Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust
Twenty-one years ago today, December 9, 2002, five men gathered in an office in Glasgow’s Bath Street to sign a deed. The rest is history, and GVVT.
Paul Adams, Martin Denman, Ian Short, Ian Walker and the late Iain MacGregor knew they would lose their homes if the vision crashed, but they forged on bravely, giving life to what is now one of the finest centres of vehicle preservation in the UK. We are forever in their debt.
Happy birthday, Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.
We were delighted to participate in the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust’s annual Doors Open Day event. We had 128 visitors, most of whom who had never visited Bridgeton Bus Garage before. As usual with this event, it was fully booked soon after the bookings opened.
As part of the event we had a visit from Aoife’s Sensory Bus, which was a big success and will hopefully return for a future visit.
Our Chairman, Steven Booth was interviewed on air for the Hospital Broadcasting Service, who had roving reporters providing information on buildings that were talking part in the event for those who were listening in hospitals across Glasgow and the West.
If you want to visit Bridgeton for yourself, we have Guided Tours this coming weekend and our Annual Open Weekend is on 14 & 15 October.
Archie Houliston never drove a bus or lorry for wages, it was strictly for fun.
And as he turns 76 and is no longer insured to operate council or Trust-owned vehicles, he vows the enjoyment doesn’t stop here. He and his Scania fire appliance will still be regular attenders of events throughout Scotland, writes Ed Bonner.
Friends and fellow-GVVT members joined Archie for his final Corpy drive from Bridgeton to the council fuel pumps at Polmadie – a task he has carried out so many times, he’s lost count.
A former supervising engineer with BT and Vodafone, Archie joined GVVT in 2009. He said: “I didn’t drive for a living. I paid for PCV and HGV courses simply out of interest.
“Driving these old vehicles is a privilege. Each is different and has its own character. L163, the Wee L, is the best to handle while D217, the Daimler, looks good but is a heavy beast.
“I enjoyed the Outreach work, driving to schools and care homes, and the annual taxi run for children to Troon was always a good experience.
“Above all, the greatest reward I have from being in and about the garage is the many friends I have made. I look forward to meeting more.”
Words: Ed Bonner, photos: Joan Flanagan.
We welcomed Elena Whitham, MSP, Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy in the Scottish Government to Bridgeton Bus Garage on 22nd August to show her the work being done by GVVT’s ‘Back on the Road’ programme which helps those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
The Minister’s visit coincided with the release of the latest statistics on Scottish drug addiction deaths. This meant that a large press pack witnessed the Minister’s tour and they then used the garage as a backdrop for interviews. Some 15 different media outlets were represented ranging from BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 5, Sky News plus radio stations and newspapers.
The visit was highly important for ‘Back on the Road’ as recognition of the tremendous work they do which often passes below the radar for many GVVT members. The Trust has also benefitted from the coverage with the garage and our buses being shown nationally. The visit has also enhanced our reputation with CORRA (Back on the Road’s principal funder, who’s Chief Executive also visited the garage) and the Scottish Government.
If you would like to find out more about the Back on the Road programme or help with its activities in some way then we’d like to hear from you. Please get in touch with our Project Coordinator, Vince Ho, at vince.ho@gvvt.org to find out more.
In the meantime, please click this link which will take you to a short film made by the Scottish Government to mark the visit.
Steven Booth
Chair, Back on the Road (Glasgow) CIC
Chair, Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust
The people came out in force to see the Force and made Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust’s Family & Community Day the biggest and best yet. Thanks to our visitors, exhibitors and volunteers, the magnificent Michael Brawley Big Band, and a special salute to Darth Vader and his Star Wars Scottish Garrison for cutting the ribbon and kicking off the fun.
Words: Ed Bonner, Pictures: Gavin Macqueen Photography
Do you live in the East End of Glasgow? We have a new free connecting bus service to our Family & Community Fun Day on 30th July. Leave your car at home and just put your hand out at any bus stop en-route for a free ride to Bridgeton Bus Garage!
Buses will follow this route from Bridgeton Bus Garage: Broad St, Brook St, Crownpoint Rd, Fielden St, Gallowgate, left Westmuir St, Shettleston Rd, Glasgow Rd, Main St, Edinburgh Rd, Easterhouse Rd, Westerhouse Rd, Wellhouse Rd, Edinburgh Rd, Swinton Rd, Buchanan St, Main St, Glasgow Rd, Shettleston Rd, Westmuir St, Gallowgate, Fielden St, Crownpoint Rd, David St, Broad St for Bridgeton Bus Garage. There is no charge for this service.
