The NATIONAL SHOWBUS RALLY 1974
 This view from the first NATIONAL SHOWBUS RALLY in 1974 has a few stories behind it. This was the first time the event was sponsired by National. They took a bit of persuading first claiming they had no available coaches to display. When it was pointed out that London Country had five new white coaches with nothing paticular in mind for them to do and were willing to make one available, they went along with the idea and P4 (SPK204M), a new Plaxton bodied AEC Reliance appeared at SHOWBUS. National also managed to bring along GJD199N, a Plaxton bodied Bristol RELH that had been crowned Coach of the Year at the Brighton Coach Rally in April. In the middle is an Ascough bodied Leyland 440EA from the Irish based body builder who supplied four bus versions to Alder Valley for use on the Maidenhead - Marlow service over the weight restricted Marlow Bridge. Ascough contacted us later to request pictures of the three buses when they entered service which can be seen in our Alder Valley gallery. Winner of the best modern bus in 1974 was Alder Valley's brand new ECW bodied Ford R1014 from Bracknell depot, 708 (TRD708M).
Photo by Dave Buley |