Town & District Transport Trust Ltd, located in Accrington, is a volunteer led charity organisation who have a large collection of vehicles preserved for our future generations to enjoy – including restoring locally made vehicles such as a Ribble Guy Arab, Ribble Gay Hostess, and a Yorkshire Rider Leyland Olympian.
They have excelled themselves this year by launching a double decker bus in livery to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This will be used for many celebratory events throughout the year, including a local highlight of the Jubilee celebrations – being utilized as a free hop-on hop-off bus service visiting seven of Hyndburn’s parks on various dates, helping people to take part in the interactive ‘Beacon Trail’.
The bus will also tour the country, with a guaranteed place at CarFest North, a prestigious festival created by Chris Evans to help raise funds for UK children’s charities – over £19m since it was launched. CarFest is the largest family fundraising festival in the UK, and takes place at two venues, North being at the Bolesworth Estate, Cheshire on 22 – 24 July 2022.
The bus will also be on show at the Trust’s own event on Great Harwood Showground on September 3rd and 4ththis year, the Great Harwood Transport Festival. With lots of buses, trucks and cars on show, plus rides available, it will be a fun event for all the family – tickets are just £5 and details are available on Facebook.
Ian Amarnani, Trustee of the Town & District Transport Trust, said: “We have such a rich heritage in transport locally, we really think it’s vital to preserve this for future generations. As a Trust, we are then able, through donations, to use these buses to reach our communities. I think the Queen’s Jubilee bus is really striking and a fitting tribute – I’m sure we’ll see a lot of smiling faces as we tour it around!”
Cllr Miles Parkinson OBE, added: “We were delighted with the designs for the bus, and can’t wait to launch it and have it touring Hyndburn for our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. As it travels round the country, it will also fly the flag for Hyndburn and really put us on the map!”
The Town & District Transport Trust are looking for volunteers who can help with restorations, and also welcome donations of items to add to their collection. This could include tools, bus seats, windows, new or used body panels, as well as photographs or artefacts relating to the motor trade, haulage and bus / coach industries (e.g. old uniform items, badges etc.) You can get in touch with the trust via email if you think you have anything suitable – info@tdtt.co.uk. You can see more about the Trust here: www.tdtt.co.uk
#AmazingAccrington is a business leaders group in Hyndburn dedicated to improving outcomes for residents of Hyndburn, and you can see more about them here: www.amazingaccrington.co.uk
