VINTAGE BUSES IN GLORIOUS DEVON: A Journey in Colour

Devon is a county rich in vintage buses and 200 colour photos taken by heritage enthusiast Roger Malone capture the excitement of driving out with these superbly restored and maintained vehicles. The Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day was established in 2007 by Colin Billington, and Exeter's annual Twilight Running was initiated a few years later by Dan Shears, whose late father had created the West of England Transport collection. Most of the buses taking part were former Exeter City Transport vehicles, the oldest of which was a 1938 Leyland "Tiger" half-cab single-decker. Another notable event was a cavalcade to mark the demise of the Bretonside bus and coach stations, which included Royal Blue, Grey Cars and Devon General companies. 2018 saw a recreation of the ride across Dartmoor as it was in 1968, rising to a height of 1430 feet and accompanied by sixties music from the Beatles and Beach Boys. The book's picture section starts with a red double-decker in Devon General livery on the seafront at Torquay, and on the same page a 1934 AEC Regent with open top deck heads along the coast to Paignton. The single-decker green Agatha Christie bus, a 1947 Leyland Tiger, belongs to the National Trust and is pictured here outside her home "Greenway" on the banks of the River Dart. A 1964 London Transport red double decker is pictured at Buckfastleigh, a village with a tradition of vintage transport. East Devon sees a number of single-decker Bristol vehicles plying between Sidmouth, Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, while photos of the Twilight Run showcase the enticing glow that beckons you inside a 1963 Leyland Titan or a rare 1950 Albion Victor resplendent in bright yellow livery. Back in the daylight, a 1929 Burlingham-bodied Leyland Lioness charabanc is pictured with the hood down passing a thatched cottage in a scene of nostalgic perfection. 128pp, over 200 colour photos.