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.