Coventry Buses - past and present

Hi all I have today enjoyed a ride aboard one of our Coventry electric buses. Other than a lack of engine noise, I would not have known that it was any different to normal motor buses. The bus was responsive in traffic. I do hope that the venture works. Electric motors are highly sophisticated bits of technology these days but the only source of electricity is either from onboard batteries or physical contact with electrical conductors, but all of that might be about to go a step further. Induction motors, taking current from a power cable, buried under the road surface might be on the cards. Bus ride.

Have just heard the sad news that Peter Walduck has succumbed to his dreadful illness RIP Sandy Lane

Although I never had the privilege to meet Peter Walduck personally, I have exchanged many emails with him, and he could only be described as an absolute gentleman. He was always friendly and cheerful, even when his health was causing obvious distress, and I know that he will be very sadly missed by family and by the many people with whom he shared his passion for Coventry Transport. He wrote a lovely page of memories about his own father for the Historic Coventry website, which can be read on this page. The world will be a little bit sadder without Peter in it.

I've had many pleasant exchanges with Peter since he first enquired about Perkins Street (where he once lived) in the Coventry Telegraph forum. It was a privilege to have known him. Goodbye old friend

Hello, Reading the introduction to his site shows a dedicated worker. I have no idea if I have ever met him, with him having started driving when I was still in my teens. I may have been a passenger on his bus. I can feel his disappointment & frustration, when Coventry Transport was lost into WMPTE, but he picked up the pieces and carried on elsewhere. So, even though I did not know him, I can feel the warmth of the posts about him, just as though I had known him.

I'm so pleased I had the chance to meet Peter at the recent Centenary event and to talk with him for a while. He was obviously in great pain but it was not going to keep him away, even though he lived in Milton Keynes. It was very sad to see him before the morning was out, making his way out of the event so that he could return home, unable to stay any longer. The CWK205 Forum and the CCT Society stand as a lasting tribute to Peter

I have to say I do not share your passions for Coventry Transport, I lost interest when we lost our Coventry colours, I loved the maroonish colour. This maybe of interest to you though. As a boy living on the Radford Road we used to see this strange looking platform being driven by a man wearing a flying helmet and goggles. At first we thought it was a Spitfire pilot training rig. As we later found out it was a Daimler bus chassis being driven to a testing ground or whatever? I know they came out of the Daimler plant at the top of Lydgate Road hill then along the Radford Road towards Tamworth, but after that I don't know where they went? One thing I do know, they all seemed to go in either direction (to and from the Lydgate plant) with no apparent changes. That's why we thought they were being tested. Anyone know why? The drivers looked funny in the winter months, dressed with a long type of waxed great coat, they all looked like the Red Baron. Colin.

Hi Colin I too miss the maroon livery, but I am grateful for a bus whatever colour it is when it turns up at the bus stop, takes me where I want to go & it's free. I buy bus passes for both of my grandchildren which costs me £600 per year, so I do have a measure of the value of my free bus pass. We do have the correct colour buses on our railway & you are most welcome to ride on them.

Hello I am not sure whether to start a new thread for these pics of the Coventry Festival of Motoring. I travelled to Stoneleigh aboard this 1949 single deck bus, built at Radford. I then returned aboard this Green-Line AEC. Also providing a shuttle service was this CCT bus. Hope you like. I am very grateful for the time given by the people who provide, upkeep & maintain these works of art. Boarding the 1949 Daimler, I wish that I had borrowed one of Pam's wedding hats & travelled as Miss Marple, out to solve another murder. I can't think of a male character to match Miss Marple. "Tea, anyone?" "One lump please!"

Great photos Philip and it was a great day. I took part in the run in my restored 1978 Fiat X1/9 (sorry, it's Italian!) Will try to post up some photos of mine. The buses looked great - to the Council and organisers for this one - they even booked the right weather! The Spitfire flyover was fantastic.

Hi NeilsYard It was a really good event. I am glad that you enjoyed it too.

Video of many of the cars taking part (me and mine @ 07:19!) and Spitfire at Stoneleigh!

Hi & thank you Bril, bril & bril!

One other thing I never knew from participating in the Festival run was going past Wappenbury Hall and not realising this was William Lyons' home. A little web research reveals the first home Mr Lyons bought when he moved to Coventry was 'The Willows' at Gibbet Hill? Anyone know which house that was? I only live down the road but cannot see a house called that?

Could somebody tell me when Pool Meadow became a bus station, please?