The Provincial Society

HomeAbout UsMembershipSociety ShopSurvivorsCollectionEventsRallyContact UsMembers' AreaLinksWhat's New

 

Site Last Updated : 02 July 2009
               
Scroll down for the latest Society News

BUS OF THE MONTH

 

FIRST HAMPSHIRE & DORSET LIMITED  VEHICLE MOVEMENTS

This month's picture has been chosen by David Whitaker. 

I think the main attraction of 48, and, to a lesser degree, 49, was the rounded profile of the front. Most of the others were perpendicular, though 52/53 were quite attractive but not quite as handsome as 48. I grew up seeing photos of early RTs and tinplate models of buses which always seemed to be AECs with a smooth, uninterrupted design. Number 48 had the best attributes in Provincial at the time. The radiator was truly attractive and continued the smooth design with no protrusion beyond the front dash panel. It also sported , if my memory does not deceive me, Weymann badges to prove that it was different and special. It was a total design rather than being a box with a different front or rear. It was also famous, according to A A Townsin, as being the test bed for an engine which was the precursor of the RT's 9.6 litre. It had a spectacular life with Provincial. I know of two particular incidents; one when it collided with a car which was crossing the road at the Broadway and turned it over and one when it went into a ditch at Bridgemary one snowy day and was lifted out lock, stock and barrel by the crane from a nearby Royal Naval establishment. Wally Corney's dad was the driver /operator of this mobile crane and I was the lucky one who took the photo as 48 left the ground completely and daylight showed beneath its wheels. It underwent a few Provincial modifications over the year but these did not alter the basic design. It was also comfortable to ride on. As it had been an AEC demonstrator  originally I have often wondered if a little extra effort had been put into it when it was built. Click on the picture for a larger image

 
 

 

 

Hold mouse over text to pause scrolling

 

YX58 HWH (44509) at Burseldon

(Hamble branded Enviros)

   

SOCIETY NEWS

 

The Provincial Society was formed at the inaugural Annual General Meeting on 1st March 2003 and was registered as a charity on 9 July 2004. It brings together people interested in all aspects of the operation and vehicles of the former Provincial Tramways Company, the Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Company and the Provincial Bus Company, together with all successor and associated companies from 1878 to the present day.

Our active committee have arranged a programme of events for the year ahead including supporting HMS Collingwood on their Open day in June, organising a bus rally at Stokes Bay on 2 August and trips along former Provincial routes in a preserved vehicle.

On 7 March 2009, our seventh AGM was held at the Naval Social Club in Fareham Road, Gosport. Our guest speaker was our Honorary President, Richard Soper, the Managing Director of First Hampshire & Dorset Ltd.

This page will be updated during each month to provide the latest news of events and you will be kept informed of any special ways in which you can help such as the next working party to restore vintage Guy Arab No 57. For more details, please contact Brian Lupton or John Sherwin

 

© Copyright The Provincial Society
 Registered Charity No.
1104834