A Centenary event was held in Banbury town centre on Sunday 13 October to celebrate 100 years of Midland Red operation in the Oxfordshire town.
The event, which was attended by current and past employees of the Banbury depot on Canal Street, attracted much attention from the public throughout the day despite the heavy rain.
Managing Director of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Chris Coleman, opened the event. “It is really important to recognise that Midland Red has provided Banbury with its services for the last 100 years, and the event also marks 25 years of Stagecoach operation,” he said.
“We will be providing vintage bus trips to Sibford Gower and Deddington. We have identified locally Katharine House Hospice as the charity that we and the staff here in Banbury would like to support. There is no charge for the rides but all donations will go to this great cause.
“I will also like to recognise and thank members of the team who helped organise this celebration; Trevor Bayliss, Clive Thomas, Laura Grant, Jon Coles and Phil Pointer were instrumental in organising the visiting vehicles at this event.”
A number of visiting vehicles attended the event, along with support from fellow Midlands and South Stagecoach divisions. Midlands provided Stratford Blue-heritage liveried ADL Enviro400 15675 and RML2738, with South providing Alexander Dash-bodied Dennis Dart 501.
Three former Midland Red vehicles also attended and were used in service: two BMMO S22 5905 and S23 5919 single-deckers that were delivered brand-new to Banbury depot 50 years ago. A D9 double-decker that has recently been repainted in National Bus Company poppy red livery also attended from Wythall Bus Museum to represent the last crewed buses that operated in Banbury during 1976. A former Tanners of Sibford Gower Bedford OB completed the visiting vehicles line up.
Stagecoach in Oxfordshire itself entered Showbus award-winning Midland Red heritage-liveried ADL Enviro200 37401. This was the main attraction, with a display of old bus photographs inside and a competition to name 37401. Systems Support Manager and Hanover destination programming wizard Craig McConn was also on hand to display visitors’ names on the destination display for a small donation to the charity, which proved extremely popular throughout the day.
A contrast of vehicles were the oldest bus in the fleet, Plaxton Pointer-bodied Dennis Dart SLF 34467 and the newest vehicle in the fleet, ADL Enviro400 11236 for Witney depots S1 and S2 routes. This is the first of 21 due in standard livery which will replace ADL Enviro400-bodied Scanias in Stagecoach Gold livery. These vehicles feature the upgraded interior which features wood effect flooring, Lazzerini seating with individual reading lights, coat hooks, USB charging ports, additional leg room and no hand rails in the upper deck.
The event was well organised and raised £1,091.29 for the Katharine House Hospice charity.
