GVVT has reached halfway round the globe to twin with one of Australia’s premier transport collections.
The Trust first forged links with Sydney Bus Museum in 2004 when a group drawn from Bridgeton, SVBM at Lathalmond and the Albion Club, Biggar, flew Down Under to meet fellow enthusiasts, visit events, and sample a host of vehicles.
They returned not only with memories, but with a bus – Sydney Albion Venturer 1877 with Glasgow-built chassis, now restored and resident at GVVT, and affectionately named Sydney.
More long-distance trips followed, a visit by SBM members to Scotland in 2005 and groups from GVVT journeying to Oz in 2008 and 2012. Many other visits by individual members of both groups have also taken place.
The decision to twin was prompted by a visit in September by Conor Magee, operations manager at Sydney, who was welcomed to Bridgeton by Paul Adams and Ian Short, founder members of GVVT, and current trustee Martin Walker.
Martin explained: “Paul and Ian are veterans of past trips to Sydney and had plenty to chat about with Conor.
“With Peter Grant at the wheel, we took a trip into the city aboard 1877. Conor loved it, and when I put the idea of twinning to him, he agreed to approach the SBM board. I was delighted when on December 7 word came from Australia that they were keen to further strengthen relations between our groups.
“We have commissioned signs marking the twinning which will be displayed at Bridgeton’s entrances from January 26, Australia Day. Signs bearing GVVT’s name and logo will adorn SBM’s premises at Leichhardt.
“Establishing links across the world is a huge achievement for both groups, something to celebrate. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Edinburgh-born SBM director Duncan MacAuslan proposed an offer to GVVT when he said: “At a minimum, members of the twinned groups should be given free entry to both collections.
“I have visited Bridgeton at least three times and thank Paul Adams for his hospitality. Albion 1877 bonds us and I look forward to welcoming more visitors from Scotland.”
SBM was first established in 1986 and moved to their present base of the Old Tramshed at Leichhardt, an inner-west suburb of Sydney, in 2016. They have 300 members and a collection of more than 90 vehicles dating from the 1920s to 2000s.
Models on display include AEC, Bedford, Daimler, Dennis, Ford, Hino, Leyland, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Volvo and, of course, Albion. The museum also houses Australia’s largest collection of historic double-deckers, from Sydney, Adelaide, Hong Kong and London.
Like GVVT, preservation and community events are at the core of activities and the archive has a growing collection of artefacts charting the history of Australian transport.
Trailblazer Paul Adams was delighted with the twinning. He said: “Our connection goes back to the beginning of the millennium when I was on the committee of the Albion Club tasked with liaising with overseas members and was in regular contact with David Griffiths, secretary of the Australian branch. He was also a prominent member of the Tempe Bus and Truck Museum, which later became Sydney Bus Museum.
“A tour Down Under was suggested and 10 of us from the fledgling GVVT, Lathalmond and the Albion Club flew out on January 16, 2004, first to Melbourne then on to Sydney to visit Motorfest, a major historic vehicle and bus running event held on Australia Day every year.
“The museum rolled out the red carpet the following day. Their four Albion Venturers were on parade and the drivers amongst us took them round the yard.
“A tour to Avalon Beach retraced a route of approximately 24 miles that the Albions were famous for. Two CX19s were out and we were amazed at the terrain with many long steep gradients. It’s a tribute to these buses that some of them operated for more than 23 years on these routes.
“To finish the tour, we called at Bruce Pinnell’s premises at Woombye, near Brisbane, to see his collection of seven Albions, including 1877. The offer to take it home was too good to turn down and it was brought to Lathalmond later that year for restoration and then on to Bridgeton. It was a major undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of our Aussie friends.
“I am delighted that our bond with them has been strengthened by twinning.”
In a video message to our Aussie twin, Ken Bruce, GVVT patron, Greatest Hits Radio DJ and PopMaster legend, said: “I am really looking forward to establishing and extending our association with you and making sure we preserve our respective transport heritage.
“I look forward to having many more meetings in the future.”