 Excellent condition.

07399 359072.

London's Trams and Trolleybuses by John R Day hardback published by London Transport 1979. In good condition, The Little Red Book 2000 bus & coach industry directory published by Ian Allan good condition. £6 each including postage to UK. Tel John Wakefield 01223 843802 PSV Circle Fleet Histories: Exeter, Glasgow, Walsall/West Brom and Stockton/Middlesborough/TSRTB. £4 each Dan Kain 01708 372351

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We attend bus/lorry rallies all over the UK from the West country to Scotland and toy fairs too come rain or shine.

Models for 50p to £50 Boxed or unboxed

We also buy collections so come along and say hello!

Graham.lunn@yahoo.co.uk

mobile: 07487 699905 EFE NORTHCORD AND CORGI BRITBUS MODELS AVAILABLE IV

Bus & Coach Preservation

Have a collection of recently published (since 2000) books for sale? Best prices paid. Call Sandra on 07775 828421

PHOTOGRAPHS WANTED Quality slide collections purchased (no rally shots please) for cash: best prices paid. Call Sandra: 07775 828421 or e-mail: presbusps2@btinternet.com.

MODELS FOR SALE NZG Volvo Arctic. Rare promotional (1.50) model boxed as new £15 Conrad Mercedes coach 1.50 boxed as new £15. More available if interested. - Rob 07453 350178

1980s NZG model of 1949 Mercedes-Benz O.3500 Bonneted bus 1.50 scale.Complete with all opening doors/seats and display case. As new and getting rare in the UK £45 including postage/packing ( UK) 07453 350178'

4mm Scale LTE/LPTB Destination Blinds. Either Route 11. 25 and 53. Any Preferred Also Trolleybus 696 or 698. Dan Kain 01708 372351

SOCETIES Cambridge Omnibus Society We provide monthly meetings for bus and coach enthusiasts, often having industry professionals coming to talk about their company. In addition we also organise trips to transport related events. Friendly society - new members very welcome. For further information please contact us by email to tonybarf@yahoo.co.uk. Our meetings take place at 7.30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (except January, July, August and December) at the Cambridge Museum of Technology, Cheddars Lane, Cambridge CB5 8LD (our December meeting is normally the Christmas Dinner at a local restaurant.) Each month (except August) we produce a journal CAMBUS which features information and colour photographs. Our membership fee is £13 per year

The Eastern Transport Collection Society owns six Bristol/ ECW vehicles from the Eastern Counties and Great Yarmouth Transport fleets, some fully roadworthy with others undergoing full restoration work by members.Why not join us? Membership gives you a bi-monthly magazine,Terminus, which includes news from East Anglian bus operators, articles of interest and information plus updates regarding the Society’s fleet. Once the pandemic is over, we’ll be resuming our monthly meetings in Norwich and restarting our programme of visits to rallies and transport events.We now have an electronic membership option for those who prefer — ideal for those outside the UK. For more information visit: www.etcs.org.uk or contact the Secretary at 12 Cranfield Close Lowestoft NR33 7EL”

GET YOUR MAGAZINE BINDER FOR JUST £8!

NEW SEASO N: 2021 EV ENTS NEW SEASO N: LATEST UPDATED NE W SEASO EVENT UPD N: PRO AT VISION ES AL DA TES

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Vol 23 No 12 MAY 2021

Vol 23

£4.99

No 11 APR IL

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Orders are sent POST FREE!* (* to UK addresses only).

Please call us for overseas postal rates. Please allow 14 days for delivery.

Call: 07849 183 890

e-mail: presbusps2@btinternet.com

July 2021

We accept payment by credit/debit cards and cheques payable to Meteor Books: 65 Grindle Road, Coventry, CV6 6DS

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BUSMART

MODELS WANTED

BOOKS WANTED

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EVENTS Please Note: This is a provisional list of events for 2021, the details of which have been sent to us. Current restrictions mean that these are subject to cancellation at short notice. Readers are advised to check with organisers directly before setting out. B&CP cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of any of the information below.

Sunday 6 June. Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Open Sunday.

