Mark Kindred asks if anyone is interested in a
Leyland Tiger and a Leyland National?

Hi,

I have recently bought a 1982 Leyland Tiger coach with Plaxton Supreme V body. The original plan was to turn her into a motorhome but after speaking with the guys at TM Travel I was told that she's in excellent condition and is completely original (stll has the Tiger badges and jack in the boot!) and it would be a crime to spoil her. I dont want to chop up such a lovely example and so am looking for a new home for her. I don't want to sell her but am happy to loan her out to an organisation who is going to care for her and take care of running her and keep her indoors. At the moment she's parked on my drive bearing the brunt of the winter which is in contrast to the rest of her life as she's previously been fully garaged. I wonder if you guys might be interested?

By the way, I also own KCR 111P Leyland National Mk1 which was also originally from Portsmouth Bus Corp but was sold to St Johns Ambulance and converted to an Emergency Control Unit. It has since been converted into a motorhome and lives over in Poolsbrook. I'm also looking to sell KCR 111P and am open to offers (we spent nearly 2000 pounds during the conversion).

Added by Mark Kindred (5 January 2010): As you can see I've removed the grill so that the thieving tow rags near my house can't steal the Tiger badges from the grill (I saw one on Ebay that sold for 200 pounds so they would definitely try to nick those). Reg is SHE 532Y. She was run by Furness Coaches at High Green and was driven since new by the fitter who looked after like she was his own. She’s been garaged since new but is now bearing the brunt of the winter which is why I’m looking for somewhere to keep her under cover so if you have any ideas it would be greatly appreciated. I did think of Sheffield tram sheds but they want 70 pounds a month which is more that I could afford really.

Added by Mark Kindred (6 January 2010): Here are pictures of the Leyland National. She used to be owned by St Johns Ambulance and was converted into an emergency medical centre a few years into her life and stayed as such until 4 years ago when she was turned into a motor home and has been used for camping and festivals ever since. She’s a good runner and has never let me down, I suppose vehicles back then were built to last. She still has the blue lights and sirens etc on top.

I went past Dennis Bagshaw's old yard at Old Whittington today and thought the old ex Ribble PD3 had gone from the corner of the yard where it's resided since 1986. Anyone know where it's gone? Hopefully for preservation but I fear maybe for scrap.

Best wishes to all the members and keep up the good work on the website.

David Gambles replies (2 January 2010): Ian Moorcroft was worried that the ex Ribble PD might have gone for scrap, well I can assure him that it was rescued by the Ribble Preservation Group.

Just read the notes about the Ribble PD3 rescued from Dennis Bagshaw's yard and, according to my latest copy of RVPG News "It has been secured on the basis that it can either be restored at some stage if it is the only one available or it can be used as a donor if another Met-Cam one becomes available to the Trust". The bus is now safely stored under cover at a Cheshire location.

Apparently 131 Met-Cam PD3's were purchased by Ribble and six are now in preservation, although none are owned by the RVPT and indeed this latest acquisition is a private purchase by Gerard Butler who is well known for having funded the restoration of a good number of vehicles which have all been restored to a high standard. His very latest one being Leopard UTF 732M. (CLICK HERE)

I've just managed to speak to Gerard Butler who I mentioned is the new owner of the Ribble PD3 moved from Bagshaw's and he has promised to send photos of the bus just as it emerged from the undergrowth in Bagshaw's yard and also of it in its final years of service. Gerard said that he does definitely want to restore the bus if possible, so the signs are good.

The promised photographs (taken by Joe Gornall):

The first picture was taken near Preston Railway Station on 16th June 1981 and the second on 11th June 1989 in probably the same position as when the bus was moved some twenty years later.