Gearing up for its annual autumn running day on Sunday 8 October, Swansea Bus Museum and Transport Heritage Centre is also celebrating a major accolade. The museum has been awarded Visit Wales Quality Accreditation status by the country’s tourist authority, which it says will hopefully lead to lots of good publicity.
Museum secretary David Roberts said: “Everyone was delighted to receive the accolade during what had been difficult financial times in which, like many organisations, we have been struggling to survive post-Covid. Thank goodness people are beginning to come.
“It is a big pat on the back for our volunteers and is the cherry on the cake after what has been a difficult and busy year.”
Judging for the award was a little unexpected. “A ‘mystery shopper’ on behalf of Visit Wales turned up one damp and dismal day and did reveal her identity at the end of her visit,” he explained. “She was complimentary on the welcome she received and praised highly the knowledgeable volunteers who were very guiding throughout her visit and obviously passionate about their role.
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“A few tweaks were suggested but the museum was well within the qualifying score and we can now proudly display the Quality Accreditation logo”
The accolade follows a ‘Best Visitor Attraction Newcomer’ Tourism Swansea Bay award that the museum scooped just before the arrival of Covid-19.
The running day takes place from 1030 to 1530hrs and will see vehicles operating on local routes as well as giving visitors a chance to look around the museum, which is home to around 30 coaches and buses mostly with South Wales connections. They range from a 1931 International Harvester new to Davies of Pancader through AEC Regents and Bristol VRs to a 2003 First Cymru Transbus Dart SLF.
As well as raising income from visitors, the museum has an O-licence for three vehicles. Magnificent new to Western Welsh Harrington-bodied 1964 AEC Reliance ABO 147B and 1967 Willowbrook-bodied AEC Regent GWN 867E are among the vehicles available for private hire. There’s also a fascinating collection of British and American cars, vans, Land Rovers, early commercial vehicles, not forgetting its operational model railway display and recently-added slot car track room.
The museum, which moved into its premises in 2017, is open Saturdays 1100 to 1500 all year round. A heritage bus ride around the local area departs at 1300hrs. For more details phone 01792 732832, email [email protected] or log on to swpt.org.uk.
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