EVENT CANCELLED. Saturday 12 June. Delaine Bus Museum Open Day. Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LE. Museum open between 12.00 and 16.00. Free heritage bus ride at 13.30. Admission: Adult £2, accompanied U-16s free (max two per adult). Light refreshments and free car parking available. Further details can be found at: www.delaineheritagetrust.org , enquiries@delaineheritagetrust.org or twitter@delaineheritage Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 June. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Weekend Trolleydays. Marking the 110th anniversary of the first British trolleybus systems. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Sunday 27 June. West Riding Omnibus Preservation Society Golden Jubilee Running Day, Wakefield. Celebrating 50 years of Wakefield bus preservation. Admission by programme, accompanied children free. Advance copy available for £5 by sending a cheque payable to West Riding Omnibus Museum Trust, 47E Dale Street, Ossett WF5 9HE. 10.00 – 16.30 with a full day of free services and tours and a large static bus display. Up to 20 vehicles running in service and a large selection of visiting buses, trade stalls, cafe, Tombola and much more.

Visiting vehicles always welcome. Free feeder services usually operate to the event from Barnsley, Bradford, Castleford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Pontefract, Rotherham, Sheffield & Wakefield. For more information visit: www.dewsburybusmuseum.org or our official Facebook page for final details of the venue and the feeder services. To book in a vehicle for free services or general enquiries please call 01924 265528.

Saturday 3 – Sunday 4 July. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Weekend Trolleydays. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Sunday 4 July. Museum of Transport Greater Manchester – Salford 101. Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8UW. Free Centreshuttle 4 bus from Corporation Street (stop NU) and Shudehill Interchange (Stand E) from 09.50. Details: www.motgm.uk or Tel: 0161 205 2122.

Sunday 4 July. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Classic Bus and Coach Rally. Wirksworth Station, Derbyshire, DE4 4FB. Bus Entry Form: www.e-v-r.com/busbooking Enquiries: events@wyvernrail.co.uk Sunday 4 July. Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Open Sunday.

The garage at Bridgeton will be open to visitors from 11.00 until 16.00.

Admission: Adults £5.00, Child/OAP £3.00, Family £12.00. Details: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, 76 Fordneuk Street, Glasgow, G40 3AH. E-mail: info@gvvt.org. Website: www.gvvt.org.

Saturday 10 July. Delaine Bus Museum Open Day. Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LE. Museum open between 12.00 and 16.00. Free heritage bus ride at 13.30. Admission Adult £2, accompanied U-16s free (max two per adult). Light refreshments and free car parking available. Further details can be found at: www.delaineheritagetrust.org , enquiries@delaineheritagetrust.org or twitter@delaineheritage Sunday 11 July. Aston Manor (Aldridge) Transport Museum 34th Annual Open Day. Vehicle displays, free bus services running throughout the day and sales stands. Shenstone Drive, off Northgate, Aldridge, West Midlands WS9 8TP. Phone: 01922 454761 or see website: www.amrtm.org and also follow us on Facebook under the museum name.

Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 July. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Weekend Trolleydays. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Sunday 25 July. Worthing Bus Rally. Seafront, 10.00 – 16.00.

Application forms online at www.worthingbusrally.co.uk

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Sunday 1 August. Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Family and Community Fun Day. The Bridgeton garage will be open to visitors from 11.00 until 16.00. Admission: Adults £5.00, Child/OAP £3.00, Family £12.00. Details: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, 76 Fordneuk Street, Glasgow, G40 3AH. E-mail: info@gvvt.org. Website: www.gvvt.org.

Sunday 1 August. Provincial Bus Rally at Stokes Bay Road, Stokes Bay, Gosport. 10.00 – 16.30. Organised by The Provincial Society,Vintage bus rides, large static display of buses, afternoon cavalcade of buses around Gosport. Supported by First Hampshire and Dorset Ltd. Frequent free shuttle bus service connection between Rally site and Gosport Ferry for Portsmouth: train, bus and Isle of Wight ferry links.

Souvenir programme and timetable available one week before event.

