We met 611 off the ferry "Red Eagle" at the Red Funnel terminal in Southampton. After the hand-over, the drivers rostered for running day took her onto quiet industrial site roads to practice their 'stick' changes. Most FoKAB drivers have only driven semi-automatic FLFs before. The words "don't stop in top gear" sunk home thankfully.

On his last day of Service with Stagecoach in the South, FoKAB member Ivan Denton, was sitting in canteen when he was asked to take a telephone call in the inspector's office.

Waiting for him, though, was 104 to take him home. On board were 2 of old friends from KAMS days, Mary Curry and Dave Shawyer plus other FoKAB members. We went the long way round via the 11 route to Sutton Scotney, returning to Winchester via Stoke Charity on route 10. The whole bus was entertained by their memories of KAMS days and the obscure bus stops en route - one on the old A34 at a footpath that crossed the fields to a small hamlet.

At Sutton Scotney there was time for photographic stop and light refreshments at the nearby Star Garage! The route back takes one through the villages of Wonston and Stoke Charity to Kings Worthy. After a brief stop in the Broadway to change the blind to service 17, Highcliffe, we finally took Ivan home following the correct KAMS route.

Ivan has been a bus driver with King Alfred Motor Services, transferring to Hants & Dorset at the take-over in April 1973. He continued driving in Winchester on the splitting of H&D, by then an NBC company, into Hampshire Bus and its purchase by Stagecoach Holdings. We believe he is the last exKAMS bus driver to retire from driving duties.

We wish Ivan a long and happy retirement.

As part of the Christmas Spectacular at Copythorne, FoKAB runs a free bus service around Cadnam and Bartley to bring people to the event. We use 104, as we have to navigate some of the narrow forest roads via Newbridge.

Part of the fun is to see all Christmas lights that have sprung up over the years on houses. Each year they get better and better. It is very pleasing to hear all the oohs and ahs from the children on board.

704 as re-built coach obtained her first MOT at ATMOS in Guildford last year as Portswood could not fit in a retest before the beginning of December. You may remember she had brake imbalance problems.

This year, with more time to spare, 704's MOT was booked in at First Hampshire. Being a 'chinese six' checking steering and brakes is a complicated affair. However, only slight wear was found in the o/s steering drop arm bush.

Since the last MOT, 704 has covered over 3 800 miles.

The work required was to remove all the rear wheels and replace them with more roadworthy versions.

The nuts on the front wheels were loosened but only two nuts were left in place since the front wheels would be removed for the journey so that the vehicles would travel in their normal attitude even though they were on a suspended tow. =

Other tasks required were to close up the apertures where windows had fallen out. So by the end of the day they were ready for the road.

A week later however, Chris Kent observed that one of the tyres was flat! Again with the assistance of Melvyn Lovelock the vehicle was again jacked up and another wheel destined for 417 was substituted.

The Tow Truck drivers were having none of this – they duly arrived at about 1030 and by just after 1100 the Titans were on the road. After only a short break en-route, the Titans safely arrived at Shutlanger at 1430.

Another FoKAB Engineering Task satisfactorily completed – we now wait (a very long time) for one of them to return under her own power.

With thanks to Keith Morton for report based on an article previously published in the
"CW Teapot".

With high winds and rain forecast, many people stayed at home, Brighton was reached rather earlier than expected so the Chairman gave us a tour of Hove and Brighton including the Brighton & Hove Bus Garage and his old school where we noted the classroom from which he collected bus numbers!

In the afternoon, 326 took FoKAB members for a tour to Arreton, Shanklin and Ventnor, stopping at Godshill on the way back.

596 ran 2 free bus services to Newport bus station and one longer trip to East Cowes on the 5 route.

704 took two full loads on coach tours to Haven Street and Gurnard.

Unfortunately the fuel starvation had not been cured. 596 refused to start before its service to East Cowes. A bit of deft work by an engineer from the museum had her running again.

On arrival at East Cowes on the way home, there was a mass start up of the eight buses and coaches present to board the ferry - except 596 gave a cough only. The passengers quickly joined the Damory Coaches VRT alongside and left the crew of Bill And Geoff to sort out the problem!

Mobile 'phones came to the fore. While on our choppy crossing, we learnt that they had got it started and would be over on the next ferry.
On arrival at Southampton, 596 started OK and made it home safely (A lot of scratching of heads is now going on!).

As the Bedford VAL was conceived for motorway work, 704 nearly kept pace with the modern (and not so modern) coaches. We thankfully gave Fleet Services as a miss - about 6 coaches peeled off from behind us as we passed.

