 Our 2003 year started with the "Preparation"
We
have our Bus garaged a few miles away from home, so regular visits are made
especially throughout the winter period. We check on its conditions, security,
and usually finish off pondering how long we have to wait before the first
rally?
As the time nears towards the date of our first outing, we complete
a top to bottom valeting, any repairs needed and safety checks.
Sue usually
gets under the bus to do the complicated bits like checking the seat bolts for
security, lubricating the throttle linkage and so on. Also the interior
paintwork is tidied up, namely the backs of the seats where some people like to
scratch their names and leave chewing gum etc. Throughout the year, we repeat
the valeting and safety checks before use, and usually the floor gets repainted
two or three times a year.
Our first rally of the
year, held at Pevensey Bay.
There were about 15 Scooters, Motor
Bikes and Combos. Round 25 assorted classic cars, including 1 Rolls Royce.
There were just two buses, ours and an Ex-Maidstone & District Double
Decker. Our bus was on static display for 2 hours, then it operated a free Park
& Ride, between Pevensey Bay and Pevensey Castle (approx 5 miles). During
the day we had seven visitors from Wales. Three were from Warm Turn, one from
Abertillery and one that had retired from Jones in 1976, and moved here to
live. The retired gentleman, spent about an hour going round and round with us
before finally getting off, saying that we had made his day. He had not seen a
Jones bus for over 20 years.
April 6th.....Our
second rally was to Cobham in surrey.
To say it was cold, was an
under statement. There were so many buses turning up that they were being left
outside the rally site. We opened the doors to the pubic around 11.30am and our
first visitor was a man from Tredegar. He had seen our bus outing advertised,
possibly on the net, so four of them hired a car and made the trip to see the
buses.
May 10th.....Our Few days back to the
Abertillery Area.
We came up on the Sunday with our friends, and
booked into the Queen Hotel. On the Monday we drove and parked for the day at
Newport Bus Station. It was a quiet day with a few visitors coming along to see
us. Later on we drove to Newport Bus Garage, this seem to generate a lot of
interest from the maintance staff.
On Tuesday we were in Church Street
Abertillery and it turned out to be a fantastic day for us. A constant flow of
people continued all day, looking round, chatting and signing our visitors
book. Approx. 100 names went into the book that day.
On Wednesday we went to
the Festival Park in the morning and Ebbw Vale town in the Afternoon. Both
generated lots of interest yet again and more names added to our book. Our
evening was spent at the Jones Buses Reunion night in the Penndragon
Abertillery, which again was fantastic evening.
A lot more happened the few
days we were here, so I have dedicated a full page
[Abertillery 2003
] covering all the events in more detail and some photos
of people we meet.
May 18th.....
Hastings;...Quiet after our Abertillery visit, but never the less,
nice to out with the Bus.
June 8th.....
Southsea;...
June 29th..... North
Weald;...
July 6th.....
Littlehampton;...
July 13th.....
Eastbourne;...
July 27th.....
Worthing;...
August 17th..... New Forest
- Avon Heath;...
August Bank
Holiday..... Sunday 24th/Monday 25th Hellingly;...
September 6th/7th/8th..... Travelled up to Abertillery for
weekend stay. On the Sunday we travelled to Barry Docks;...
September 14th..... Amberley Chalk Pits Museum
;...
September 28th Showbus
Cambridge..
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