April 2006

Alwyn Pickles
Films on Transport
Report - Gary Wilkinson

This meeting had a new guest speaker for the BTA – Mr Alwyn Pickles – who also produced another first for the audience in the form of a DVD video projector. The first title on the screen was the Yorkshire Dales Running Day to celebrate the first motorbus to run in Yorkshire which started in 1905. The running day radiated from Skipton Bus Station and then to a vehicle display at Bolton Abbey.

The second film was the Fleetwood Festival of Transport (2002) – an occasion graced with glorious sunshine and open-top trams. Vintage buses and cars completed in Fleetwood’s main street. The Great Yorkshire Show 2005 followed and revealed the great diversity of exhibits at this famous annual event. Continuing on an agricultural theme, the Bronte Vintage Tractor Run around Haworth in 2004 proved what an excellent event it was. Even though the British weather did its worst it did not stop those intrepid collectors of farming history.

After a short break we had two films taken at the Crich Tramway Museum. Both were of the special running days – one in 1997 and the other in 2001. It was a very enjoyable evening – all those attending being thoroughly entertained – and we look forward to Mr Pickles return in July 2007.