Martin Curtis reports from this year’s Imberbus event, which saw record crowds attend the yearly trip across Salisbury Plain
Record crowds flocked to the lost village of Imber on Salisbury Plain for the 14th Imberbus event. Having been publicised in several national publications, the public turned out in large numbers on the first sunny weekend for weeks to travel on the once-a-year 23A bus service where all the vehicles and staff are provided on a voluntary basis. As last year, it was a car-free event, with park & ride sites in place and people encouraged to leave their cars at home as these couldn’t be taken across the Plain.
A staggering total of over £38,000 was raised, more than double the previous event. This will be divided between various charities, and which compares with £16,000 collected the previous year. An estimated 4,000 passengers were carried, with long lines of customers forming outside Warminster railway station even before the first bus departed and large crowds gathered around the route throughout the day. Even the church where refreshments were available (as they were at several locations served by Imberbus) saw unprecedented queues of waiting visitors.
A growing event
Imberbus began in 2009 with just four London Routemaster buses, when four friends from the bus industry set themselves the challenge of operating a bus service to one of the most inaccessible locations in Britain. Imber is located on Salisbury Plain, and was evacuated in 1943 when the area was being prepared for the D-Day invasion into Europe during the Second World War. Even after hostilities had ended the villagers were never permitted to return, and the village has remained inside a restricted area which continues to be used for military training.
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Indeed, as the 2023 Imberbus began, red flags could be seen on the distant sky line and live firing was heard as more troops were undergoing training.
In the village itself, only the Church of St Giles remains intact and has become the focal point for visitors on Imberbus days. All other buildings have been abandoned and regularly used for urban warfare exercises. Elsewhere across the Plain are abandoned tanks used for target practice, and warning signs that unexploded debris may remain at the edge of the roadway. The public are therefore strictly confined to the safety of a selection of paths and the main roadway.
Buses are provided at the owners’ expense by operators and private individuals from across the industry. All revenue taken by the volunteer drivers, conductors, controllers and ticket sellers is pooled and proceeds divided among several charities, the Royal British Legion and the conservation group who look after the church being principal recipients. The annual carol service at St Giles’ is often the occasion when these funds are presented.
From a bus viewpoint, Imberbus has always been a London-related event, with Routemaster buses initially used exclusively, and then as vehicle numbers grew, New Routemaster LT class vehicles were added. Gradually this has been expanded further with RT family buses included while newer London types are also now appearing – with most London companies that run TfL services contributing.
A record number of thirty-three vehicles operated in service this year which nevertheless allowed the London theme to be maintained but with several other vehicles from various fleets also helping to move the crowds. Over a dozen organisations provided buses with several established Imberbus supporters among them. Of the larger groups this included ComfortDelgro, First, Go-Ahead, RATP and Stagecoach, while smaller concerns contributing were Abellio, Delaine, Ensign’s heritage fleet, London Bus 4 Hire, Reading Buses, and several private vehicle owners.
Abellio provided an electric ADL Enviro400 wearing a Pride wrap, with Zenobé charging equipment brought to Imber village by flatbed lorry to demonstrate that even in remote locations, electric buses can be used.
Different vehicles
For 2023 and for the first time, Bristol buses were used in service. This appropriately included both Bristol Omnibus and Bath Services Lodekkas, with their connections going back to Bath Tramways Motor Co and beyond to Lavington & Devizes Motor Services, which provided services to Imber prior to the outbreak of war. The Lodekkas in use this year were supplied by the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.
An express coach service by National Express was provided for the second year. Introduced owing to the rail dispute for the 2022 event, its popularity saw this repeated for the 2023 Imberbus with two vehicles employed. In addition, once more rail services brought visitors to Warminster station where the 23A Imberbus service has its Western-most terminus – and where the most westerly TfL bus stop is permanently positioned!
A period Royal Blue service was also provided by the Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust which ran its immaculate Duple-bodied Bristol LL6B type from Maidenhead.
Mixed attendance
Among the record breaking numbers of passengers travelling this year at Imberbus, by far the most ever to attend, were the usual transport enthusiasts and military historians. However, most of the passengers comprised interested members of the general public who travelled in family groups, couples or individuals. Younger passengers had in many cases, never travelled on a double decker bus before.
Imberbus originally ended with a line-up of Routemasters and a group photograph, but as the event has grown there was insufficient space to allow this. Instead, and since the 2018 event, a parade of buses across the Plain from Imber to Warminster rounds-off the day’s proceedings and this year twenty-two buses took part. This provides a spectacular sight and is extensively filmed and photographed – with buses then making their way in all directions to their home depots or overnight accommodation. And thoughts begin to turn to the next year’s event!
From the other side
Attending Imberbus for the second time this year, one of the thousands who thronged to the event was Sarah Alwyn. Sarah commented: “This was my second visit and possibly more enjoyable than the first, because I should have learned by now not to be too ambitious. I am lucky in that my partner lives in Wiltshire and we started off on an early bus from Market Lavington. If you start off at Warminster, allow plenty of time for queuing. The would-be passengers snaked back a very long way and although every one seemed very good-humoured, a sudden rain storm could have changed the mood. It must be almost impossible for the organisers to predict the numbers. I would like to thank them and the drivers and conductors of all vehicles ancient and modern for a unique day out and to add that the sheer Pythonesque lunacy of travelling down a rough narrow track in the middle of Salisbury Plain on a fifty year old Routemaster bus must be experienced to be believed.”