Details: www.provincialsociety.org Sunday 8 August. Tinkers Park Bus Rally, Hadlow Down, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 4HS. Full details on www. southdownnational.com or from Paul Llewellyn, 19 Burwash Park, Fontridge Lane, Etchingham, East Sussex,TN19 7DE for vehicle and stall entry forms Sunday 8 August. The Wulfrunian Reunion at Dewsbury Bus Museum’s Summer Spectacular at Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury and the Mill Outlet, Batley. Could this be your opportunity to ride on the only two surviving Guy Wulfrunian buses in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the West Riding Omnibus Preservation Society? Admission by programme, accompanied children free. Advance copy available for £5 by sending a cheque payable to West Riding Omnibus Museum Trust, 47E Dale Street, Ossett WF5 9HE. 10.00 – 16.30 with a full day of free services and tours. Free shuttle service from Dewsbury South Street & Railway Station to the Ravensthorpe Museum building & the Mill Outlet. Up to 25 vehicles running in service with a large selection of visiting buses and static display at the Mill Outlet in Batley. Trade stalls at the Museum building, Museum Café, Tombola and much more.Visiting vehicles always welcome and there is a huge free coach park at the Mill Outlet. Free feeder services usually operate to the event from Barnsley, Bradford, Castleford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Pontefract, Rotherham, Sheffield & Wakefield. BMW Classic Car Club display and meet up at the Mill Outlet. For more information visit: www.dewsburybusmuseum.org or our official Facebook page for final details of the feeder services. To book in a vehicle for free services or for general enquiries please call 01924 265528.

Sunday 8 August. Buses Festival 2021. East of England Showground, Peterborough. 10.00 -16.00. Trade booking enquiries: Sam.Clark@ keypublishing.com , General enquiries: Julie Hawes Tel: 01780 755131, e-mail: julie.hawes@keypublishing.com.Visit: www.busesfestival.com for more information. (NOTE: NEW DATE & LOCATION) Saturday 14 August. Delaine Bus Museum Open Day. Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LE. Museum open between 12.00 and 16.00. Free heritage bus ride at 13.30. Admission: Adult £2, accompanied U-16s free (max two per adult). Light refreshments and free car parking available. Further details can be found at: www.delaineheritagetrust. org , enquiries@delaineheritagetrust.org or twitter@delaineheritage Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 August. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft Trolleydays. Blues and Twos Weekend.

Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Saturday 14 August. Crowborough (East Sussex) Run. (Date changed from 15 May). Confirmed vehicles are former Southdown Leyland National 34 (PCD 80R) and Leyland Leopard 673 (273 AUF) – the latter in East Kent livery, plus ex-Maidstone & District Leyland Leopard 3456 (EKL 456K) and Leyland National 3566 (VKE 566S) in privatised M&D livery. Full details are available at: www.southdownnational.com.The day’s timetable will be available on the website from 1 July, as will seat reservations.

Sunday 15 August. 18th 'WHOTT Rally' and 6th Dorchester running day. Organised by members of the West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust (WHOTT), this annual event is to be held, once again, at the Top o' Town car park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XT.The show opens to the public at 10.00 a.m. and free buses will run to surrounding destinations. Exhibitors are asked to pre-register (rally forms will be available from May when viral restrictions will hopefully be clearer) preferably by e-mail to: rally@busmuseum.org.uk. For further details please see our web site: www. busmuseum.org.uk or call our chairman Robert Crawley on 01395-567795.

Bus & Coach Preservation

July 2021 VII

BUSMART

Sunday 15 August. K&ESR Tenterden Bus Rally & Running Day, Tenterden railway station. This year’s focus will likely be on shorter free bus services with lower loadings per run to enable more people to travel while being able to socially distance. Further details will be available in due course at: www.kesr.org.uk.

Sunday 15 August. Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust Open Day & Fylde Bus Tours for support group members, between 1030 and 1500.The bus tour will operate from 1100 onwards on a 30min frequency, with the last departure at 1430.Two vehicles will be allocated to each departure. Members of the public will not be carried, but there will be viewing and photographic opportunities en route for the public.The route will be Freckleton Village, along the A584 to Warton, then through Lytham and St Annes to Blackpool and along the promenade to Gynn Square. Return will be via virtually the same route. Details: www.rvpt.co.uk Sunday 22 August. 15th Peak Park Preserved Bus Gathering at the Rowsley South Station of Peak Rail (on the A6 between Bakewell and Matlock). Includes sales stalls, frequent free bus services and links with Peak Rail's steam trains at all three stations. Full details and entry forms on our website - peakparkrally.wordpress.com Sunday 22 August. Shildon, Co. Durham. Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society Rally. Locomotion, Shildon.Vehicles running tours and on short local routes from the National Railway Museum’s Northern outpost. Organised by Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society. Further details: www.aycliffebus.org.uk, Facebook: www.facebook.com/Aycliffe-bus224325740996894 or 01642 657121.