The Force is sure to be with you at a top event that’s out of this world.
Darth Vader will open Family and Community Day at Bridgeton Bus Garage on Sunday, July 30, writes Ed Bonner.
Supported by troopers from Star Wars Imperial Scottish Garrison, the Dark Lord will cut the ribbon with his lightsaber before the Michael Brawley Big Band raise the roof with the first of two swinging sets, featuring singer Sonja Smith.
Hosted by Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, other attractions include 130 classic buses, lorries and fire appliances, military and emergency services displays, Unwanted Scooter Club, veteran cycles, Paint-a-Bus, Clippies Café, face painting and model buses.
Free vintage bus services will run from the garage to the city centre and Kelvingrove Museum, where the Trust has an exhibition.
GVVT trustee Ed Bonner said: “Family Day is an opportunity to see our vehicles and restoration work, and have fun.
“It had a record attendance of 1500 last year, and with Star Wars headlining and the band playing two extended one-hour sets, we hope to welcome even more visitors this time.”
Family Day: 11am-4.30pm. Admission: £5 adults, £3 concessions, £12 families. Pre-book online at the GVVT website or pay at the door (cards accepted). Enter by Broad Street.
Pictures: Gavin Macqueen Photography
Come on down to Bridgeton Bus Garage on Sunday, July 30 for a BIG day with BIG sound.
The Michael Brawley Big Band return by huge popular demand for their third Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Family & Community Day, this time extending to two one-hour sets and featuring singer Sonja Smith, writes Ed Bonner.
Performing solely to raise money for well-meaning and worthy causes, the band has donated more than £50,000 to charity.
Trumpet player Gary Mitchell, said: “The big band sound is spectacular. You can’t beat live music.
“Our set will feature funk and soul hits as well as big band classics. There will be plenty to dance to. We’re looking forward to raising the roof.”
Family Day is from 11am to 4.30pm, with the band performing 12 noon-1pm and 2pm-3pm.Other attractions include
Star Wars Imperial Scottish Garrison, Paint-a-Bus, military and emergency services displays, Unwanted Scooter Club, veteran cycles, face painting and model buses.
Free bus service to city centre and Kelvingrove Museum, where GVVT has an exhibition.
Admission: adult £5, senior £3, family £12. Book online or pay at the door (cards accepted).
More details on our website – we hope you can join us for a great day!
You’re never too young to enjoy Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust and Amelia Harwood is proof.
The 14-month-old with a smile as large as a double-decker has taken her first bus ride…on a vehicle 61 years her senior, writes Ed Bonner.
Little Amelia rode the Big L, 1961 Leyland Titan L446, at the recent Shawlands Pop-Up, which featured six vehicles from Bridgeton Bus Garage on display and operating free services.
With uncle and GVVT member Jonathan Harwood at the wheel of the Corpy, it was a family day out for Amelia.
And she’s welcome to have another on July 30 when GVVT hosts Family & Community Day with Star Wars characters, the Michael Brawley Big Band, military and emergency services displays, scooters, paint-a-bus, free bus rides and a host of other attractions. Doors open 11am-4.30pm. More details and to book in advance online at gvvt.org/open-sundays
GVVT was at the centre of the fun on the annual children’s Glasgow taxi run to Troon.
More than 300 kids with additional support needs were ferried to the beach in a multi-coloured, horn-blasting convoy of 120 decorated cabs and our own Volvo Olympian open-topper, writes Ed Bonner.
Organised by the Glasgow Taxi Outing Fund, the event has taken place every year since 1947, except for two runs cancelled by Covid. This year’s trip, on Midsummer’s Day, was the seventh featuring GVVT vehicles.
Keeping the Olympian on course and the passengers entertained were Archie Houliston, Joan Flanagan, Brian Ritchie, Kate Kivlichan and Robert Williams.
Joan said: “We carried more than 100 kids at various points throughout the day. The open-topper is a big draw.
“It was a wonderful trip, full of fun. We set out in rain from Kelvin Way, but by the time we paraded through the city and steered south, the sun smiled on us.
“This was my second taxi run, and it was a pleasure to be part of it.”
