Bedford OB Gathering 2024 – 85 years of the OB

Published: 27/05/2024

 To celebrate the eighty -fifth anniversary of the Bedford OB, six coaches with Duple ‘Vista’ bodies and one bus with Duple ‘Hendonian’ body attended Transport Museum Wythall over the weekend of 18 -19 May.
 
Introduced in 1939 and co-developed with Duple, only 73 OBs were produced before the onset of WWII but post-war went on to almost 13,000 built by 1950, becoming one of the most popular public service vehicles of its type.
 
Although this year’s Gathering target was much more it seems that vehicle age and condition plus wide geographical separation deterred a number of attendees at this year’s Gathering. Over the years, a number of OB coaches have also moved from private preservation to commercial coach and bus operators as the ideal vintage vehicles for weddings and special events. In many cases this precludes the rally world.
 
Fortunately the Wythall Gathering did not disappoint with seven of the best preserved vehicles in attendance, some travelling from afar. With a warm sunny day, the turnout from families and enthusiasts was excellent. On the Saturday, a road run to the British Motor Museum was enjoyed by both the owners and passing traffic.
 
Vehicles attending were:

• JDV 754 Lewis Coaches, Henstridge, Somerset, Bedford OB Duple C26F 1947 new to Woolacombe & Mortehoe Motor Co Ltd
• KGN 433 Metropolitan Police Bedford OB Duple, Hendonian, B27F 1949
• KPW 986 Lewis Coaches, Henstridge, Somerset, Bedford OB Duple C29F 1950, new to C J Eagle, Castle Acre, Norfolk
• LDF 833 Bowles, Ford, Gloucestershire, Haines & Strange OB Duple C29F 1952 (vehicle built after production ceased from spare parts supplied by Cheltenham Bedford dealer Haines and Strange)
• LTA 750 Western National (Royal Blue) 1411 Bedford OB Duple C29F 1950
• LTT 913 O R Williams (t/a Whiteways), White Garage, Waunfawr, Bedford OB Duple C29F 1949, new to Sunbeam Garages (Torquay) Ltd
• MYB 33 H R & Miss V Gunn (t/a Safeway Services), South Petherton, Bedford OB Duple C29F 1950, now in the colours of Safeway, but with signwriting for Sun Stream Services of Moulton.

MYB 33 offered rides on both days of the event bringing smiles to many faces of both photographers and passengers. Grateful thanks to owner Stuart Jones.
 
Awards were judged during the day and presented later:

• The Ambience Trophy, donated by Blue Motors of Blackpool, was won by LDF 833 and presented to owners Alan and Margaret Garaghty.
• The Tim Wootton Shield*, for many years voted for by OB gathering members was won by LTT 913 owned by Richard Lloyd-Williams
• The Transport Museum Wythall Award for Best in Show was won by KPW 986 owned by Mark Withers.

*Tim Wootton was the leading light in OB preservation. OB Gatherings were curtailed following Tim’s untimely death in 2017 but picked up again in 2024 by Billy Brayford who now owns Tim’s Royal Blue OB LTA 750.