Heritage on parade

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The Optare Metrodecker that has been demonstrating to Go-Ahead London is now with Autocar, Five Oak Green. DAVID BELL

Now in its eighth year, the Heritage Transport Show took place at the Kent Showground on Saturday (April 1, 2017). Around 500 contraptions including motorbikes, cars, tractors and commercials attended as well as buses and coaches, the latter under the auspices of the South East Bus Festival. As in previous years, a free service was provided around the site by around 30 vehicles with visitors able to use a number of bus stops specially provided. Organiser Amy Thomson said: “The Heritage Transport Show has been gaining in popularity over the past few years and has now established itself as an exciting, nostalgic and interesting day out.”

 

One of Reading Buses still relatively unusual new Irizar i3-bodied Scania K250UBs was entered. DAVID BELL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another former Malta route bus now preserved in the UK by Austin Blackburn of Sevenoaks-based Go-Coach Hire is this former London Transport 1970 Park Royal-bodied AEC Swift. DAVID BELL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a staff reunion amongst those involved in operating
this former National Travel South East Super National 40 years ago. Attending were Mark Chadwick, Windy Gale who used to drive the bus, Roger Wrights, Dave Stevenson, Terry Torch, Cyril Knighton, Keith Payne and Jackie Wright who was the hostess. TERRY TORCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fine Maidstone & District 1945 Bristol K6A had a Duple body when it was new, but was rebodied by Weymann in 1953. It has been in preservation for the past 50 years. DAVID BELL