Categories
General News

Members take a bow

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week 2nd-8th June 2025

GVVT salutes its most important asset – its people. Without you, nothing works.

As the nation marks Volunteers’ Week, we celebrate the army of men and women who freely give time, literally to keep the wheels turning.

From the owners who make vehicles available for events to the blue high viz-clad member staffing ticket desk or patrolling the shed, from the duty keyholder who opens the gates in the morning to the person greeting visitors to the museum display, the Trust owes a huge debt of gratitude.

Membership grows steadily, with more than 860 on GVVT’s books. Lorraine O’Conaill joined only this year and already has volunteered at Super Sundays, garage visits and Outreach events.

Her path to Bridgeton was paved by a person celebrated by the Trust, Isa Dorman, at 104 the oldest living former employee of Glasgow Corporation Transport.

Lorraine explained: “Isa, my grandmother, was a clippie at Knightswood Garage, so I have Corpy pedigree. I contacted GVVT two years ago, asking for a bus to attend gran’s 102nd birthday celebration, and was delighted when the Wee L turned up to take her and the family a drive.

“A couple of events at the garage followed and I was so impressed, I joined. I experienced volunteering when I lived in Dublin and found it very rewarding. GVVT is shaping up similarly, I’ve worked on the tills in the café and shop and I’m looking forward to the next guarding course because I like being out among visitors.

“I have experience of stock control and auditing which I’d love to put to work in the archive.”

GVVT chairman Steven Booth said: “I value the contribution members make by volunteering time to the running of the Trust and its activities. This benefits our membership, visitors and everyone we interact with while we are out and about. It has also allowed us to develop and expand into activities that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.

“Volunteering is one of the most rewarding aspects of being involved at GVVT. Of course, it’s not always easy. At times it can be hard work requiring a big team effort. Lots of jobs can be unglamourous but through the effort and good humour of members it becomes a highly social experience. It’s an opportunity to put your time and skills to good use while making friends.

“I thank and celebrate every member who volunteers time to the Trust. You are the lifeblood – we simply couldn’t do what we do without you.”

Photos above of GVVT volunteers “at work” by Gavin Macqueen Photography.

Categories
General News

Celebrating 40 since SBG reorganisation

As part of our Super Sunday 11th May we celebrated 40 years since the formation of Clydeside, Kelvin, Lowland and Strathtay Scottish.

With the assistance of the Angus Transport Group and the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum we were able to represent all 11 operating companies from 1985 and finished the day with a tour and parade which paused for photos on Edinburgh Road, we certainly turned a few heads on the day!

Categories
General News

Super Sundays!

Kick off a season of new events with GVVT super Sundays

GVVT is taking the wraps off a new season with a line-up of supercharged Sundays.

An exciting programme of fresh events, each with a theme and all different, will take place in the unique setting of Bridgeton Bus Garage with its collection of 130 buses, coaches, lorries and fire appliances – and a host of added attractions. We’ll also offer free vintage bus rides and a free shuttle bus service to the city centre on our Super Sundays.

Whether you’re a transport enthusiast, biker or fan of comic book heroes, the first Sundays of the spring, summer and autumn months are must dates for your diary. The new line-up …

April 6, Motorbikes and Pushbikes: a full-throttle celebration on two wheels showcasing all machines from superbikes to pedal cycles, modern and historic. Roll up, show your bike, browse the stalls and get your fix of GVVT’s classics. 

•Vendor booking forms at https://forms.office.com/e/Gcnp7v1ZTy

•Club booking forms at https://forms.office.com/e/KM0PPi9uBw

•Bike entry booking forms at https://forms.office.com/e/YqKLJ1dhTb

May 11 ***change of date***, GVVT Goes to Town: see Glasgow the vintage way as our buses operate extra free services on routes throughout the city. Sample the Bridges Tour, a sightseeing experience of the crossings of the Clyde from Albert to Arc, and take a top-deck view of George Square and surrounding streets on our regular city centre shuttle. Discover these and more special tours on the day.

June 1, Comic-On the Buses: journey to a new universe – and win prizes – as GVVT enters the world of comic book culture. With a star-studded line-up of fantasy and sci-fi characters and a galaxy of vendors selling an array of goods from art and toys to crafts and clothing, Comic-On the Buses is a fusion of classic transport and imagination. Awards are up for grabs in our cosplay competition, so dress to impress.