Saturday 28 – Bank Holiday Monday 30 August. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Trolleydays, celebrating the British Trolleybus Society’s 60th anniversary. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Saturday 28 – Bank Holiday Monday 30 August. Leighton Buzzard. Bedford 90 event.

The Bedford Enthusiasts Club are organising a 'Bedford 90' event over the 28 to 30 August at Pages Park, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. LU7 4TG in conjunction with the Leighton Buzzard Railway. Saturday will se a display of Bedfords in age order from 1931 to 1996, Sunday will feature a road run passing the Luton and Dunstable sites (leaves Pages Park at 17.00) and Monday will see various Bedfords on display until noon. More details and entry forms on: www.bedfordenthusiastsclub.com Bank Holiday Monday 30 August. Transport Museum, Wythall. West Midlands Municipal Monday. Following the establishment of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive in 1969, WMPTE acquired the vehicles and other assets of the municipal fleets of Birmingham, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Coventry joined the group a little later and slowly the unique liveries disappeared. We concentrate on the vehicles and their liveries of the municipals outside of the City of Birmingham. Private owners of vehicles from all four fleets are welcome to attend and the day will include TMW’s renowned ‘Happy Hour’ with back to back services running to the Maypole.

Transport Museum Wythall: Phone: 01564 826471, e-mail: enquiries@wythall.org.uk Website: www.wythall.org.uk Sunday 5 September. Epping Ongar Railway ’70 years of the RF’ Event. Railway and buses in operation with guest vehicles.Vintage bus service 339 from Epping LT station. Details: www.eorailway.co.uk or by telephone from 01277 365200.

Sunday 5 September. Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Open Sunday. The garage at Bridgeton will be open to visitors from 11.00 until 16.00. Admission: Adults £5.00, Child/OAP £3.00, Family £12.00. Details: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, 76 Fordneuk Street, Glasgow, G40 3AH. E-mail: info@gvvt.org. Website: www.gvvt.org.

Saturday 11 September. Delaine Bus Museum Open Day. Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LE. Museum open between 12.00 and 16.00. Free heritage bus ride at 13.30. Admission Adult £2, accompanied U-16s free (max two per adult). Light refreshments and free car parking available. Further details can be found at: www. delaineheritagetrust.org , enquiries@delaineheritagetrust.org or twitter@delaineheritage

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Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 September. Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ‘Heritage Open Days’ at Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8UW. Free admission and free heritage buses linking the Museum of Transport, Science and Industry Museum and People’s History Museum between 10.00 and 16.00.

Further details from 0161 205 2122 or visit www.motgm.uk Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 September (moved from Monday 3 May). Winchester. Friends of King Alfred Buses. Saturday: Vehicle display; Sunday: Running day with free vintage bus services.

Details in due course: www.fokab.org.uk Sunday 12 September (moved from Sunday 16 May).

Taunton Vintage Bus Day 2021. Taunton Historic Bus Group in association with the West Somerset Railway. Intensive free vintage bus service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard (WSR Station).

Follow www.tauntonrunningday.wordpress.com and www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk for further details.

Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 September. Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ‘Heritage Open Days’ at Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8UW. Free admission and free heritage buses linking the Museum of Transport, Science and Industry Museum and People’s History Museum between 10.00 and 16.00. Further details from 0161 205 2122 or visit www.motgm.uk Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 September. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Weekend Trolleydays. Model Weekend. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Saturday 25 September. Delaine Bus Museum Heritage Running Day, based at Spalding Road, Bourne, PE10 9LE. 09.30-16.30, Admission: Adult £7 includes souvenir timetable/programme, accompanied U12s Free (max two per Adult). Light refreshments available. Frequent free heritage bus rides on two routes from the Museum, featuring the Delaine Heritage Fleet and visiting Heritage Buses and Coaches.

