In addition to yet another year of successful events, our vehicle team saw a record number of passengers board our fleet of vintage buses. Taking part in all seven of the 2024 air shows, making regular trips for general admission visitors, and operating during the site’s regular wider events season, the three buses have a combined a total of over 200 hours ferrying over 11,000 visitors around the site. The fleet is a firm favourite with visiting school children and has also participated in no less than seven weddings so far this year.
A group of 11 dedicated volunteers make up our team who operate the buses. Driving is just a small aspect of the work the team undertake. Each member is closely involved in the maintenance, polishing and cleaning of the vehicles, as well as regularly taking the buses out into the local community in Biggleswade.
The Collection’s bus fleet includes the Leyland Bus ST ‘Wellingborough’ from 1913, which is one of only three surviving second-generation double decker buses outside of London. It was rescued from the grounds of the Wellingborough Sewage works where it was being used as a store shed. The ‘White Rose’ Leyland SG7 was the outright winner of the London to Brighton Veteran run in 2002 and is widely considered the visitor favourite. The Charabus lived a varied life ferrying passengers between Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire and even spent some time as a static shop that was plumbed in for water, gas and electric before being restored and bought by Shuttleworth. It is now the sole survivor of its kind.
Visitors are invited to ride the buses for free but can offer a donation of their choice, if they should wish to do so. This year’s introduction of a ‘Good Box’ contactless donation scheme has resulted in an increase of 133% in public donations, all of which are used to help maintain the Collection’s wider fleet of vehicles – including the buses themselves. Donations from previous years have allowed the team to expand maintaining and operating the Collection’s 1913 Studebaker alongside the buses during the events. This has already proved to be a big hit with the public, and the team hope to expand this activity into 2025 and beyond.
Peter Hanlon, Vehicle Events Co-ordinator and Bus Manager, said “We are delighted that 2024 has seen record passengers aboard the three buses. The team take great pride in knowing that our ‘Hangar runs’ bring so much joy to our visitors, and we look forward to welcoming them back in 2025.’
Visitors can enjoy a vintage bus ride at any of Shuttleworth’s 2025 air shows and at wider events across the site. Subject to weather and availability. Daily tickets to visit the Shuttleworth Collection and Garden are also available to purchase here.
Image by Nick Blacow
