CORITANI CAPERS
Leicester members have again had a varied assortment of activities over the last six months and, very briefly, the recollected highlights are thus.
June 2004 was our annual Study Tour and this year we visited the Black Country Museum at Dudley to sample their trolleybus running day. Transport to and from the museum was provided by a smartly turned out Leyland Tiger of Confidence Coaches. Testimony to both manufacturer and operator, considering the 20 year age of the vehicle, it simply "purred" along and was a delight to travel in. We spent the day sampling the quietness and rapid acceleration of the trolleys, and one wonders at the "progress" made with their demise.
July 2004 was 'Bring An Artefact' day, again well supported. Now here's a teaser, Adrian Rodgers displayed a recently issued Stagecoach ticket that was not either from bus, rail, boat, or air travel. Answer in the next Omnibus?
Also in July 2004, we had a new event, a Study Week-End. The occasion was the Finsbury Park rally to mark the 50th anniversary of the Routemaster. Members and partners delightfully sampled Confidence Routemaster WLT655 from Leicester to London for the occasion, this being one of very few (in fact the only one?) still in service with a Leyland engine. Thanks go to Mike for arranging overnight accommodation at the new Travel Inn at Kings Cross.
August we were treated to a lively show with Chris Aston presenting West Midlands operators 1960s to 1980s. Chris's slides always provide social interest, as to buildings and fashions, as well as vehicles, and there is always lively banter.
Mike then presented the September show on the development of Midland Red in Leicester, in line with the centenary celebrations, focusing on both route and vehicle development.
October saw the visit of Mike Fenton, who gave us Scottish operators in the 1970s, whilst November saw Malcolm Keeley gave us operators I-M, including lively contributions from the floor, particularly on operations in Morecambe.
October also saw the Midland Red day at Wythall and it was nice to see many Leicester members visiting. On behalf of us all, a big thank you to the regular volunteers for putting on such a superb day to remember.
In December Peter Cordwell paid us a return visit with a show on 35 years of public transport in West Riding of Yorkshire.
And so to our New Year quiz and slide show. Simon Gill and Ken Williams were joint quiz winners, although Mike Greenwood appeared to be the "tie break" winner. The slide show was won by yours truly, with a shot of Routemaster RML2505 on route 19, whilst the print competition winner was of a C1 leading a small cavalcade of vehicles, taken by Mike Greenwood. Coming a close second was a lovely photo of a Lincolnshire RCC Bristol L, taken by Dave Pearson.
Finally, in February Trevor Follows presented a slide show of Lincolnshire buses, concluding with his annual review of local bus and rail activities.
Thanks go to all members for their regular support. We have a full programme of meetings and events to look forward to over the next few months, including the 50th anniversary of the Midland Red take over of Kemp and Shaw. Remember, second Saturday in the month, Andrewes Road, 10 am to 1pm (eviction time). The meeting often then carries on in the car park for a while!!
Brian Dicks
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
