Hastings Trolleybus Rally 2011

* * 1066.net's 35,000 images and 5000+ pages created and curated over 20 years remain open and largely unchanged as a tribute to its webmaster Ion Castro, who passed away Aug 30th 2018 from cancer. Linking to content is fine but PLEASE get permission if you want to re use anything from here, and thank you. * Ion's obituaries are (Link:) Here



XL(2000) Ltd. are sponsors of 1066.net. Hastings' favourite web site

19th Annual Show, Sunday 15th May 2011.

click here for map


The Hastings Trolleybus Restoration Group staged its 19th annual gathering on Sunday 15th May. The event celebrated the centenary of the founding of the Maidstone & District Motor Services who owned Happy Harold from 1935 to 1980 when it passed to Hastings Borough Council. The fine weather was forecast to end on Sunday but it held up, even though it became overcast and colder as the afternoon wore on. Apart from the buses over a hundred vintage and classic cars attended. The most unusual being a vintage tractor towing a miniature tractor on a trailer and London Transport’s iconic red Routemasters were well represented


The event was officially opened at 11am by Hastings’ Mayor, Cllr. Kim Forward, seen in the picture with Chairman Ion Castro (left) and commentator / MC John Black.	It was also a pleasure to see Colin Rowland’s immaculately restored 1935 Bedford WLB 20-seat coach with Duple bodywork – this vehicle has featured in the enthusiast’s bus magazines and was a pleasure to see it ‘for real’ – Colin is the boss of Rambler Coaches hence the livery.
Regular attenders ‘Stylish Arrivals’ of Hawkhurst as always put on a good show of wedding cars
Passengers 'on top' of Happy Harold waiting for a trip round the Oval	It was a pleasure to meet Bill Lawrence, seen here by Happy Harold, he was at Silverhill Depot in the mid 1950’s and was often the Conductor on the then-electric Happy Harold.
The gathering is a family event and an excuse for a picnic

Highlight of the afternoon was the lineup of former Maidstone & District vehicles, from the oldest – Happy Harold (1928) through DKT16 a 1937 Leyland Tiger that used to operate locally to a 1996 ‘decker from Arriva sporting the ‘final’ M& D livery – and we’ve included an unusual rear view of the vehicles as well with some RM's and Jack Henley's 1952 Leyland Royal Tiger.

www.1066.net - Hastings' favourite web site is sponsored by XL(2000) Ltd

110216 110421 110517 130518