At 2.00pm, 704 departed with a full load for a tour to Duxford village. A photographic stop was made outside the John Barleycorn public house.

We departed about 5.00pm deciding to give the M11 and M25 a miss. Bar a hold-up for the traffic lights in Baldock, we had a comfortable trip home via Milton Keynes, Bicester and Oxford.

We met 704 at Sutton Scotney in the morning to save Jim some time not having to bring 704 into Winchester. We of course had to park our cars in a lay-by all day. I found a note on my car on our return. Expecting a vitriolic note about parking in their space, it was in fact a very kind offer of a wheel trim to replace the one I had lost. There are still some very nice people about especially as I got three in the end and no payment would be accepted.

While 704 was at Duxford, the Dennis '6' was giving free rides around Winchester as part of the Alternative Transport Day. We also had a stall advertising FoKAB, our running day on 01/01/03 and the National Federation
of Bus Users.

Thanks to Royston Dunera, Geoffrey Kemp, Brian Lusted, Bob Smith and Chris Webb for their efforts on the day.

On the Saturday was the Romsey Show, organised by the Romsey Agricultural & Horse Show Society. 596 again did sterling service within Broadlands Park, carrying hundreds of passengers to and from the show.

Unfortunately 596 suffered fuel starvation on the way home. An attempt was made at bleeding the system but in the end a tow home was called for.

Investigation the next day found dirt in the in-line gauze filter. Suitably cleaned, the engine started. The two cartridge filters were also changed later in the week. Problem solved?

On the Sunday we were to provide one of the buses running a free bus service to Modelworld. It was held for the first time at the Mountbatten School, Romsey.

This is a large exhibition of all types and scales of models including railways, aircraft, cars and shipping.

592 was pressed into service for the day instead of 596 that had been rostered. Other buses on the free service were 'Tiggy' and the 2 ex-SCT Guy Arab buses crewed by members of the S&DTHT.

Silver Star 42 also attended operating a feeder service from Andover and bus services to Stonehenge, Codford and Crockerton.

This meant a very early start from the Andover outstation but a hearty breakfast at the Kings Park café set us up for the run. The route was through Salisbury, Amesbury, Warminster, Frome and Bradford-on Avon. Stops were made at Salisbury and Warminster.

Superb weather and welcoming spectators along the route made the day. Even the Mayor of Warminster enjoyed his sit in the driving seat of 704!

*42 is a 1962 Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 with Weymann body. A consortium of 10 FoKAB members calling themselves the Silver Star 42 Group owns her.

326, our quite unique Bedford SB3 with Harrington Crusader body, also went along and was warmly welcomed. Making a weekend of it, 326 and 704 met up at Newbury on the Saturday, having travelled up from their respective outstations. Both Coaches behaved faultlessly all weekend - even 326's petrol engine fuel consumption seemed reasonable!

Sunday dawned misty. See the BG Scrapbook for superb pictures of both 326 and 704, before the crowds of Bedford fans arrived, plus the many other Bedford and non-Bedford vehicles at the Gathering. Both coaches carried out a tour into Cambridge during the day. A most enjoyable weekend thanks to Richard Haughey & John Wakefield and their team.

The focal point for visiting historic (and a couple of modern) vehicles was Mayflower Park, with two routes operating to enable passengers to ride on the buses attending. Route 57 took visitors from Mayflower Park to the Tram 57 Project at Millbrook. Route 77 was a tour linking the Hall of Aviation and the preserved ex-Red Funnel tender Calshot, moored in the Old Docks.

The circular route 77 also included a trip across the Itchen Bridge, as it is 25 years since its opening in 1977.

FoKAB was represented by AEC Renown 596, which accompanied Brian Guilmant's, Bedford Plaxton and Hants & Dorset Bristol Lodekka, 1577 in convoy to the event. Unfortunately due to early morning starting problems Southampton Regent V, 371 did not make it to the rally. It would appear that after several years off the road, there might still be debris in the fuel system.

As well as the two Guy Arabs preserved by Southampton City Council, visiting buses included a Southdown ‘Queen Mary’, a Bournemouth Transport Fleetline and a Thames Valley Bristol KSW/ECW lowbridge.

Report & pictures courtesy & © of Matt Saunders

With any new event the organisers are taking a big risk and the WTS must be congratulated for having the courage to organise the event at a new venue
and date.

FoKAB took along 494 for the day. The P2/24 ran a service 27 to Hurn Airport and a long run to Poole on service 26. Both journeys had good loadings.

Besides buses and coaches they were static displays of commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles and cars.

