CALENDAR'S CLOSE CALLS
Those of you who think these early Bank Holidays are too close together might like to take a look at next year's calendar. Unless my eyes deceive me, Easter and May Day holidays are only a week apart - that'll dent our repeat business in 2011!
Meanwhile, back in 2010, you will recall Easter was bright, brittle and very cold, yet attendances were good. The early May bank holiday is generally quieter although this year we still did well. The Museum's Class VI bus services were supplemented on Monday by supporters' buses on demonstration runs, thanks to Dave Hales, Phil Ireland, Dick Lolley and Dave Taylor. However the difference on each bank holiday weekend between Sunday and Monday seems to be getting wider as more and more prefer to come on the Monday, with consequent pressure on car parking.
The latter problem was eased on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, which was also Two Museums Day, by using Pearl. This was absolutely vital because we had a very busy day, possibly people came to sample the event for what they feared might be the last time, following the worrying news from our colleagues at Aston Manor. The peak year for the Two Museums event was 2006, just before we virtually closed for the big rebuild. The 2010 patronage was just one soul less.
Needless to say, such numbers really challenge some areas, notably the café where Liz's team valiantly coped with the crowds. Dave Taylor set up a nearby stall, providing hot and cold drinks and this gave some much-appreciated relief. This was in the entrance to the Scania Hall where once again we had the benefit of splendid displays by the Model Bus Federation. I have mentioned before that the Shire Hall and Midland Red's Ludlow garage have more than a passing resemblance. Well, Ludlow came to Wythall, courtesy of Andy Dainty's newly completed model of the garage. As the day progressed, the Midland Red vehicles in the yard were updated. Andy had reached the D9 period by the time I clapped eyes on it but Andy has shown me pictures of the LD8 period which brought back happy memories of chugging along the X34/35 with my Day Anywhere ticket.
Among guest vehicles on Spring Sunday was a Scottish motorway Seddon. A first, surely, but I was astonished to discover it had lived at Wythall for a short time, having been in Ashley Wakelin's 'Wheels' fleet - I'd thought it was a Bristol RE! Among Monday's guests was something I feel safe in saying is a first - a working Tilling-Stevens. This was courtesy of Roger Burdett who kindly offered it for country tours. Not a lot of people know that Roger used to live locally and his knowledge means the country tour gets into parts others don't reach. The Tilling-Stevens dates from 1949, a rare post-war example, but the coachwork - by Scottish Aviation - is obscure too. The styling, at the time, was quite out-of-the-ordinary and thus regarded as very modern. Today it is simply a fabulous coach to have survived - thanks, Roger. Also to be thanked for providing demonstration runs are the 1685 Group and Geoff Hodkinson.
Meanwhile all those extra visitors, many buying all-day rides tickets, meant the cross-city service to Aston Manor was under pressure. Thanks, therefore, to Ted Price, who brought RML898 all the way from Kent, and the 3225 lads, both providing vital additional capacity. A very successful day and hard work for the volunteers, so well done and thanks to all involved.
Malcolm Keeley
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