Transport Connections: Delaine 101 from Peterborough, Delaine 201 from Stamford, frequent free heritage buses between Market Place and Museum. Local car parking available. Contact: www.delaineheritagetrust.org, enquiries@delaineheritagetrust.org or twitter@delaineheritage Sunday 26 September. Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ‘Standard Triumph Show’ at Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8UW. Classic Standard and Triumph cars on display until around 15.00. Further details from 0161 205 2122 or visit www.motgm.uk Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 October. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Weekend Trolleydays. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Sunday 3 October. Transport Museum Wythall. Midland Red Day. 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the break-up of the original Midland Red into six new companies at the points of the midland compass – Midland Red North/South/East/West. The CM6T motorway express coach and D10 prototype will be running along with a wide range of MR examples from across the decades. Private owners are welcome to join us on the day when an intensive Midland Red service will run, including ‘Happy Hour’. Transport Museum, Wythall: Phone: 01564 826471, e-mail: enquiries@wythall.org.uk Website: www.wythall.org.uk Saturday 9 October. Delaine Bus Museum Open Day. Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LE. Museum open between 12.00 and 16.00. Free heritage bus ride at 13.30. Admission: Adult £2, accompanied U-16s free (max two per adult). Light refreshments and free car parking available. Further details can be found at: www.delaineheritagetrust.org , enquiries@delaineheritagetrust.org or twitter@delaineheritage Saturday 9 October. Quorn & Woodhouse Station yard, Leicestershire Bus & Train Spectacular. Great Central Railway, LE12 8AW. 10.00 – 17.00. Contact: Leicester Transport Heritage Trust, www. ltht.org.uk e-mail: info@ltht.org.uk or telephone 07891 071908.

Bus & Coach Preservation

Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 October. Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Open Weekend at Bridgeton Bus Garage, Fordneuk Street, Glasgow, 10.00. to 17.00. Sales stalls, visiting vehicles, Clippie's Café.

Stallholders and a limited number of visiting vehicles are welcome and must register via the website or address below. Frequent free bus service linking Bridgeton Garage, Glasgow City Centre and the Riverside Museum (subject to COVID-19 rule in force in place at the time). Admission: Adults £8, Child/ OAP £5, Family £20. Weekend ticket: Adult £13, Child/OAP £8 (no weekend family ticket). Details: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, 76 Fordneuk Street, Glasgow, G40 3AH. E-mail: info@gvvt.org.Website: www.gvvt.org.

Sunday 10 October. South East Bus Festival, Kent Showground, Detling near Maidstone. Open 10.00 - 16.00.The usual mix of activities will take place with a large display of buses and coaches, lots of sales stands, model bus displays, slide shows and frequent free bus rides around the showground. Full details of the bus festival are shown on the website at https://southeastbusfestival.wixsite.com/sebf.There is also a Facebook page where updates are regularly posted at: https://www.facebook. com/southeastbusfestival/ Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 October. Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ‘TBD event weekend’ at Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8UW. Free Centreshuttle 4 bus will be operating from Corporation Street (stop NU) and Shudehill Interchange (Stand E).

Further details from 0161 205 2122 (Weds, Sat, Suns 10.00-17.00), e-mail: email@gmts.co.uk or visit www.motgm.uk Sunday 17 October. Aston Manor (Aldridge) Transport Museum Autumn Leaves Running Day. Details to follow closer to the event. Shenstone Drive, off Northgate, Aldridge,West Midlands WS9 8TP. Phone: 01922 454761 or see website: www.amrtm.org and also follow us on Facebook under the museum name.

Sunday 17 October. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Isle of Axholme Running Day & Rally. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Saturday 30 October. Samuel Ledgard Society Transport Collectors’ Fair, Pudsey Civic Hall, Cote Lane, Pudsey, near Leeds, LS28 6TA. 10.00-15.00. Admission £3.Transport fair selling all manner of memorabilia and collectables. Further details from Barry Rennison, phone 0113 236 3695, email: rennison@cc-email.co.uk or visit: www. samuelledgardsociety.org.uk.

Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 October. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft. Weekend Trolleydays. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk

Sunday 31 October. Transport Museum Wythall. Twilight Running Day.The museum will be open until 18.00 when it will close for the 2021 season.Transport Museum,Wythall: Phone: 01564 826471, e-mail: enquiries@wythall.org.uk Website: www.wythall.org.uk Sunday 14 November. Dewsbury Bus Museum Golden Jubilee Autumn Running Day at Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury.

Admission by programme, accompanied children free. Advance copy available for £5 by sending a cheque payable to West Riding Omnibus Museum Trust, 47E Dale Street, Ossett WF5 9HE. 10.00 – 16.30 with a full day of free services and tours and a large static bus display area just across the road from the Museum building off North Road. Free shuttle service from Dewsbury South Street & Railway Station to the Ravensthorpe Museum building. Up to 20 vehicles running in service and a large selection of visiting buses, the Museum building full of trade stalls, Museum Café,Tombola and much more.

