A SPECIAL reception has been held to mark 100 years of an important bus route for Winchester.
Following World War 1, Winchester City Council started building the city's first council estate at Stanmore.
Robert Chisnell of King Alfred Motor Services was approached to see if he would run a bus service to Stanmore.
The first bus was a Leyland “RAF” with a body built by Jas Bartle. It covered four routes every two hours, serving Stanmore via Ranelagh Road and also by way of Romsey Road, Shawford & Twyford via St Cross and Littleton via Weeke & Flowerdown.
There were two crews: driver Vic Holland with conductor Bill Eyles on the one hand and driver Bill Holland and conductor Smuts Savage on the other.
Today, 100 years later, the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) organised a special reception at Chesil House, which stands partly on the site of Mr Chisnell’s original depot on the corner of Bridge Street and Chesil Street.
The principal guests included two of Robert Chisnell’s grandchildren, Richard Chisnell (with his wife Maureen) and Jenny Brockett (nee Chisnell) as well as six former members of King Alfred staff, namely John Bond, Mary Curry, John Glasgow, Nigel Sandy, Alex Wilson and Margaret Wilson.
Then, on Sunday, October 9, 100 years to the day, three of the oldest buses in the preserved King Alfred fleet re-enacted the first day’s operation, following the pattern of those first trips.
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The convoy consisted of 1931 Dennis 18-seater OU 9286, followed by 1935 Albion Victor AAA 756 and bringing up the rear 1959 Leyland Tiger Cub WCG 104, which was the first bus to be rescued, over 40 years ago, in 1981.
King Alfred ceased to operate almost 50 years ago, on April 28, 1973. But since the 1980s, the band of dedicated enthusiasts have devoted their efforts to keep the memories of King Alfred alive.
Trustee David Morgan said: "Whether it's keeping in touch with former employees, collecting up all the surviving King Alfred buses from around the world, or restoring them so that the public can enjoy riding on them on special Running Days, FoKAB members are kept busy.
"Two buses were brought back from America, another from the depths of Ireland. All have a story to tell and two date back to the 1930s. Doing this demands a lot from the volunteers who raise all the funds and do all the work, but they are very dedicated.
"With so many buses, the problem is always where to keep them. For more than 20 years FoKAB has succeeded in keeping the whole fleet under cover, but in rented accommodation and always on short-term leases.
"FoKAB's great ambition, therefore, is to find an affordable permanent home for the collection in or near Winchester. Now, as it marks 100 years since the start of King Alfred's bus services in the city, FoKAB is redoubling its efforts to find a suitable site. Do you have any ideas?"
Contact James Freeman (Chair) on 01962 849268 or David Morgan (Secretary) on 01737 823436, or write to info@kingalfredbuses.org.uk.
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