PROVINCIAL SOCIETY

The Provincial Society

PORTSMOUTH BUS DISPLAY - Route 17/18 - 4th November 2006

Held in Guildhall Square to mark 75 years operation of route 17/8. The 17/8, known to bus crews as “the circuit”, has remained virtually unchanged, as the city has been re-developed around it. Originally a corporation tram service and then a trolleybus route, from 1963 it has been served by several generations of motorbus. The sale of Portsmouth Citybus to Stagecoach saw operation pass to Southdown, then Blue Admiral, Provincial and now First Hampshire. Organised by Provincial Society member Darren Marshall, with the assistance of the Provincial Society, City of Portsmouth Preserved Transport depot (CPPTD), First Hampshire & Dorset, Stagecoach in Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council, vehicles with links to all the above operators were on show and operating free services over the route – including a first passenger carrying run by the Provincial Society’s ACE Cougar.

The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor F. Charlton, opened proceedings at 10am and was then taken, aboard Atlantean 236, around “the circuit” with Richard Soper, M.D. of First Hampshire & Dorset Limited and Hon. President of the Provincial Society, together with Darren and other representatives of the Society and CPPTD. On his return he helped launch “From Overhead to Overground” Darren’s illustrated history of the route. A popular purchase, supplies aboard “Sylvia” the society’s sales bus had run out by early afternoon – copies signed by the author were especially in demand. The line of eager buyers was matched by the queue for the free trips. Demand was such that a second vehicle was required on all most departures.

If you missed an enjoyable day you can still purchase Darren’s book - it will soon be available from First’s travel shops in the city, Fareham, Gosport & Southampton or you can order a copy via the shop page on this site.

The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth opening the event

Vehicles present *** operated free services during day

RV 3411	Leyland TD2 tower wagon	Portsmouth TW1
LRV 992	Leyland PD2 open-topper	Portsmouth 2 ***
LRV 996	Leyland PD2 open-topper	Portsmouth 4 ***
BBK 236B	Leyland Atlantean	Portsmouth 236 ***
HOR 416L	Leyland National	Provincial Society exhibition / sales bus
XTP 287L	Leyland Atlantean	Blue Admiral 287
KCR 108P	Leyland National	Portsmouth 108 ***
A301 KJT	Leyland National Mk2	People’s Provincial 1 ***
H523 CTR	ACE Cougar	First Provincial 800 ***
S361 XCR	Volvo B10BLE	First Hampshire & Dorset 66161 (Portsmouth livery)
GX06 DXH	Alexander Dennis Trident	Southdown 18510


Vehicle display at the Guildhall Square	Portsmouth No 4 and 236	First Hants & Dorset 66204 on Service 17 passing Portsmouth No 108

Article and pictures submitted by Malcolm Audsley

GOSPORT BUS RALLY - 20th Anniversary of People's Provincial - 27th August 2007

Bank Holiday Monday, August 27^th, saw the fourth rally organised by the Provincial Society. Held at Stokes Bay, Gosport in conjunction with the Gosporteers vehicle rally and building on the “Provincial 125” event organised by Mark Gentry in 2003, this was our biggest rally to date with 97 entries, 60 of which took part in the cavalcade around Gosport and around 25 operated the network of free services during the day. From the society’s perspective the rally was notable for two main reasons. Firstly for the debut of, recently repainted, ACE Cougar No3 which is now restored to its original livery. Operated in service during the day, the Cougar also formed a backdrop, along with Leyland National No1, to the other high point of the day. This was the launch of “People’s Provincial – A Celebration of the Twentieth Anniversary of People’s Provincial” published by the Society. The book was formally launched at 12 noon with short speeches by society Chairman, co-author of the book alongside Richard Arthur, John Sherwin and Guest of Honour James Freeman the Managing Director of Provincial at the time of privatisation in 1987. Purchasers of the book were then given the opportunity to purchase a copy signed not, as is the custom, by the authors but by James Freeman. Selling duties done, James was then taken on a short tour aboard the Cougar – although designed with his input the completed vehicle was not delivered to Hoeford until after James left to work for Badgerline and this was his first ride on the bus….only seventeen years late! Copies of the book remain available from the Society shop priced at £5 + postage & packing.
		People's Provincial No 1 & 3

Launch of the book	James Freeman signing copies of the book	James behind the wheel of No 3
left to right - John Sherwin - James Freeman - Richard Arthur

Article by Malcolm Audsley