Paul Hamley, reports on our trip, for the CTPG………….all photos courtesy of Paul Hamley.
“An early start from Barry depot on Sun 27/05 at 0800, with a small group of members, and Alan Jones in the cab in charge of the Beast (Tiger HWO323). The Tiger has the benefit of wind-down windows which was a real bonus with the weather. There followed a nice gentle run up the M4/M5 with the Tiger “purring” along nicely, although we did get overtaken on the M5 by North Somerset Coaches newly purchased 1961 Tiger Cub/ Alexander (ex Fife), which was already parked up when we arrived.
We got to the rally site in central Cheltenham at1030 and the weather was sweltering, with a little patchy cloud arriving by about 3 p.m. There was a nice selection of mostly coaches (all regulars), and we were parked next to one of only 5 double deckers there, our coaches favourite friend, the ex R&W Guy Arab HWO342. The other 4 double decks were the FLF open top in BH&D livery, an ex-Oxford dual purpose VR mark 2 looking immaculate, another VR a mark 3 ex Badgerline, and of course the ubiquitous RM.
Richard arrived a little after us with the Royal Blue MW, and parked opposite. He had left on Saturday, and overnighted in Stroud. The groups stall was then set up as it had been on his coach.
There were regular trips from the site, mostly to the racecourse, and the open top FLF was in action all day full to the brim on every trip.
We left in the Tiger just after the mass departure at 4 p.m., and after an uneventful journey arrived back at the depot about 6.30. Coming back down the M5 we even managed to overtake one of the other vehicle from the rally, the Bristol groups ex-East Kent Regent V breakdown tender, although this did seem to be having a few problems.
Paul.
