“A Sixties Summer” on 30 June turned out to be our most successful June event ever; nearly 2,000 visitors enjoyed this celebration of 1960s music and transport in the warm sunshine. Our excellent live band the Radiators gave us four packed sessions of Sixties classics from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Dion, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick & Tich and many, many more, allowing delighted fans of the music of that era to do everything from listening with pleasure to tapping their feet to bopping the day away.
The music was a wonderful backdrop to a splendid day which featured fabulous displays of classic buses, cars and commercials, rides on historic buses – including, as a very special treat, our 1930 open-staircase AEC ST-type, – a packed marketplace and children’s attractions. The Brooklands site was buzzing all day and we thank all those who came to the event, the owners of all the wonderful vehicles without which there would not have been an event, the stallholders, our friends at Brooklands Museum who supported us so well and allowed us to use the whole site and, last but not least, all our volunteers who organised and ran the event.
Now we look ahead to Transportfest 2013 on 20 October, meanwhile here are some pictures of a great day on 30 June:
Early morning and some of the Museum’s buses blink in the bright sunlight.
A 1963 London Fire Brigade breakdown tender stands next to a 1950 Bedford lorry. The fire tender is said to have towed many a broken-down London bus in its working career.
Excellent 5-piece band “The Radiators” played classic rock and pop hits from the 1960s.
Historic bus rides were provided by Routemasters and RT-family buses.
This wonderful 1958 Duple-bodied Bedford SB coach was advertising excursions to see the new motorway at 6/6 a ticket. If only!
A general view of the main bus display – what a variety!
A fine pair of City of Southampton AEC Regents from the 1960s.
It was good to see lots of RT-family buses at the event, including this fine trio of AECs.
Visitors cluster around these fine 1960s touring coaches – both Harrington-bodied AEC Reliances.
At the smaller end of the scale was this 1951 Bedford OB with Duple 26-seat body.
On sale in the large marketplace was everything from transport collectables to 1960s clothes and bags!
Making a welcome and colourful appearance was this 1967 Southdown Leyland Leopard coach with Willowbrook body.
Over 400 people took a ride on the Museum’s 1930 open-staircase AEC Regent ST-type.
An immaculate 1960 Routemaster stands next to an equally impressive 1949 Leyland RTL-type.
Amongst all the 1960s classic cars at the show were these iconic types – a Mini and an Austin Healey.
That’s all, folks!