Organisers of the third annual Heritage Transport Show have reported a successful event with event organiser, Lucy Hegarty, saying, “We had over 5,000 people on site on Saturday and there was a marked increase in the number of vintage vehicles.  The Maidstone and District and East Kent Bus Club Diamond Anniversary saw almost 100 buses and coaches forming a display that helped celebrate the milestone.”

The M&D and EK 60 brought together a large collection of buses and coaches that represented the local fleets from Kent and East Sussex.  The Clive Emson Conference Centre housed thirty-nine trade stands and sixteen displays as well as guest speakers and a reunion and refreshment area for former employees.

Despite the marked change in temperature on Saturday, the threat of a transport workers strike and an unnecessary fuel crisis panic, over 450 vehicles made the journey to exhibit at the Kent Showground, Detling.

The free bus rides around the Showground proved extremely popular and despite the every five-minute timetable the vehicles were full of passengers enjoying both the ride and the trip down memory lane. In addition to the short hop journeys, some buses were running longer trips up and down the A249.

Bernard Pike, Chairman of the Heritage Committee and organiser said, “We are delighted with this year’s success.  We were confident that it would be a wonderful Show and it certainly lived up to expectations. Even with this year’s weather being much cooler, it did not detract from the increased number of vehicles and I believe that the Heritage Transport Show has established itself as a major event in the heritage calendar.”

The event on 31^st March was widely promoted by media partner, Kelsey Publishing who ran features in many of their specialist monthly vehicle titles.

Lucy Hegarty said, “Our partnership with Kelsey Publishing helped to increase the number and variety of vehicles on the day.  The reputation of the Show and the increased publicity encouraged entries from all over the country and abroad.”