Leyland Leopard fundraising appeal

A rare blue and red 1975 Leyland Leopard is the subject of a £1,4000 fundraising appeal by the Accrington Heritage Trust.

The vehicle, once part of a fleet of buses operating in East Lancashire, was put into service with its paint job in honour of the East Lancashire 11th Battalion, called the Accrington Pals.

The Accrington Pals fought at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, where many of them were killed or injured. The vintage Leopard serves as a memorial to the Accrington Pals.

The coach is owned by charity Accrington Heritage Trust and the plan is to restore the vehicle to a modern safety standard at a cost of £14,000, so that it is available to tour local historic sites and for use by schools and other local organisations. It is currently housed at the Town & District Transport Trust in Great Harwood, East Lancashire.

The Leyland Leopard is an important piece of motoring history. Once a common sight on British roads, the Leyland Leopard will remind many readers of school days in the second half of the 20th century. This particular example has the added historical importance of its homage to the brave soldiers of the 11th East Lancashire Battalion: the Accrington Pals.

  • Anyone wishing to support the appeal can do so here. Donations of £100 or over will receive a special, framed certificate from the Accrington Heritage Trust.

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