Owner: Sue & Roger
Wortley Email:
Sue &
Roger
1958 Leyland Tiger Cub.
Registration
889AAX
1959/60
Weymann's Single Deck MkVI Body
Chassis No 586876
and Entered Service with
Jones in 1961. |
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Hello, good
morning. Greetings from Eastbourne !! Can you
please put this as my final entry to my Website
?
Owing to
continuing poor health, it has been difficult to
do my daily tasks. As I am now in the clutches
of Rhuematoid Arthritis, which is playing havoc
with my wrists and ankles, I found that I was
unable to drive my Bus in a safe and orderly
way. Rather than take a chance and risk having
an accident, I have, after a lot of thought,
decided to part with my Bus. This was a very
difficult decision to make, and was not easy to
do. We have owned our Bus for seven years, and
made a lot of new "friends" in the Abertillery
area. We have done our very best to restore and
preserve our Bus to the standards expected of a
"Jones"'s vehicle. We have visited Abertillery,
about eight times since we have owned the Bus,
and had much pleasure in meeting the people. We
wish to thank all of the folks that came to see
us in Church St and Ebbw Vale. Also, a big
"thank you" to your local Traffic Warden, Mrs
Osland, who made it possible to stay in Church
St; from the beginning. Also, on the list,
Cheryl, for her help in getting us recognised,
in the local papers. We must not forget, of
course, "Sarge", who got the ball rolling in the
first place, with the help of Tom Cornock, June
& Jill, Wyndem & Val, John Badcock, Carolyn,
Terry C, Mr & Mrs. S Jones, Tony Norman, Inaz
Warren and the Queens Hotel & Lamb House. Not to
be left out, of course, Don & Peggy who did us
proud with the Abertillery Museum. If we have
left anyone out, we apologise, right now !!
The very
last words go to our brilliant Webmaster Les
Harber, and his good Lady Wife, Glenda, for all
of the hard work that they have put in to our
site, and keeping it running for us. The site
will be running, for some time, but I think that
it will be put into the "Archive" section, but
still available, quite easily.
The Bus has
been bought by a Cardiff based group, run by a
Mr Mike Taylor, who with several others, assure
us that the Bus will be well looked after. The
major shareholder of the Group is your local
Vicar, Revd Patrick Coleman, from Abertillery,
who assures us that you will be seeing a lot
more of the Bus in the future.!!!The Bus left
Eastbourne on Saturday, July 21st, 2007, for the
very last time, to return to her "home" in the
Valleys. We will still be on email if anyone
wants to stay in touch. We will miss our visits
with the Bus, but will keep coming back by car.
Thanks once again to all involved in our
wonderful past. Roger & Sue Wortley,
Eastbourne.
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Ex Jones Leyland
889AAX |
  The history of this Leyland Tiger Cub
started way back in the "Arimas Bus Service Trinidad" 1958. I have included
this history further down this page.
I will start in August 2000, when Sue
and I bought the Bus after it had been advertised for several months in the
"Bus and Coach Preservation" magazine. We returned to Eastbourne excited about
our new addition to the family. The overall appearance of the bus was poor and
it was now 220 miles away from it's original home of Aberbeeg.
It had no MOT
so, with no time to waste, we were booked in to the local bus company, glad to
say it passed with flying colours. With the bus still looking tatty but
roadworthy, it was off to Showbus, the biggest rally of the year. OK, we were
hoping for some sort of prize, but as the bus was in a poor condition, we came
away with nothing, but pleased to have had the chance of showing off our prize
possession.
Christmas period was not a good one for us, the bus was
vandalised not just once, but a few times and this presented us with more
problems. The interior seats would all require replacement, but where to find
some was the question? Thankfully, Bournemouth Transport Trust helped us with
our problem. The only thing was that the only seats available were red, not the
original green, but they would do the job. Next, followed a complete interior
painting in black and red, which matched the new seats. With
all this work completed, the only thing left to paint was the outside, which
had looked shabby from the day of purchase. With cheque book in hand, a trip to
the local bus company, "Eastbourne Buses", soon sorted the paint problem and
lightened my pocket, but the result was worth it.
With bus back in my
possession, I found that the farm we used as a garage has been quarantined -
great! Where do I park it? Thankfully a sympathetic and local coach company
came to our help for a short while.
We managed to attend six rallies
throughout the rest of the year, finishing up at Duxford showbus. We entered
the classes for "Best Leyland Single Decker", "Best 1950's Bus" and "Best
Weymann Body Class". All day went by and with the results issued we had, again,
won nothing, but we had a good day and went back home not completely down
hearted. Well not, that is, until reading weeks later, in the November issue of
Buses we had won "Best Improved Bus since last Years Rally". Where was I when
the photographers from various bus magazines were clicking their cameras,
Anglia TV shooting film and my bottle of champagne on the table? "Half way down
the M11 on our way home"!