Since 1983 the Wessex Transport Society has provided transport enthusiasts - whether their interests are in railways, buses or other forms of public transport - with an annual programme of tours, visits and family day-outs, as well as winter and evening meetings, slide and film shows in the Bournemouth area.

Now Andy is an ex bus driver having driven for Shearings, West Riding and Southampton Corporation Transport. If tell him you’re a bus enthusiast, out will come the photo album charting his career in the bus industry!

You may also enjoy the many pieces of memorabilia on the walls with a naval and railway flavour.

However, the Golden Lion is renowned for its good food and has Wadworths 6X and John Smiths amongst its wide selection of beers. Lunches are served every day and evening meals are served Tuesdays to Saturdays.

The rest chose to see Steve Morris' collection of buses and coaches and the base for Quantock Motor Services. After lunch at the Ledborough Arms (drivers on soft drinks only), we drove to Norton Fitzwarren and were met by Pat O'Grady. He gave us a tour of the base seeing many PSVs under restoration.

As promised, we were given the chance to have a ride on one the buses. Lined up was an ex-Ipswich AEC Regent an ex-Southern Vectis Bristol LD open -topper. Chris, who drove 'Nellie' when owned by Wilts & Dorset, jumped into the LD like the rest of us.

Now some people may remember that Steve & Suzanne Morris were having their marriage blessed the same day at Wiveliscombe. Having dropped off Pat there, we headed up to Williton, skirting the Brendon Hills. A photo stop was made in Bishops Lydeard before heading back to the station to collect the train passengers.

507 is now registered BAS 562,
originally MDL593 when with SV.

704 undertook one mystery tour to Findon, Washington, Steyning, and Upper Beeding; back alongside the River Adur to Shoreham and the seafront to Worthing. 2 short journeys followed to West Worthing station on the "Stationlink" service.

However, we nearly didn't make it to Worthing. On our arrival in the Broadway, Winchester, one of our members noticed oil leaking from the rear nearside wheel. On investigation, several of the bolts securing the axle shaft flange had come loose. A quick call to our breakdown service resulted in 'a very nice man' adding 'locktite' all the bolts in turn and topping up the oil in the back axle. We left Winchester an hour and a half late but made good progress to arrive at Worthing in time to carry out the first duty.

Slowly no.11 was pulled round the yard and then shunted in alongside '493' that is in King Alfred livery and appeared one running day. They are now ready to moved 'up north' in the near future. Well, nearly ready as 493's platform has come adrift from the body and at least 11's nearside front wheel needs replacing.

The Leyland Titan was the most numerous bus in the KAMS fleet. Unfortunately, although many had long lives, by 1972 all had been scrapped (except 494/5 exported to USA). In 1991 both buses were purchased as, broadly speaking, one had a good body and the other had a well looked after chassis.

The first 2 journeys were operated with comfortable loads. However, 3 road accidents in the area - none involving vehicles operating the free services - meant that vehicles were running late. 704was used to cover a journey to Basingstoke on service 107. This unfortunately put the driver "out of hours" so the trip to Odiham was given to another bus.

On the way back we operated the feeder service to Winchester. Praise must go to the organisers for the strenuous efforts they made to ensure that nearly all the services operated despite the delays caused by traffic conditions that were no fault of their own.

Roll on 13^th July 2003 for the next Mid-Hants Bus Running Day!

Except for the first trip, 494 ran full all day plying between Littlehampton Cemetery Gates and Arundel. Their last trip to Arundel was at 1655 and I had told the conductor there would unlikely to be any passengers at that time. In fact they ran full leaving some disappointed people behind!

704 carried out four mystery tours. They were even a mystery to the organisers. We were left to work out the routes ourselves so 2 went to Arundel and Yapton and the other 2 to Angmering and Findon (but don't try to take a 36' coach through the village!)

We thoroughly enjoyed our day out to an well-organised event - especially the full breakfast which started the day.

Whether the members of the Omnibus Society needed further educating is debatable, but FoKAB was pleased to show a group around some of the KAMS and Hants & Dorset routes in and around Winchester. Unfortunately the Hat Fair was on the same day so the Broadway was closed to traffic.

By lunchtime we had arrived at the "King Rufus" Chandler's Ford for a buffet lunch. This was followed by a speech by Bill Lewis, former manager of Southampton Corporation Transport and an arch opponent of de-regulation. Although now retired from the industry for many years and (by his own admission) not so abreast of current affairs, he had an interesting tale to tell.

The day finished with a service 9 short to Crawley so that the party could be back in Winchester by teatime.