Adrian Morton reports from this year’s Alton Bus Rally, which took place at a new venue
2024 marked 29 years since ‘the first Alton Bus Rally,’ an event this year held at a new venue on Sunday 21 July. The very first event, held in association with The Watercress Line heritage railway, was held in the station car park at Alresford and for the first year was known as the Mid-Hants Bus Rally.
The current organiser, who has been in the position for many years, is Claire Fairbrother, now very much well known throughout the enthusiast fraternity. Until 2008 it was managed by her father, Alan Fairbrother. For the second year the event moved to Anstey Park in Alton and became the Alton Bus Rally. A display was held there every year until 2019. The rally in 2020 and 2021 didn’t take place due to the global pandemic, and for a number of different reasons there was also no event in 2022. After much petitioning by Claire’s organising committee and others, it returned for 2023. Due to a prolonged period of wet weather the display in 2012 sadly had to be cancelled. The ground was deemed too soft, although a very small event with about 10 vehicles took place, on hard standing, in the same vicinity and was nicknamed ‘Not the Alton Bus Rally’!
At its peak it grew to be a massive success with over 5,000 visitors and 180 bus and coach exhibits. Cars, lorries, emergency vehicles and motorcycles also featured, adding around another 200 vehicles to the mix. The benefits to the town’s economy were huge.
As mentioned, this year marked a departure for the organisers with the move from Anstey Park to an all hard-standing facility in the grounds of Alton College. It wasn’t an easy decision for Claire and her team to make, as it meant a heavy scaling back and a change to the format but it was either that or no event at all.
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