IMPORTANT UPDATE

𝑨𝒏 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆…

As some of you may have seen, I updated the last post postponing our presence at Morecambe’s rally this weekend. Myself (Rhys) and Jamie will still be there, however without a bus. We’ve always tried to keep you guys updated through the lows and highs of preservation, and unfortunately this week has been our lowest yet.

As you all know, at the beginning of the year we took on a large outdoor yard, enabling us to expand the collection further and help other people out storing their buses. I’ll make this story quick so it doesn’t turn into a novel. We was collecting something on Tuesday night when we noticed that someone had forced entry into the yard through the back fence. After investigating, we found they’d spray painted down the side of 21158, emptied the fire extinguisher and stolen the emergency hammer off 69154.

It was at that point we knew we needed to start getting the buses out. Wednesday night we moved 4 buses down to a new yard about an hour away, taking 69154, 4515, 21158 and 66196. We’d sorted out storage for 22026 and 20974 and was collecting them on the yesterday (Thursday). Upon arrival to the yard, we’d noticed they’d been back, but brought tools to take off the fence panel completely, we knew they was on a mission for something and had to completely clear the yard. Luckily, Christian managed to get 102 out and to a new secure location, we moved our last two and attention turned to The PSV Group’s Floline, as the batteries were dead.

We sourced new batteries, and as we was fitting them at about 23:00, we noticed torches in the bushes, they was back. Unfortunately for them the yard was empty and as we took the floline out, so went their last chance to steal anything.

We had a very narrow escape this week, who knows what they would’ve done, what they was after but thankfully down to our quick response and the absolutely fantastic effort of the best mates a pres group could ask for, we got all the buses, stock, parts and anything valuable out of that yard, including ourselves safely without any lasting damage. I won’t post pictures of the damage because I wouldn’t want to give the want-to-be Banksy’s the satisfaction, but it has shaken us. So once again a MASSIVE thank you to everyone for their help this week!

That only leaves one bus, 22026 which will be heading up to Workington to be welded and worked on by their fantastic team, so hopefully she should see the road some time soon. Hence us pulling out of Morecambe because we’ve simply got too much to sort.

In other good news, we’ve got replacement panels made up for 22878 and paint prep will start this weekend all going well. So stay tuned on that front.