Historic Dennis 30c takes centre stage at Friends of King Alfred Buses’ Autumn Country Bus Day in Winchester.
Ninety-five years ago, in August 1931 the famous independent Winchester bus company King Alfred Motor Services took delivery of a diminutive 18-seater Dennis 30 cwt bus OU 9286. This bus ran in and around Winchester until about 1950, before being sold off as school transport.
Ten years later it found its way to Merseyside, where Vernons’ Pools restored it as a promotional vehicle. When they found a King Alfred ticket behind a panel, their Transport Manager of the time, a Mr Pat Oikle, decided to restore it to King Alfred livery. In 1975, duly complete and resplendent with King Alfred statues on its side, it famously appeared in the original TV series “All Creatures Great and Small!”. Since 1993, it has been in the historic collection of the Winchester-based charity Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB). It is in full working order, and regularly gives free rides to the public.
To celebrate its 95th birthday, the Dennis (registration number OU 9286) will be the centrepiece of FoKAB’s forthcoming Country Bus Day on Sunday 13 September, when it will be flagged off on its first public trip of the day from St Catherine’s by no lesser figure than the Right Worshipful Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Jamie Scott.
The Country Bus Day features a wide range of free bus and coach rides, all based on St Catherine’s Park & Ride site, including a very regular service to and from The Broadway and trips to Morn Hill, Alresford and Bishop’s Sutton, Cheriton, Owslebury and Twyford and Colden Common. Buses large and small, double-deckers and single-deckers and some coaches will be operating regular runs entirely free between 1030 and 1630 during the day. The timetables and routes have been carefully constructed to avoid any potential disruption from the closure of Junction 9 of the M3. All the details are contained in a colourful souvenir programme that can be obtained on the day.
It’s all part of the spectacular Winchester Heritage Open Days event in which the city and its surroundings open up for visitors from near and far. Also, at St Catherine’s from 1100 and from 1230 in Busket Yard, there will be a marvellous display of cars put on by the Winchester MG Owners’ Club.
It’s all happening on Sunday 13 September!
Photo Credit David Shadbolt
