BVBG - Group history

Bristol Vintage Bus Group

History of the group

Registered charity No. 1083056

It all started in March 1972 when our three founder members, Dave Withers, Phil Sposito and the late Roy Gingell collected our Leyland Titan PD1 LAE13 from Stoneman of Nanpean near St Austell in Cornwall. Even when purchased, the combination of Leyland PD1 chassis and highbridge ECW body was rare, and is now thought to be unique. Apparently the restoration of LAE13 was not thought to be much of a challenge to our intrepid preservationist as the next project was certainly more challenging and not for the faint-hearted.

GHT154 was acquired in May 1973 from the West of England Transport Collection at Winkleigh in Devon. As purchased, this former Bristol City Services bus had been modified for use as a showman's van and had no staircase. The roof had been lowered and the rear cut out to make a pair of double doors. The mammoth task of restoration took nine years.

Later in 1973 the group purchased FTT704 from Alan Bailey of Axe Vale Coaches at Biddisham in Somerset. The bus had been left at Axe Vale’s garage after a head gasket had blown and was never collected by its previous owner. After a new gasket was fitted in the rain, FTT was bump-started and driven back to Saltford which was our first base (on a chicken farm).

Several other vehicles have passed through our hands since then, but AHU803 purchased from Nailsworth Boys Club in June 1978 was to be another of our big projects. After a total reconstruction, it was completed in July 1998.

The group moved from the chicken farm to the goods shed at Yate railway station in September 1981. This was our first under-cover accommodation, which made a big difference to our work.

A setback in March 1986 was the death of Roy Gingell who as mentioned above was one of the founders and a respected preservationist, being not only an excellent PSV driver but one of those people able to turn his hand at most tasks including a bit of woodwork, painting etc.

Later we were joined by Ted Amos who had two vehicles, LHT911 “Daisey”, and the MW coach BHU 92 C “Clarence”.

The next event was our move to our current premises in Flowers Hill in February 1993. A second setback came in July 1996 when Ted Amos died. He was another well-respected preservationist whose expertise was invaluable.

Since then in August 1986 Alan Neale has joined us with his vehicles which include YHY80 (the only rebuilt Bristol LS in existence), and CWM 629 C, one of only two United Welsh vehicles to survive.

Roy Adams has since joined us with his TD130, RT1599, and RTW29, and more recently still, Chris Knight with RM1363, Paul Tovey with KLJ749, and John Grigg with OTT98 and MOD978.

Members and friends enjoy a day out