The Chairman's Run to the Oxford Bus Museum - 1st October 2006

When you’re organising a run the two things you want are good weather and no last minute road works. Vice-Chairman Phil Grinham must, therefore, have been a little nervous watching the weather forecast in the week running up to the Sunday run and his ability to sleep at night wouldn’t have been helped by the report in the local paper on Thursday that the 'improved' road system in Abingdon’s town centre would be introduced on, yes, you’ve guessed it, Sunday! Well, we awoke on Sunday October 1st to blue skies and sunshine and our journey to the meeting point was through Abingdon, and whilst there were men in fluorescent jackets armed with paint pots adding new lines and arrows to the road, there were no changes to the traffic flow - perhaps we were going to get away with it.

The meet was at The Dog House Hotel just outside Abingdon on one of the old factory test routes (and also the venue of the new Abingdon natter) where tea, coffee and bacon butties were available for those who’d gone without breakfast. Over the next hour, 27 cars ranging from the early 1930s right through until the 2000s, assembled with their occupants reporting to Chairman Greg Smith and seemingly reluctant to take to the road as they enjoyed lively early morning chats over refreshments.

After the fixing of the rally plaques and armed with their route books, the first cars started to make their exits and the rest soon followed en-route to this year’s destination of the Oxford Bus Museum, which also now incorporates the Morris Motors Car Museum. With the clouds gathering, but the sun still evident, roofs were down as the cars left the car park.

Our first challenge, whether Abingdon’s traffic system had changed, passed smoothly as the men in fluorescent jackets hadn’t finished so, would the weather also play it’s part? Sadly no, the forecast rain started and whilst we tried to leave the roofs down as long as we could as we travelled in and out of the rain clouds, these same clouds eventually joined together and the rain became heavier. All along the route, there were cars on the side as roofs were raised.

Our route was a circular one taking us around Oxford through the villages and over the hills of South and East Oxfordshire as we followed the tulip (Octagonal in shape) diagrams making notes of the pubs we passed which looked as though they warranted a future visit. Past the Brill windmill from which, on a clear day, you can apparently see nine counties. Sadly not today, but at least it wasn’t raining so we could at least get out of the car and try. Yes, there were times when MGs were passing one another going in opposite directions but, hey, that’s part of the fun!

After almost 50 miles, assuming no wrong turnings, we were turning into the museum at Long Hanborough and it had stopped raining. Both the Bus Museum and the Morris Motors Museum, which was incorporated in 2004, are under cover so when the heavens opened again, we really didn’t mind! The Bus Museum contains over 60 vehicles on show, stored, undergoing, or awaiting restoration with a viewing gallery in the restoration shed so you can see the volunteers at work. The Morris Museum contains a number of cars, photos, memorabilia and ephemera all housed on two levels in the only remaining structure to exist from the Cowley factory. A fascinating and interesting place to visit, many people found themselves reminiscing of times spent either driving an 1100/Mini/Ital/Morris 8 etc just like the one on display, playing darts/snooker or simply drinking in the Crescent Road Social Club, or going to and from work on the no. 67 from Cumnor. After lunch in one of the local pubs, or something from the on-site café, it was back to the buses in the afternoon for the free bus ride. Of course, some of us spent too long in the pub and missed the bus ride. But then again, you have to leave something for the next time.


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Text: Simon Pedrazzini
Photos: Richard Martin