•Vendors invited, booking form at https://forms.office.com/e/yGLN4qap8t

July 6, Classic Car Day: Bentleys meet buses and a huge variety of thoroughbreds from Jaguars to Chevies and Fords as GVVT opens its doors to petrolheads and diesel devotees. Clubs and independent owners are invited to display their drive.

•Entry forms at https://forms.office.com/e/KZZWsF1kzh

September 7, Blue Lights, Buses and Troops: Fall in with the ranks of our classic buses and trucks as GVVT celebrates the services, emergency and military. Police, fire and rescue, air ambulance, Army, Navy and RAF gather at the garage with vehicles and displays from past and present day – and all to the swinging sound of the Michael Brawley Big Band and GI dancers.

•Super Sunday events start at 11am and doors close at 4.30pm. Adult £6, concession £5, child £4, family £17, carer £2.

Meanwhile, the two biggest dates on the calendar are back, Family and Community Day on July 27 and our Open Weekend on October 11 and 12. Like all GVVT events, they are packed with added attractions … SIM 1, our fun bus driving simulator, PlayStation games, Wee Happy Bus and Wee Happy Shop, fresh Archive & Museum display, Clippies Café and free classic city shuttle service.

A free shuttle service will operate every 30 minutes between the Garage and City Centre.

Glasgow map showing Free Bus service stop location
Shuttle Bus Timetable Sunday 4th July

There’s more at Bridgeton Bus Garage!

Categories
General News

A successful visit

We were pleased to host a visit from the Gay Classic Car Group at Bridgeton Bus Garage on a rather wet Sunday. The weather didn’t dampen the spirits of our happy visitors.

If you are part of a group who would like to visit us please drop us an email for more details.

Categories
General News

Albion 125 road run

Calling all Albion Owners!

On Sunday 13th April, we are collaborating with our friends at the Albion Club (Albion Trucks and Buses WorldWide). We are holding the ‘Albion 125 End of an Era’ road run’, to mark the end of 125 years of Albion engineering in Glasgow. The run will go from Bridgeton Bus Garage to the Riverside Museum, by way of Finnieston, where the first Albion factory was from 1900 to 1903, and then Scotstoun, where the company moved to in 1903 and where production of axles finally came to an end in October 2024. The run will also take in Yoker, where Albion also had premises.

We are aiming to gather as many roadworthy Albion vehicles as possible to take part in the run and go on display at Riverside. We already have a number confirmed. So please get in touch with us on info@gvvt.org (or the Albion Club) to let us know if you can bring your Albion!

In the meantime, stay tuned to our social media pages Facebook Twitter BlueSky or Threads for more information over the coming weeks and months.

Categories
General News

Goodbye 2024!  Hello 2025!

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Trust over the last year. It has been a great year with many achievements along the way.  Even though we’ve not hit last year’s high on visitor numbers, we have carried a record number of passengers on our buses.  Just over 20,000!  Both the Open Weekend and West End Bus Fest had their best ever passenger figures.  

The achievements of the Trust have been different this year but no less satisfying.  These would include the following:

  • The parade celebrating 100 years of Glasgow Corporation motorbuses
buses heading up St Vincent Street on 3rd August 2024 as part of the parade to mark 100 years of Glasgow Corporation motor buses – (c) Frank Murphy Photography
  • Marking 25 years of the Back on the Road social inclusion programme
  • Ken Bruce becoming our Patron
  • Stephen Templeman being our building manager and the improvements he’s made about the garage
  • Nicola McHendry being our team leader in the Museum & Archive and organising an improved and expanded display of artefacts from the collection
  • The drone flythrough of the garage
  • Paying off early our loan for buying the garage
  • Back on the Road achieving full funding from external sources
  • With the help of Sir Brian Souter, introducing an interactive zone at the garage including a bus simulator
  • The ‘Wee Happy Bus’ kids driving experience introduced
  • The introduction of a family membership
  • Our latest book published, ‘Glasgow’s Buses’, using the photographs of Iain MacGregor whose archive now belongs to GVVT.
  • ‘Your Wee Happy Shop’ going from strength to strength with an expanded range

Of course, while these are singularly special things, they would not be achieved without all the supporting activity that GVVT members collectively do whether volunteering at our events, assisting in the shop, working in the museum and archive, ensuring vehicles are ready, our activities are promoted and publicised, the garage is looked after, we’re visible in the community through our outreach, our membership is catered for or ensuring the Trust is governed and administered.  So thank you once again for the help everyone has provided in 2024.