 Each year we manage
between 12 and 14 rallies if possible and have won a cup, diploma and many
rosettes, as well as appearing on many shop bought videos.
We are very proud
of our bus and the history that follows us around. No matter where we are it
will always attract people, especially from Wales. But the best thing of all is
the amount of new friends that we are making everywhere we go. We both enjoy
visiting the Welsh valleys, from where the bus came, driving some of the bus
routes and meeting ex Jones' employees, it is great!
I will continue to add
any news we have as the months go by, but if you ever find yourself at a rally
and see us, come along, we would love to meet you!
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Acknowledgement...
Alan Russell, our driver for the first
trip down to Wales. He was
kind enough to do all of our driving and did a
very good job of being our guide. We all thought that it would be nice to
include him, as we would have been totally lost without his help.
Thank you
from Sue & Roger. |
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Other Links I
have found interesting |
 East Sussex Omnibus
Society
Classic
Buses Website.
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Eastbourne Buses |
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Below is some of the history I have found
since owning this Ex Jones Bus, I do hope you find it interesting.
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It's funny how stories will start, this one begins with the
"Arimas Bus Service Trinidad" in 1958.
In 1958, an order was placed for
twelve Leyland Buses which were destined for Trinidad, but three would find
their destiny elsewhere.
The Vehicles specifications included, 0.350 Leyland
Engine, Pneumo-cyclic gearbox, sprag gearbox (this prevented the Bus running
away backwards on a hill, with the engine running when stationary), a single
speed axle and mechanically operated doors.
The bodies were made by
"Weymann's" and included 44 narrow seats, standard front door, string bell cord
with mechanical bell, clock, spare wheel, and conductor's tip up seat. Also
included were a four piece front screen and plastic windows, the rears of which
were removable (possible early form of air conditioning), a front bullbar and
the body colour had been a specified Green and Cream.
.By 1958 twelve
gleaming Leyland Tiger Cubs stood on the docks at Southampton awaiting their
onward journey to Trinidad. But three of the buses never made that journey and
were left on the docks. It was several months later before they were advertised
for resale, through a local Leyland outlet.
Jones' made an offer which was
accepted for all three Buses and soon they were delivered to "Weymanns" once
again, but this time for conversion to home market specification. Once
completed it was the turn of St Georges of Bristol to repaint them into the
familiar Jones Blue and Cream. The Buses were registered in the March of 1961,
889 AAX, 890AAX and 891AAX with fleet numbers 98, 99, 100 respectively.
Knowing the terrain and type of work carried out, leads me to understand why,
during their working life, money would be spent upgrading to a bigger engine
(0.375) and a two speed axle. Interesting enough we found on 889 AAX, a switch
fitted on the nearside of the vehicle, close to the fuel tank. We were not sure
at the time of purchase what the purpose of this switch was, but now we find it
operated the two speed axle system. This switch could and was operate from the
outside of the vehicle and depending on the route the bus was on, would depend
on it being selected low or high range. This selection, would have been carried
out before leaving to garage compound.
Also, several sets of seats were
replaced because they became rotten from the coal dust on the miners clothing
as they made their homeward trip.
 Leyland Tiger Cub 889AAX
When Jones closed the "Red & White" took over the
Aberbeeg depot and the fleet, some of which were sold and others repainted in
the new colours/livery. In 1976, 889AAX was sold to the Jones's staff calling
themselves "The Jones Preservation Society". The fate of the other two buses,
I'm not sure of at this time.
The preservation society kept the bus at Warm
Turn and painted it back into the Jones original colour and livery. It went to
various shows and rallies, before having coach seats fitted and used as a
publicity vehicle for the company. But in 1980 the National Bus Company decided
to close and sell the depot, leading to many decisions which needed to be made
by the Society. With accommodation problems for the bus, which had the
affectionate name of Betsy, the Society disbanded and the bus was
sold.
During the next few years the bus spent time with Neil Cross
Pontypool, John's Travel Blaina, Burnhams Coaches West Midlands and a Mr
Griffiths in Hampshire. As the bus was not registered during these years, it is
difficult to confirm these owners.
In 1994 Mr Alan Roberts, of Yate, who is
a PCV driving instructor and Artist, bought the bus and became the fourth
registered owner. After having the bus totally repainted inside and out, he
attended many shows and rallies. Many plaques and rosettes came his way and on
the 12th of May 1996 it was used as a shuttle during the charity walk across
the second Severn crossing.
He kept the bus until in 1999 when he
decided to sell it and it was advertised in the "Bus and Coach Preservation"
magazine. It remained for sale until August 2000 when Sue and Myself bought
it.
Feature articles so far found in Books and Magazine:-
....In 1996
the then, current restoration of the bus, was featured in a book called
"Classic Bus Yearbook 2".
....It also featured in an edition of Classic Bus
in August 2000.
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Photograph taken the day we bought the bus. August 2000 Arundel
West Sussex.
Paintwork flat, no trim or badges |
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