Bernard67Arnold
master brummie
Hope all the Midland Red buffs were watching tonight, some really good footage of
the Good Old Days, Bernard
the Good Old Days, Bernard
Very interesting indeed. There was, naturally, quite a good many views of Royal Blue (once seen locally) and it was also quite refreshing to see many company names and bus designs from the past. The gentleman in the Yelloway coach has his coach/exhibition in the Torbay area. He is a former driver for the company. When may family moved from Warwickshire to Devon, nearly 60 years ago, I was been sent to stay with an aunt in the Potteries - so I was out of the way and my bus ticket collection and other bus items could be dumped without protest! It was by Yelloway coach, from Newcastle under Lyme, that I was whisked down the A38 to my new home.
I was particularly taken with the Bedford coach owned by Cyril Kenzie. I am sure he was of the company of that name in Cambridgeshire. I am certain that they have other older vehicles as I recall seeing a Kenzies coach on Paignton sea front a couple of years ago and I had a good conversation with the driver. Sadly memory doesn't recall what it was. Odd how we recall long periods ago and not yesterday so as to speak. :'(
The sky was grey, the sea was grey with no horizon visible, so I saw the land end and a grey void, and only when I went on the beach did the view make sense.
Coming back, crates of beer, stops to go behind the hedges, and the bus radiator needed water as often as a horse, but a good time was had by all with the 'can do' attitude of those days so long ago.
Sorry I missed your post Bernard I expected it to be under TV, Film etcHope all the Midland Red buffs were watching tonight, some really good footage of
the Good Old Days, Bernard
I didn't realize that there was a Part 2 to this BBC programme. Quite by chance I saw it on Wednesday evening. Anyone missing it can, most likely, see it within the next few days as most UK television programmes are frequently repeated.
The mention of Silver Star Motor Services of Porton Down recalled memories of a very fine fleet of buses and coaches. They sold out, after the death of one of the company founders, in 1963 to their former arch rivals Wilts & Dorset.
Not only did they serve RAF bases their main military work had been with Army bases and servicemen.
An awful lot of coaching companies, throughout the United Kingdom, must have felt a draught after the end of military National Service.
I suppose I would now probably feel the same, but in the 'golden age' we didn't know anything better.Having just returned from the highlands on a 15m long, 61 seat coach I have nothing to enthuse about at the moment!!
The gentleman in the Yelloway coach has his coach/exhibition in the Torbay area. He is a former driver for the company. (