Festival to mark Leyland National single-deck’s 50th

This year’s South East Bus Festival will feature the 50th anniversary of the Leyland National single-deck bus going into production in 1972 as its main theme.

The event is to be held at Kent Showground near Maidstone on Saturday 2 April.

It is hoped that a good display of preserved Leyland Nationals will mark the occasion. Images of the bus will be featured in a continuous slide show that will play throughout the event in addition to a live slide show.

The bus became the mainstay of the erstwhile National Bus Company’s subsidiary fleets during the 1970s and 1980s, as well as being bought by municipal operators and others.

“We already have several preserved Leyland Nationals entered and we hope to receive a lot more entries over the next few weeks…” – Co-organiser, Richard Lewis

Co-organiser, Richard Lewis, said: “It seems incredible that 50 years have passed since I and many others caught our first glimpse of this revolutionary type of bus that was to be seen in large numbers all over the country.

“We already have several preserved Leyland Nationals entered and we hope to receive a lot more entries over the next few weeks so that a display of the type can be the centrepiece of the event at which well over 100 buses and coaches of all ages, types and colours are expected to attend.

“The event will feature its usual popular attractions, such as the frequent free bus service around the showground, lots of sales stands selling bus-related books, photographs, model buses and videos, model bus displays, talks by guest speakers and the Reunion Tea Room.”

The South East Bus Festival is part of Kent County Agricultural Society’s Heritage Transport Show. Admission to the event will cost £10 per person if booked online via the Kent County Agricultural Society website or £12 at the gate. Children under the age of 14 will be admitted free. Any buses or coaches attending the event will be allowed four free admissions upon arrival at the showground.

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