We can look forward with confidence to 2025 and the opportunities it will bring.  If you would like to be involved in our activities, please join online at gvvt.org/membership and get in touch with us at volunteering@gvvt.org to find out more.

Categories
General News

A message from our patron, Ken Bruce!

Categories
General News

Back on the Road Christmas Party

More than one celebration!

Back on the Road’s Christmas party took place at Bridgeton Bus Garage on 12th December and celebrated the programme’s participants past and present with friends and supporters.  BOTR founder, Dr Alistair Ramsay, was on hand to present the certificates of achievement as part of the festivities.

The assembled party and Alistair Ramsay (centre)

As well as all the usual Christmas music, food and silly jumpers, the party had more in store for programme supervisor, Gordon Kerr, than he’d bargained for.  Gordon has two very important milestones coming up which he’d been keeping quite quiet about.  Unbeknownst to him, BOTR director, Martin Walker, and programme coordinator, Vince Ho, had other ideas and had been working on a secret mission which would be revealed at the party.  

Gordon is celebrating 20 years running the Back on the Road programme.  That’s almost as long as the programme has been running itself.  An amazing achievement.  The second is a special birthday, his 60th!  With Martin acting as MC for the party, the surprises started to roll.  The lights in the room were dimmed as the door opened with Gordon’s wife, Rosie, coming in with a big cake and candles ablaze.  He had no idea Rosie was turning up or that a cake was organised to mark his birthday.  Then, ‘beaming in’ from London, GVVT Patron, Ken Bruce, offered his thanks and good wishes to everyone associated with BOTR as well as a special message for Gordon on his achievements.

Gordon’s wife, Rosie presenting the cake to Gordon.

Speaking after the event, Steven Booth, Chair of Back on the Road, said: “Not only was today’s Christmas party a celebration amongst friends, it was also a celebration of the amazing achievements of our programme participants.  It was great to be able to mark the progress they continue to make.

Gordon Kerr saying a few words

Gordon Kerr deserves the high accolades he has received for the work and commitment he has shown to Back on the Road and the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.  He is integrated into the fabric of life at Bridgeton Bus Garage and is universally liked and respected.  We are very grateful for his service to the programme and its participants, past and present, and here’s to many more years with him involved.”

Categories
General News

Donation to Royal Hospital for Children

On Friday 13th December, GVVT made a festive drop off at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.  The Trust donated 50 copies of its ‘Colour Me Bridgeton‘ colouring books to the hospital to give to some of the kids who will be staying them this Christmas.  The donation was inspired by a brave young boy called Tommy Paul Quinn who visited Bridgeton Bus Garage earlier this year.  Tommy is only two years old but has a rare form of cancer.  His treatment requires ongoing hospital visits.  Despite this, Tommy is a bright wee lad with a big smile and loves anything with wheels.

Hannah from the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity was on hand to receive the donation from Trust Chair, Steven Booth.

Categories
General News

Thanks for joining us!

Our 2024 Open Weekend was another success story for the GVVT.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our Annual Open Weekend.

We had over 2800 visitors over the weekend, including many first time visitors.

We had visiting buses from all over the UK and Ireland many of which helped operate our free bus services and tours alongside vehicles from the GVVT collection. We had over 70 bus departures from Bridgeton each day (71 Sat and 77 Sun using 22 and 24 different vehicles respectively). A big thank you to the vehicle owners who made their buses available to ride on and also to the local bus companies who displayed their latest vehicles over the weekend.

Our visitors enjoyed free trips on a huge variety of buses ranging from the 1928 Leyland Titan to the 2006 Volvo B7RLE, there was something for everyone!

We could not run our event without our own team of volunteers who give up their own time to assist with GVVT events. We had 67 volunteers on Saturday and 77 on Sunday, with many working both days (plus pre-event preparation)! Duties include bus driving and conducting, entrance desk, shop, archive museum, bin emptying and cleaning! If you like to join the GVVT and help with our events you can do this here. Our patron, Ken Bruce volunteered on both days too!

Finally, a thank you from our patron, Ken Bruce

Don’t forget, you find our about our upcoming events at on our events page and on our social media channels.

The next event we’re attending is the SPT’s Wheels & Thrills Family Fun Day at Buchanan Bus Station on Sunday 20th October.