Wakefield Files Update December 2006

Again the Bedford OB has again been the most popular vehicle on the Wakefield Files with numerous enquiries, both for OB's  wanted & parts etc. 2006 has also seen a number of Duple Vista OB's for sale including FOUR with one owner, Peter Chandler of Darlington, all still available at the time of writing. Another long term privately preserved OB (TMY 700) has passed from Trevor Apps, to Andrew Lodge of High Easter, where it will be returned to a full psv, and used for weddings and special private hires by Lodge's.

Last time I reported that JAB 867 had 'emigrated' to New Zealand where Gordon Taylor planned to use it commercially. Unfortunately for Gordon, the NZ authorities would not pass it for revenue earning service, so Gordon was forced to cut his losses and sell it back in The UK. The new owner is Martin Fortune of Minehead and it was due to dock in Southampton in December.

 

Moving on to SB's there now seems more interest in this the successor to the OB, particularly the 'butterfly' front Duple Vega. But unlike the OB, there are not so many around, and those that are restored, do not come on the market often. We are pleased to see that one long term restoration, ex Whiteways DCC 125, has now returned to the road after 24 years in the ownership of John Lloyd-Williams of Fyfield Essex. A number of other SB's have changed hands.

On the smaller sizes a number of J2's have been 're-discovered' although in the main these were caravan conversions. The interest generated by Chris Rischer a few years ago, seems to have waned and very few are seen these days on the rally field. With the J2 being the theme vehicle at the BG 2007, it is hoped a few owners will bring their's out of hibernation.

Still on the small Bedfords, you can't get much smaller than a Plaxton Mini Supreme. Suffolk coach operator & preservationist Stephen Golynia has recently restored a second CF Mini Supreme (CNR 274T), and has a Mercedes version awaiting restoration. A party of enthusiasts, including the 'WF team' travelled with Stephen to the Isle of Wight Bus Running Day last October in 591 HNM.

Moving on to the larger VAM's, and VAL's, things have remained fairly static, although a Papworth Industries bodied VAM 5 Outside Broadcast Van (SMY 843F) has come to light. It was equipped by PYE TVT Ltd of Cambridge, & was one of two identical vehicles supplied to the BBC in 1967. It is now being restored by Colin Graham of Tring. FJE 982D the Myalls of Bassingbourn VAM 5 Duple Venture, has had a few outings with the Cambridge Omnibus Society (COS) this year, it is one of only three Venture bodied VAM's left. The other two JBW 527D in preservation with Chris Elmes of Pontesbury, and HDL 255E (needing restoration) with Gange Coaches of Cowes, Isle of Wight, are both VAM 3's with 300 petrol engines. HDL 255E may be available for preservation.

On the VAL front, the Brighton Coach Rally in April saw the debut of Cyril Kenzies superbly restored Harrington Legionnaire, it was also in attendance at the BG 2006 and Showbus.  A late Plaxton Elite bodied VAL 70 (LOU 776L) came to light as still with is last operator Wilf Gibson near Newbury, Berks stored in a barn for 25 years. It has now found a new home with Jeff Soul a coach operator of Alton. A non PSV VAL 14 (FFM 105C) built as a Caravan Transporter by Boalloy is to be restored, it passed to a new owner in December from Payne's Continental Caravan Transport, where it had lain out of use for a number of years. We look forward to seeing it back on the road and on the 'rally circuit'

Lastly, there has been little change in the circumstances of the three Leeds Standee saloons in the Cambridgeshire scrap yard. The yard owner is not the most helpful person and it will take a dedicated effort to get these rare buses into preservation.

Don't forget, if you have details of the whereabouts of any featured vehicles on the WF that we should know about, drop us a line or give us a call (contact details on home page)

Again I would like to thank Richard for not only his hard work maintaining the Wakefield Files, but also the Bedford Gathering web site & organising the Bedford Gathering itself

A happy Christmas & New year to you all.

