Vintage buses tour city to mark anniversary

The buses could be seen in Coventry on Saturday

A number of veteran buses have toured the streets of Coventry to celebrate the 45th anniversary of them last being used in the city.

The vintage vehicles could be seen in the city on Saturday, exactly 45 years to the day since the last rear-open platform buses were used in service in Coventry.

Four former Coventry Transport buses which were involved were from a collection owned by local bus preservation campaigner Roger Burdett.

The buses assembled in White Street Coach Park and travelled to Copsewood and back, travelling the number nine route.

This was the route last operated by the rear-entrance buses.

The vehicles, which had been operated by Coventry Corporation Transport and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive when they were still in service, appeared at various locations in Coventry throughout the day.

Roger Burdett owns 26 buses, four of which could be seen around Coventry on Saturday

Mr Burdett said the four Coventry Transport buses were:

• A 244 Daimler COG5/Park Royal from 1940

• A 366 Daimler CWA6/Roe from 1944

• A 94 Daimler CVA6/Met Cam from 1950

• A 334 Daimler CVG/Met Cam from 1963

There was also a Leyland Fleetline with East Lancs bodywork, as well as a Metrobus vehicle.

The 94 Daimler has an advertising sign promoting Agers Fine Shoes, a shop which is still open under the name Charles Ager. It has been operating for more than 180 years and is believed to be Coventry's oldest shoe shop.

An advertising sign on the 94 Daimler promotes Agers Fine Shoes, a family-run shoe shop still operating in the city

Mr Burdett owns the four Coventry Transport buses, including Coventry's oldest single-decker (the 244 Daimler) and double-decker (the 366 Daimler), having restored them to working order.

He said he owned 26 buses in total, which he kept in a "large shed" at home.

"It's quite stressful at times because obviously they're all quite old," he said.

"You've got to get them back on the road, you've got to keep them roadworthy, you've got modern traffic issues.

"None of them do more than 35mph so it takes forever to go anywhere and you've got to have a good team around you to make sure the maintenance happens."

Mr Burdett said he had needed a hobby to "break up the work", saying that buses were the most flexible, as there was "too much regulation with trains" and "boats were too slow".

One of the vehicles on display in Coventry on Saturday