Jeremy Blackmore reports from the town of Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire
Across the Fens of East Anglia, coaches and buses have long provided a vital lifeline for rural communities. So, it was only fitting that operators and enthusiasts turned out in force at the inaugural Fenland Bus Show in the Cambridgeshire market town of Whittlesey, near Peterborough, on 8 June. The event followed the cancellation of BusFest, which had taken place annually over 12 years until 2023, gathering vintage, restored and modern buses and coaches from across the country.
Event organiser Matt Page, from local community station More Muzic Radio, explained why the decision had been made to launch the Fenland Bus Show as a new event, one which quickly generated significant interest. “It stemmed from a collective effort by a group of original BusFest organisers, passionate enthusiasts, and dedicated owners committed to bringing back a premier bus event to Whittlesey and fostering a love for these historic vehicles within the community,” he said.
“The Fenland Bus Show has truly risen from the ashes of BusFest after it wrapped up two years ago. Four of the original team members came together, and with a renewed sense of purpose, we’ve put together this fantastic new show.” Some 35 buses and coaches were on show during the day, almost double the number organisers were expecting. The event offered the opportunity for visitors to step back in time and explore the heart of the Fens aboard a fleet of lovingly restored vintage buses, meet passionate enthusiasts and immerse themselves in the rich history of this beautiful region. A regular timetable ran throughout the day, offering free trips to Railworld in Peterborough, the Thorney Heritage Museum, and the Ramsey Fen Fair and Fenland Classic Vehicle Show which was taking place on the same day.
Coach driver Ally Gretton, whose late father Roger ran Gretton’s Coaches of Peterborough, drove his single-decker, 53-seat Scania Van Hool coach, affectionately named ‘Prince Roger G’, at the event, providing ‘forget-me-not’ trips into the Fenland countryside and villages for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Ally, who proudly drives the bus for its current owners C&G Coaches said: “C&G Coaches, who bought the coach from us, got it all resprayed in their livery, but with the ‘Prince Roger G’ name on the front as a surprise, which was lovely. They said, right, your coach is ready and unveiled it. It was quite emotional.
“I still drive the bus mainly on the American contract that C&G Coaches has, where we take the children to their school on the base at RAF Alconbury. I’m normally the one that drives it. There aren’t many drivers these days who can drive a Comfort Shift gearbox, but it’s what I learned in, so I find it quite easy. To be honest, I enjoy it more than these automatics!” The local mayor cut the ribbon to start the event with a parade of vehicles led by Darren Staniforth, a coach driver for Shaws Coaches of Maxey, near Peterborough, driving a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo. “Buses are very important to the history of the Fens,” explained Darren.
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