Long Melford Vintage Rally

Former Eagles Bedford OB/Duple Vista KPW986

This weekend also saw the Long Melford Vintage Rally take place and this year it played host to the Bedford OB gathering

Our correspondent Tim Miller was there on Saturday and supplies photos from the event.

The first is of 1949 Bedford OB with Duple Vista body new to M J Eagle of Castle Acre. After entering preservation in 1988 KPW986 passed to its present owner Lewis Coaches of Henstridge in Somerset. It is to revisit its former home

Ex Metropolitan PoliceTransport Bus Bedford OB KGN433

Another interesting vehicle was an ex Metropolitan Police Transport Bus. KGN433 was one of twenty-six bought between 1948 and 1950 to transport police to demonstrations, meetings, processions etc. it was also used to transport prisoners about and had bars on the windows to stop them escaping

Other OB's visited from as far away as the Isle of Wight and amongst them included former Western National LTA750 and ex Graceline Coaches HOT339.

Former Bristol VRT/ECW JJT437N

Also present were AEC Reliance SHL917 and Bedford YMT BJU13T in Theobald's Coaches livery

An Eastern Coach Works bodied VRT in the shape of JJT437N was also at the event. New to Hants and Dorset as fleet number 3325 in May 1975 she was mainly based at Southampton depot. Newly renumbered as 4325 with Wilts & Dorset she was withdrawn after 19 years of service.

My thanks to Tim for the report and photos