CORITANI CAPERS
Continuing from Omnibus 145, Leicester area meetings over the last three months have again been a mixed bag.
Our May date was yours truly giving a cine film show of the 1970s. Unfortunately, we do not realise just how technology has moved on since then, and although it is nice to get the old movies out, they are "gone in a flash", but those of us quick enough did see open top D9s circumnavigating Trafalgar Square, and new Metropolitans in service in Leicester. The second half of the show saw more recent offerings, including new open top British buses in Paris.
June was our Study Tour, which was to the Coventry Transport museum. A double bill, as opportunity was taken to "private hire" the oldest Dennis Dominator still in service with First Leicester, 78 (A78 FRY), the oldest of just 14 still in service, as far as the Post House on the outskirts of Leicester. We continued to Coventry, and return, on preserved AEC Renown 190 (DBC 190C), with John Arnold at the wheel.
July saw our first "Bring An Artefact" day. Members were invited to bring along memorabilia and at first glance it appeared as if we were watching the Aladdins Cave, à la Crimewatch. Peter Newland brought in a selection London Transport bus stop signs, while Steven Gray (via Dennis Hemsley proxy) gave us some body plates. Adrian Rodgers brought in the "Foxtrotter" nameplates from Fox Olympian 4507, legally acquired from Beaumont Leys car boot sale. Adrian also showed us a remarkable photo he had taken at Ladies Day at Ascot, which, quite frankly, would make a Robert Jowitt shot look quite tame. Peter Smith showed us a letter from the City Transport advising which contractor had refitted which vehicles with extra seating during the mid 1950s. John Bowden showed a couple of scrap books he had put together in his youth and once the 'Queer Fish' section had been navigated there were some very interesting, and quite frightening selection of bus crashes that happened in and around John's native Birmingham in the sixties!
I could go on, describing the various timetables, photos, registration plates, body plates, newspaper cuttings, models, fleet books, news sheets, tickets etc. but needless to say I'm sure it will be repeated next year, so why not come along and see the various artefacts for yourself.
So to August, and Malcolm Keeley has been booked for his annual appearance. Many of you will know that we number our meetings and so August will be quite a landmark – it is destined to be show no 250. See you all there (except apologies Mike, I'll be in the Isle of Man that Saturday).
Brian Dicks
Postscript:- I’m sure that the “Bring An Artefact” event will happen again. I think that everyone who attended enjoyed the occasion and also seemed able and willing to bring along a further selection of material.
Mike Greenwood
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
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