MIDLAND RED DAY PREVIEW
Andrew, our e-steamed Editor, has demanded a preview of Midland Red Day on 10 October, which is our opener to the centenary year.
Now, the first problem with an Andrew Preview is that it reminds those of a certain age of Morecambe & Wise. Such folk will smile fondly as I pull them gently by the lapels and caution them that the following are the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.
The second problem is the possibility of not achieving all the plans. No, you won’t be able to ride the Queen (that’s SOS CN 2870 if you’re in any doubt), but hopefully you will be stunned by the progress. We intend, however, a line-up of BMMO liveried buses of the like never before seen in preservation, with visiting vehicles added to our collection. A repaint of the S14 and refurbishment of the SON tug were achieved last year, while the D7, D10 and the final all-BMMO S23, 5941, have been similarly blessed in recent months. At the present time, volunteers are working hard to get the S12, LD8 and LS18 sufficiently presentable to stand in the line.
Other lines should cover NBC (e.g. Kevin Hill’s ex-Harper PD2 and the Potts’ white Leopard coach) and subsequent eras, including Arriva, one of two sponsors of the event (the other is Ian Allan Publishing). Our Leyland National was restored to Midland Red West livery last year and work is still proceeding on the short Ford, which will return to Midwest coach livery.
We’re now plotting how we can close the centenary year in summer 2005 with an event that will be sufficiently different but just as jaw-dropping. Oh yes, and bring me sunshine!
Malcolm Keeley
HLF APPLICATION
The report on the BaMMOT AGM in the last edition of “Omnibus” noted that the Trust had submitted an application to Heritage Lottery Fund to enable, amongst other things, a new display hall to be built. At that stage we rather optimistically hoped that we would have a decision from HLF during September. We also indicated in that report that HLF had requested additional information from us; this is being worked on but will not be ready in the form required by HLF until after the deadline for the September HLF grant applications decision meeting.
Hence, for technical reasons, we are officially withdrawing the application and will be resubmitting it once the additional information has been sorted out. Our expectation is that it will now be March 2005 that our application will be considered by HLF (the grants committee meets only quarterly). This might sound like a significant delay to the project but, provided we do meet the March deadline, it should not affect our ability to build over the winter of 2005/6. It does mean we still need to get on with preliminary work, such as transferring spares from the prefab to the new Blueline spares building, but then these are largely things we want to do anyhow and do not require large expenditure.
Phil Ireland
FAMILY DAY
Launch the boats and defend the castle – it’s the last Sunday in July and it’s Family Day again! No, it’s not really that frightening but it did have special features not normally found on our event days, notably the visiting model boats from Droitwich and the bouncy castle – a classic example of the sublime and the ridiculous! The former drew a lot of justified admiring comment while the latter simply drew a lot of junior activity! Comments about the specially erected boat pool having another use is not how one should be thinking of what might be a future generation of bus preservationists. As usual, the buses and EMES steam trains also did lively business.
Visitor numbers on this event had sagged quite badly in 2003 and, thanks to some press coverage in Bromsgrove and Redditch prior to the day, it was good to see some revival, although not yet to the numbers achieved in 2001-2.
Malcolm Keeley
DESTINATIONS
A friend in London has donated two early WMPTE blinds, a Lea Hall “Upper” and an Acocks Green “Lower”. Both are mid-1970s 'proper' linen ones produced before Tyvek became universal for WMPTE. Thanks are also extended to Jeff Hodkinson who has provided a 1968 BMMO Rugby “Upper”. Have you checked yet for any duplicate or unwanted blinds in your shed, garage, loft, cellar, etc.? Please see the last edition of 'Omnibus' for details of those needed.
The East Midlands Bristol RELL, later owned by Wheels, has had its Nuneaton area blind removed and replaced with a Chesterfield area EMMS blind. This is a modern Day-Glo Tyvek printing, but looks better showing displays appropriate to the EMMS empire. Contacts are still being followed up in respect of a 1970s period printing.
Bob Williamson
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
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