The man behind the Jurassic Mule summer open-top bus service in the West Country is hoping someone will come forward and save it.
“I’m 66 now and I’ve been in the bus industry since I joined Southern Vectis as a clerk in 1970,” said Derek Gawn. “I’m definitely retiring. I will certainly not be operating the route next year. Without doubt this has been our most successful year and the fact we made a small profit meant the formula was definitely right.” [wlm_nonmember][…]
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Derek has been running open-top summer bus services since 2015. Firstly as the Mendip Mule based in Somerset, but for the past two years as the Jurassic Mule in Dorset and Devon, operating between Charmouth and Beer via Seaton and Lyme Regis. This year the service ran from 21 July to 2 September, when a seven bus farewell convoy took place.
Now Derek’s former Southern Vectis open-top Bristol RELL, TDL564K, has been sold and three further open-top buses on loan from Dan Shears have been advertised for sale. All Alexander-bodied, these are former Badgerline Volvo Citybus, D706GHY, new to Dublin Volvo Olympian P772SWC and ex-Lothian Leyland Olympian E306MSG.
Vehicles used also included several Bristol VRTs including new to Southdown UWV607S and UWV614S, and Hants and Dorset UFX856S.These have gone back to their owners.
Said Derek: “I think anyone taking the Mule over would have to operate more modern vehicles, but I wouldn’t want Dennis Tridents and things like that. There’s just not the interest.”
He added: “There needs to be young blood involved in running this service and I have been trying to persuade some of the present team, who have been great, to take it over.
If anyone is interested I would love to hear from them. Obviously someone would need a transport manager’s CPC and an operator’s licence. I would hate to think that the venture I started, which has brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people, would go.”
As for people who have dared to suggest that Derek may not really be retiring from the bus industry he loves, he said: “Just ignore them. I am retiring. If someone is prepared to take over Jurassic Mule I might just be prepared to act as a consultant!”
Anyone interested is invited to email Derek via [email protected]
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