Simon writes: After leaving Chesterfield / Stagecoach East Midland Leyland National VKU 78S passed to an operator in south Manchester for a while before ending up with Escort Coaches of Middlesbrough in 1996. The following year it was up for sale and acquired by Alistair Grey for preservation. It was used to publicise the Workington Transport Heritage Trust at events and rallies in the late 1990's but was then put into store as it required body repairs.

I've been in contact with Alistair Grey who owns ex Chesterfield Leyland National 78 VKU 78S along with current pictures of the bus.

This is what he said:
Number 78 (VKU 78S) has been in dry store for many years at Silloth. It hasn't really been touched for around 9 years! I had started to repaint it before being distracted with other work at our Trust.

We have recently planned to move it into one of our buildings at Workington just to avoid paying rent for it at Silloth.

We had the engine running a few years ago, but know that it will need work in other areas, eg radiator needs attention as does the battery charging circuit, and there is some work needed on the body. We have borrowed some bits off it over the years but it still has its original Chesterfield green seats.