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WHEELS / Midland Red Coaches
LATEST NEWS
(updated March 2008)
JUNE to DECEMBER 2008 DAY TRIP PROGRAMME
Our NEW DAY TRIP programme, covering the second half of 2008 is now finalised and ready for the Printer. There are many new destinations as well as some of the favourites retained for good measure! Building on the success of last year's leaflet, there are now a lot more Tours in the programme. During the last few months we asked you for feedback for new destinations and many of these have been included. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.
We know that our programme is competitively priced and great value (you have told us so). We are pleased to build on this, and also retain our general policy of not arbitrarily canceling our tours. This gives you the confidence to book with us and look forward to your trip. It gives us the ability to build up a good reputation and a friendly bunch of regular passengers, many who would class themselves as friends.
See a list of our 2008 daytrips in our brochure. If you can't get to our office to pick up a Day Trip leaflet in person, just go to our Day Trips, Excursions and Special Events page on this website where you will find a PDF copy that you can print off yourself. You can book in person or by telephone and pay by credit/debit card too!
Digbeth Coach Station Closure Event
and a potted history - by Ashley Wakelin
National Express have released their new plans for the future
of Birmingham's Coach Hub. After many years of deliberation
the existing site at Digbeth has been chosen for the new Coach
Station.
Saturday 17th November 2007 was the last day that people could see the old coach
station, which has an interesting and varied history.
It started life in January 1929 as Midland Red's "city" garage and at
the time it was the company's biggest garage, and operated by far the most
mileage of any depot. It employed the largest number of employees of any of its
35 garages, and had the most vehicles allocated to it. Four years earlier
in mid 1925 Midland Red acquired the land and developed the site which involved
the demolition of some back-to-back houses, some old shops and a
storage/warehouse.
In 1930 when the coach station was just a few months old, Midland Red acquired
Black & White Motorways. Later control of this organisation was shared and
Associated Motorways was formed (its network of services eventually to become
the network of National Express), and in which Midland Red was a big player.
Digbeth then became the home of both Midland Red's Birmingham coach operation
and Associated Motorways. It has never had enough space and often with
over 100 buses as well as the coaches operating from there, it was often
organised chaos, especially during coach interchange times.
The front of Digbeth Coach Station was modernised in the mid 50's and when
completed had the most modern state of the art facilities of any in the
UK. Midland Red had always been proud of its Restaurant at Digbeth - even
having its own sugar sachets printed as early as 1960.
But after the refurbishment it became a 100 seater with very modern kitchen
facilities and its own logo'd porcelain plates and dishes.
There was a Booking Hall, Waiting area, Shop, Toilets, and even public
telephones!
Sadly what was modern in the 1950's just would not do fifty
years later. The facilities were never improved and Digbeth became the poor
relation as far as passenger facilities were concerned. The new coach
station will have modern facilities but won't have the luxury of an overall
roof.
Temporary coach station facilities have been opened just over the other side of
Digbeth High Street, and on a visit recently I was very surprised by its
facilities - indeed had the temporary facility been the Digbeth replacement I
think it would have been quite acceptable. So congratulations National Express
for providing good facilities for the next two years whilst Digbeth Coach
Station is refurbished.
The closure of the Coach Station was an event involving
everyone - even if not everyone had heard about the event!
A range of classic and vintage buses and coaches were on display in the coach
loading area. Around the perimiter were food kiosks including healthy smoothies
and pancakes too. There were two stalls selling model buses and some other
stalls with bric-a-brac.
National Express had a well stocked show stand with giveaways which were eagerly
accepted by all. A limited edition last day post-card was given to all people
attending which was not available elsewhere. It had a special final day stamp.
During the day Bryan Bannister a Senior NatEx Manager conducted a couple of special walk-arounds of the upstairs offices which were known as Spencer House (after Midland Red Chairman John Spencer Wills). It was wonderful to revisit the upper floors (normally out of bounds), as when I worked for Midland Red I attended a couple of training courses there some thirty-odd years ago. There were also visits to the Inspectors Control Room overlooking the coach station floor. This room was an absolute hive of activity in Digbeth's heyday with messages by phone being sent and received to other coach stations, hired-in coaches given instructions, and drivers organised.
Lunchtime saw BBC's Ashley Blake giving a passionate speech, admitting his interest in coaches from a young age. Born and bred in Birmingham he travelled by coach as a child aged 7, and admitted that he couldn't sleep the night before visiting Digbeth! His favourite seat was behind the driver where he could pretend to drive and said that before his career in TV he worked at a HGV Dealership, but never got around to driving a coach. He was later given a special look around the National Express training coach which had made a journey from Heathrow depot for the event.
There were a number of ex members of staff in attendance, not just from Digbeth, but from other outposts of the Midland Red empire. I even met a driver from Harper Bros of Heath Hayes (taken over by Midland Red in the 70's). He eventually came to Digbeth to work for Midland Red Coaches. Midland Red Coaches was based at Digbeth before moving to Carlyle works, Edgbaston for a time before it was disbanded.
Special thanks for the hard work done by Bryan Bannister and Cathryn Jeeves for making a great day happen. I also feel that Richard Gough (the night Coach Controller at Digbeth) should be highlighted for thanks as he came in to the old Digbeth in uniform, and without pay to be part of the event. Of course ANYONE in a uniform in Digbeth gets lots of questions and problems to sort and yes, the closing day was no exception. He was his usual very helpful self and enjoyed the event, but he went beyond the call of duty. He was later at work again relieving his colleagues at the new temporary coach station so they could also get a few minutes to say goodbye to the old place!