John Wakefield

Dec 2006

As to the WAKEFIELD FILES themselves, although we endeavour to update the vehicle listings and other information as soon as we hear of it, it may be a week or so, (depending on Dick the web masters other commitments) before we can update the information on the relevant pages. However the information will be posted on the NOTICE BOARD as soon as we know about it. So always take a browse through this, as well as looking at the full vehicle listings.
You can also help us to maintain current up to date info. If you know of a vehicle that has changed owner, been broken up, or maybe one that we don't know about, place a notice on the NOTICE BOARD and we will pick it up. Please ensure that any information given is accurate. Whilst we attempt to keep our records as accurate as possible, errors do occur from time to time, which we are willing to correct given to true information. If you are a vehicle owner or sell a vehicle we have listed please let us know.
We will try to answer any questions either left on the notice board or emailed to the web master, but would point out that we are not experts in mechanical aspects of vehicles nor on the whereabouts of spare parts, particularly non Bedford. We have also had enquires for spares for vehicles that are operating abroad, we cannot help in anyway to source spares for these. Don't forget you can advertise free sales & wants on the BG TRADING POST.
Finally with many vehicles being offered for sale on eBay we often find out about vehicles that we may not have listed, or have lost track of. If you are offering a psv or former psv on eBay please forward us details including your name and town, and if possible the buyers details when sold so that we can keep our records up to date. Also tell the new owner about the WAKEFIELD FILES.
 

Just one point about buying & selling of vehicles. Whilst we are quite willing to publicize your For Sale and Wants via our sister site THE BEDFORD GATHERING 'Trading Post' (www.bedfordgathering.com) we cannot in any way be responsible for these adverts. Sadly there have been a few 'time wasters' out there, if you are not committed to sell something, then please don't advertise it. We have recently had a situation where a prospective buyer had agreed with an owner to buy his vehicle, only to find that after arranging for storage & a lorry to collect the vehicle, the owner changed his mind and decided not to sell. This sort of action not only causes annoyance to buyers, but also wastes the time of myself & the web master. By the same token if you are selling a vehicle please supply a recent photograph of the vehicle. We had one case a few months ago when someone raced across the country to save a vehicle from being scrapped on the basis of the photograph which had been supplied. It turn out the photo was as least 10 years old and the condition of the vehicle was nothing like that illustrated!

Photographs on the Wakefield Files We are grateful to the many people who supply photographs for use on this website and a credit is placed to the donor. If by any chance you find we are using a photograph that was taken by yourself, that has not been credited correctly please drop us a friendly email with details of the photograph and we will place the correct credit or remove the image at your request. If you have a photograph of a vehicle that is listed and not illustrated and are able to supply a copy please email us. Thank you and enjoy your visit to the Wakefield Files.

New file added Quest 80's

Welcome to the Wakefield Files please wait as the messages are being loaded .

The Wakefield Files are sub-divided into two sections. The discoveries and Vehicle profiles

A New Mystery Bedford can you provide any information please?

Vehicle Profiles		The Discoveries
Click on the image to view the file
	Bedford OWB & OB		NEW We have a mystery Bedford SB, can you provide any information on it?
			Where is it now? NEW
	Bedford VAL		Quest 80's NEW
	Bedford J2		Bedford FSN 153
	Bedford CF Mini Supremes		Bedford SB YLF 361
	Bedford VAM		Commor Avenger
	Bedford SB		Bedford OB CJT 185
	Bedford VAS		Leyland Tiger Cub URY 709
	Bedford W Series & ML		The Leeds Trio
	Mercedes L608D Plaxton Mini Supreme		Bedford SB MUR 693
	The Bedford C Types		Bedford OB JCV 30
	Austin K types, CXB & CXD	Where are they now? Updated Usually in the WAKEFIELD FILES we find the vehicle but don't always know its history, In the following cases early history is known, but the vehicles have disappeared. Efforts to trace them via letters in magazines such as Horse & Rider, Classic & Vintage Commercials, Heritage Commercials, & Bus & Coach Preservation, have failed to unearth them. If you know where they are, or what happened to them, John Wakefield would like to know
	Volvo B58-61 Irizar Urko's
	Volvo B10M Van Hool B51F Alizee. service bus	Buying or selling a coach? Why not add your advert free on the Bedford Gathering Trading Post

Unless stated all images are copyright John Wakefield or Richard (Mr BG) Haughey

If you have any information relating to any of the featured vehicles or know of any other vehicles, waiting to be rediscovered & could be featured on this website, please contact us by using one of the methods below

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