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.