Visiting vehicles always welcome. Free feeder services usually operate to the event from Barnsley, Bradford, Castleford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Pontefract, Rotherham, Sheffield & Wakefield. For more information visit: www.dewsburybusmuseum.org or our official Facebook page for final details of the feeder services.To book in a vehicle for free services or general enquiries please call 01924 265528.

Saturday 20 November. The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft.

Twilight and After Dark Trolleyday. Details: www.sandtoft.org.uk Sunday 21 November. Cosham Autumn Transport Fair.

Community Centre,Wootton Street, Cosham PO6 3AP. 10.00 - 15.30.

Admission £2. Stalls, MBF model displays, refreshments and free bus rides. For details please e-mail: vtransportgroup@btinternet.com or Facebook:Vintage Transport Group.

Sunday 28 November. Aston Manor (Aldridge) Transport Museum Annual Collectors’ Fair. Fair with a free bus service again operating to/from Walsall. Shenstone Drive, off Northgate, Aldridge,West Midlands WS9 8TP. Phone: 01922 454761 or see website: www.amrtm.org and also follow us on Facebook under the museum name.

Saturday 4 - Sunday 5 December. Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ‘The Christmas Cracker’. Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8UW. 10.00-16.30.Transport collectors’ fair with books, DVDs, models, photographs and more, plus a display of vehicles.

Free Centreshuttle 4 bus will be operating from Corporation Street (stop NU) and Shudehill Interchange (Stand E). Further details from 0161 205 2122 (Weds, Sat, Suns 10.00-17.00), e-mail: email@gmts.co.uk or visit www. motgm.uk

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AEC Buses since 1955 AEC Regent V AEC Reliance A-Z British Trolleybuses

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Badgerline BET Bus Fleets The Final Years Britain’s Olympic Hope Bus & Coach Preservation H’book 2011

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Central South Buses in the 1970s Colours of the South Downs Cumberland Motor Services 1922-2012

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Rails in the Road Pen & Sword Red, Cream and a Touch of Gray: The Western Welsh Story Bryngold Regional Tramways: Yorks & North East Pen & Sword Regional Tramways: Scotland Pen & Sword Regional Tramways: The Northwest Pen & Sword Regional Tramways: Wales, Isle of Man & Ireland Pen & Sword Return Ticket: The Story of South Wales Transport Bryngold

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VISIT OUR SALES STAND AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS BROOKLANDS

Sunday 27 June

London Bus Museum

WALSALL

Sunday 11 July

Aston Manor (Aldridge) Transport Museum Open Day

PETERBOROUGH

Sunday 8 August

BUSES Festival

WYTHALL

Monday 30 August

West Midlands Municipal Monday

WYTHALL

Sunday 3 October

Transport Museum Midland Red Day

DETLING

Sunday 10 October

South East Bus Festival

This is a provisional list. These events may be cancelled at short notice.You are advised to check with the organisers before setting out. Watch this space for more events where you can meet us!

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British Bus Garages

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M. Rhodes | Amberley 96 pages | Softback

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Streets of London’s Buses Kevin McCormack Capital Transport 144 pages | Hardback £30.00

Bristol RE Buses and Coaches R Appleton | Amberley Softback | 96 pages £14.99

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Buses and Coaches in Wales

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M. Street | Amberley 96 pages | Softback £15.99

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Blackpool Streamline Trams Peter Waller | Pen & Sword Hardback | 152 pages £25.00

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Britain’s Second Hand Trams Peter Waller | Pen & Sword 184 Pages | Hardback £25.00

Laurie James | Pen & Sword 208 pages | Hardback £30

British Leyland Lane Cole | Pen & Sword 280 Pages | Hardback £25.00

London Dennis Trident

Covid-19 and the bus and coach industry

Matthew Wharmby Pen & Sword | 280 pages Hardback £35 London Buses, Coaches & Recollections 1970

Glynn Pegg | North Riding 122 pages | softback

London E/1 Tram Peter Waller | Pen & Sword 208 Pages | Hardback £25.00

£19.99 A Transport Journey in Colour Jenkins/McCormack Pen & Sword | 184 Pages Hardback £25.00

M. H. C. Baker Silver Link Publishing Softback | 64 pages £8.00 Buses, Coaches & Recollections 1979 Henry Conn Silver Link Publishing Softback | 64 pages £8.00

