Former traffic examiner, London Transport bus driver and vehicle restorer Len Wright has died at the age of 93. One of the best known and respected people in the East of England vehicle preservation scene, Len was born in 1929. His career began as an apprentice with scales maker W&T Avery. After three years in the RAF he became a London Transport bus driver, also working for Green Line based in Luton. After moving to Norwich in 1975 he became a driving examiner before becoming a vehicle examiner.
He became instrumental in the restoration of 1959 Eastern Counties Bristol LS fleet number 789, registration 5789 AH, part of the Eastern Transport Collection. In 1995 Len and his wife Maura purchased a 1962 Bedford SB3/Duple Super Vega from Birds of Hunstanton which they both restored to almost new condition, and returned to its original livery, that of Crimson Tours of St Ives, Cornwall. The vehicle, 675 OCV, attended rallies across the country, even returning to Cornwall, and is now part of the Lodge’s heritage fleet.
Len was an enthusiastic member of the Eastern Transport Society for many years, and known for his forthright views.
His funeral took place on 16 February, and a very appropriate piece of music played was ‘A Transport of Delight’ by Flanders and Swann.
