Dozens of buses motored to Stroud College in Stratford Road on Sunday for this year’s Stroud Vintage Bus Show.
“This is our sixth year,” organiser Adam Hall told Stroud Times. “We started in 2019, missed 2020 because of Covid and have run a show every year since.
“We’ve got 38 buses this year, which is about the average. Two vehicles didn’t turn up, but we had two more buses we weren’t expecting, so swings and roundabouts. The sun’s been shining so that’s been great. A lot of families are here, which is always nice to see.
“There are half-cab double deckers from the 1940s here, as well as vehicles from every era.”
The vintage vehicles were used as shuttle buses from car parks around the town and also took visitors on tours around the district, visiting Leonard Stanley, Stonehouse and Minchinhampton.
“It’s a nice day out for families in a relaxed atmosphere, and to be taken back in time and enjoy the lovely views from one of the old buses.”
Mr Hall, who works as transport manager at Ebley Coaches, said his favourite bus at this year’s show was a 1949 Bristol Model K6B which entered service with Western National Stroud depot in 1949 and transferred to Bristol Tramways in 1950 (later Bristol Omnibus Co) when the latter became the predominant operator around the Stroud Valleys.
It remained in operation in Stroud through to 1966. It then became a staff bus for a Bristol hospital and was then converted by a new owner into a mobile home which was then used to tour Europe.
The bus was bought by bus enthusiast Mike Ellis, who had eight buses in the show, and shipped back to Britain and then was subject to a ground-up, nut and bolt restoration bringing it back to its current stunning condition. It was the first time the bus had been back to Stroud in 59 years.
What are the plans for next year? “We’ll be doing exactly the same again, all being well,” said Mr Hall.
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
