London’s Routemaster bus this year celebrates its 50th year, and today the London Bus Preservation Trust
honoured the type at its annual rally. It still has a year or two left plying the capital’s streets but its sturdiness and iconic status has ensured that a great many will remain in running order by others. Today I was lucky enough to travel on that very first prototype, which is now as old as me!

The trust have their museum just outside Cobham, in an old hangar (not attached to any airfield) once used by the old Vickers company, makers of the several famous aircraft. This hangar was known as the ‘Special Annexe’ and one can only wonder what work really went on there during the war years.

Until last year, the Trust held their open day at nearby Brooklands, once a premier motor racing circuit, but latterly used Vickers for aircraft production, notably the Viscount, Vanguard and VC-10 airliners. For many years Brooklands has failed to exist as an airfield and has gradually been developed. So much so that this year there was no more space for the trust to hold their bus rally and a new venue had to be found. Amazingly, the site chosen was yet another one used by the old Vickers company! This was the nearby airfield at Wisley, which was used as a test flight centre until the 1970’s. Since then it has lain largely derelict, so it was good to see it in use once again, if only for a day.

*** CLICK HERE to see the colour version and other shots taken today.***