Buses Along the South West Coast Pen & Sword | 152 Pages Hardback £25.00

Fleet in focus No2 Cardiff bus 21st century Andrew Wiltshire 80 pages | soft back £9.95

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O R D E R N OW FO R PO ST- F R E E U K* D E LI V E RY Leopards Prowl around Southdown and Beyond Paul Llewellyn 200 pages | hardback £25.00

Trolleybuses in East Central London Hugh Taylor | Adam Gordon Hardback | 184 pages £30.00

Leyland DoubleDecker Buses H Berry | Amberley Softback | 96 pages £14.99

London’s Low Floor Buses David Bedall | Amberley Softback | 96 pages £14.99

Alexander Buses Part I Henry Conn | Silver Link Softback | 128 pages £25.00 Early Independents Of The Maidenhead Area Paul Lacey | 96 Pages Softback £15.00

Shuttle Buses D Granger | Amberley Softback | 96 pages £14.99

North Devon Buses from the 1960s Keith Shayshutt | Softback 112 pages £21.50

British Independent Buses in the 2000s R Stubbings | Amberley Softback | 96 pages £14.99

Streets and Lanes of Midland Red Malcolm Keeley | Capital 144 pages | Hardback £35.00

Confidence of Leicester Simon Gill | 112 pages softback £19.00 Young Routemasters Janes Whiting | Capital Transport Hardback 112 pages £16.95

Snaefell A Mountain Railway Andrew Scarffe | Lily Pub 150 pages | Softback £14.99 Independent Buses of Yorkshire Amberley | Softback 96 pages £14.99

Buses of North Staffordshire Tim Machin Amberley Publishing 96 pages £15.99

Today’s London Buses Reiss O.Neill | Pen & Sword 288 Pages | Hardback £35.00

Wolverhampton Trams and Buses Alec Brew | Amberley 96 pages | softback £14.99 London’s Country Buses K McCormack Capital Softback | 96 pages £14.95

The London Feltham Tram P Waller | Pen & Sword Hardback | 152 pages £25.00

The History of Optare Keith Jenkinson Amberley Publishing Softback | 96 pages £14.99

Buses in Greater Manchester in the 1990s Howard Wilde | Amberley 96 pages | Softback £14.99

Buses in East Scotland Richard Walter | Amberley Softback | 96 pages £14.99

Transdev Blazefield Buses Scott Poole Amberley Publishing Softback | 96 pages £14.99

Midland Red Coaches David Harvey | Amberley Pub | 96 pages | Softback £16.99

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NEW VENUE! CLASSIC AND MODERN BUS EVENT

8 AUGUST 2021 EAST OF ENGLAND SHOWGROUND, OUNDLE RD, PETERBOROUGH PE2 6HE (SAT NAV) FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Restored buses and coaches on display from a range of decades and fleets • Quality traders selling bus related items • Modern PSVs and industry suppliers • Free bus rides around local routes** ADVANCE TICKET PRICES: INCLUDES STANDARD TICKET ENTRY PLUS EXCLUSIVE SHOW GOODIES

STANDARD TICKET PRICE INCLUDES:

FREE Parking FREE Courtesy bus from Peterborough Railway Station

SAVE ££s when booking in advance

ADULT £11

Save £3.50*

SUBSCRIBER £10 CHILD (5-16 yrs) £6

Save £4.50* Save £3.00*

ON THE DAY PRICES:

• Adult: £14.50 • Concessions: £12.50 • Child (5-16 yrs): £9 • Children under 5: FREE

Check out the official website for vehicle, trade and exhibit listings

Opening times: 10am-4pm

VIP TS KE TIC Y £40 ONL CH! EA

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. **COVID restrictions permitting.

Deadline for advance ticket orders Friday 30th July 2021 VIP TICKET INCLUDES: Standard ticket PLUS BUSES Yearbook 2022 • EXCLUSIVE Guided Vehicle Tour** • EXCLUSIVE Diecast Vehicle • EXCLUSIVE Event Pin Badge and loads more goodies.

S T E K C I T Y U TO B

Call: 01780 480 404 Visit: keybuses.com/buses-festival To exhibit your vehicle or trade, contact julie.hawes@keypublishing.com For all trade stand enquiries, contact sam.clark@keypublishing.com or visit keybuses.com/buses-festival for more info.

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