A number of our members enjoyed a Valentine’s Day 2008 to remember in Brinklow, as we witnessed the proud return of the 1969 Midland Red S23 (fleet No 5963) to the area she roamed for 12 years covering 868,000 miles in the process. The BMMO designed and built machine was from the final batch of vehicles built by the company at their legendary Carlyle Road works in Edgbaston Birmingham. The bus has been carefully restored by Midland Red Coaches/ Wheels Ltd (a business run by Ashley Wakelin) and is available for hire for weddings, funerals. anniversaries and mystery tours.

 

My thoughts when it pulled up on a freezing day in Broad Street, was of being re-united with an old friend, as my memory went back to the number of occasions that I must have travelled on it, travelling to Coventry on service 586, Leicester on the 640 plus numerous times in the town. When I climbed on board it was like I had gone back in time, it had the same warm and welcoming smell of a Midland Red single decker, had a reassuringly solid feel to it and standing inside viewing its full length overhead parcel shelves and listening to the familiar sound of it’s BMMO 10.5 litre engine, the memories came flooding back.

(Photo By Ivor Bowen)

Ashley Wakelin himself was smartly turned out in black uniform with red piping plus tie and peaked coach drivers cap (yet another reminder in how standards have fallen today). When we were called for a photo-call by the Rugby Times photographer, at the front of the bus, I stationed myself in front of the radiator grille, which was quite definitely the warmest place in that Brinklow street.

 

5963 may be a 39 year old bus but she still looks modern, and as Ashley pointed out

 “And its still more economical than modern coaches. They do about 7 to 9 miles per gallon and this one does 11 miles to the gallon!”

When 5963 was retired in 1981 she had coved the equivalent mileage of driving around the world 36 times!

 

Summing up it was a day that no-one present will ever forget especially the Midland Red fans amongst us. We look forward to seeing her again soon.

Pictures by Ivor Bowen, David Holton and John Bird

Words by David Holton and John Bird

Special Thanks to Chomice Wright of the Rugby Times.