SPIVS & SPACE-HOPPERS
We again ran a major operating day this year for Father's Day - the third Sunday in June - and were pleased with the number of volunteers and visitors. A number of our regular visitors came again, attracted by our special bus link to Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings with whom we had a Super Family Ticket covering admission to both museums. This was well supported with satisfactory loadings on the buses, which were routed via the M42 to avoid excessive journey time, although nowhere near as popular as our joint event with Aston Manor Transport Museum.
Visitors, plus the odd bus crew, were able to see what Avoncroft organised for this day which they had themed as the 1940s. A Second World War battle noisily raged on one of the lawns - not something our neighbours at Wythall would appreciate, nor Dennis and friends looking after the grass! Re-enactors wandered about in period clothes with props. A 'spiv' (petty crook who sold things at unlikely prices out of a suitcase) sauntered up to one of our buses to see if he could do some business, permanently in character as his eyes swivelled around, looking for the police. Amusingly he was negotiating with Wythall's own representative of law and order, no doubt unimpressed by 1940s crime in the form of cut-price nylon stockings being sold off-ration!
Our own period day came at the end of July with our 1970s Family Day, so the Space Hoppers and Rubik Cubes were back in service. Many staff went to some trouble to be in period. In addition to dodgy wigs, Dave Hales employed a stick-on Zapata moustache and looked most authentic at the wheel of the Jumbo. Mind you, the long black hair also meant he could have passed off as D'Artagnan! Buses scheduled for use all ran in the 1970s, ranging from open-platform Guy 2976 to Fleetlines and VRT 4413 at the cutting edge(?) of bus technology. An alleged 1977 local newspaper was produced for visitors to enjoy. Sadly this event didn't attract any more visitors than last year, despite better advertising, and it may be that the idea has run its course or needs a major rethink.
Recent weeks have seen a cluster of private hires and guided tours, in some cases a combination of both. The guides have settled in comfortably and are positively enjoying meeting the public in this way. It was good to see Roy Fidoe back with another party from Worcester. This visit included an enjoyable ride on 2976, driven by Martin Lowry, around the Outer Circle, calling in on our colleagues at Aston Manor Road Transport Museum.
Malcolm Keeley
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