As darkness approached, the closing ceremony was started by BBC's Ed Doolan who had been a long time critic of Digbeth Coach Station and its facilities, but he admitted that it was a special occasion to say a heartfelt goodbye to a place which had meant so much to Birmingham and its people over the years. Then, as visitors made their way to the doorway to see the last National Express Coach leave Digbeth Coach Station, an explosion of fireworks inside the coach station made a spectacular display with the highlight being a curtain of white light falling like rain from above the exit doorway of the coach station. The classic buses and coaches then left to join the peak hour queues in Digbeth High Street for their journeys home after a very memorable day. .....Bye Bye Digbeth.
Take a look at our photo slideshow of the event.
Midland Red Coaches Launch Party
2008 Coach Holiday Brochure.
On Thursday 6th September one hundred Group Organisers and coach holiday passengers joined the team from Midland Red Coaches at the BBC studios in Coventry for the Brochure Launch Party.
Just prior to 1pm the invited guests assembled. The event started with a brief history of Midland Red Coaches and a resume of our last twelve months in Coventry, given by Ashley Wakelin. Ashley also thanked Sandra Goddard and Debbie Mottram from the Coventry office for their hard work and dedication. Then Sandra personally welcomed guests to the event, many of whom she has known for many years. The guest of honour on the day was Mrs Ruth Peachey who took her first Midland Red Coach holiday in 1949 and has already booked on Midland Red Coaches first holiday from the new brochure. She was presented with a certificate and a bouquet of flowers. Mrs Peachey features inside the front cover of the brochure in a photograph of the first post war coach used on a Scottish Tour. A Buffet and champagne toast and musical entertainment was also provided.
Photographs of the event were taken by Colin Browell and Vince
Taylor and some of their shots can be seen in a slide show of the event.
We all wish to thank the BBC for using their Studios for our Launch Party and
for the help of their excellent staff.
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Please note that the Midland Red Coaches Holidays will now
replace the previous facilities which we offered from our Coventry Office.
Our Midland Red Coach Holidays are quality from the start, with Coaches offering
Washroom and Refreshments, En-suite hotel accommodation with Bed Breakfast and
Evening Meal included. Day Trips and Entertainment.
please see our colour brochure for full details.
However, we continue to offer the services of Johnsons Coaches' Day Trips, and
we can also offer a range of Limousines for hire from our associate company
Nuneaton Limousines which also includes executive Corporate Cars for the
Business Client..
We will shortly announce new booking Agencies in both Bedworth and Nuneaton
where Midland Red Coaches
Holidays and Day Trip reservations can be made, and where you can pick up
leaflets and information on our products.
If you need assistance in the meantime from Bedworth or Nuneaton areas,
please CALL US on 76 633624
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HIGH PRICED DAY TRIP - PAID OFF!
On Thursday 25th August we made a very special visit to Althorp House, during the
week of the tenth anniversary of the passing of Diana Princess of Wales.
The coach picked up passengers from Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry for the
journey to Althorp, Northamptonshire. The weather was perfect for our
visit. It was a fully inclusive excursion, with
access to the Upper Floors of the house too. After disembarking from
the coach, there was a house tour, then time for a spot of lunch in the
courtyard, and the stables for the Exhibitions, and a walk around the lake giving
good views of the island where Diana rests.
At 3pm when other coach passengers were leaving, all Midland Red Coaches'
passengers assembled in the house reception to be escorted to the private
quarters and the Grand Dining Room where a luxurious Afternoon Tea was provided
from family crested china.
This was certainly the highlight of the visit. The Tea was served by uniformed
waiting-on staff; there was unlimited Refreshments and an excellent variety of
hand-trimmed Sandwiches, Scones and Cakes.
Sorry that we haven't any photographs of the Tea, but inside photography is not
allowed at Althorp.
This Excursion fare was £37.50 per person and what a fabulous trip it was.
The Photograph below shows some of our passengers just before our journey home (click on the photo to see a larger version).
BUS ENGINEER REQUIRED
We require a Part Time PSV ENGINEER to help us to keep our fleet of buses and
coaches in reliable condition.
We are looking for someone who can
offer us their experience in maintaining and servicing our fleet of classic and
vintage buses and coaches.
If you know of a Diesel Fitter, or someone recently retired who would like to
work on a varied and interesting collection of British built vehicles please ask
them to get in touch with us.
Telephone us on: 02476 633624 Office 0930-1430hrs
07966 237888
also our new Message-Line 0845 021 4711 is now available
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TRAVEL CLUB
Midland Red Coaches Launch a travel club for regular travelers and Group
Organisers.
You, as a member of our Midland Red Travel Club, will be able to get discounted travel on most of our journeys in our Day Trip programme, and even a discount in our SHOP on our Model Bus and Model Train products - ideal for those family presents.
In May we will have our NEW Day Trip leaflets available which continue on from our existing leaflet and cover the period July to end of December.. They are all suitable for our main over 50's client base. The destinations reflect our growing nostalgia and themed transport interests and include Air themed excursions to RAF Cosford Museum, Railway interest includes visits to , Gloucestershire and Warwickshire railway. Shopping Trips include Boundary Mills, Melton and Moreton markets, , Guided trips to the wonderful Lichfield Cathedral, The trips to Garden Centres, Chatsworth House, There's a VERY special Excursion to Althorp House for Diana's memorial tour in this the tenth anniversary of her death, this tour is specially extended and includes a rare opportunity to enjoy a hand prepared AFTERNOON TEA in the State Dining Room at Althorp, which is a replica of the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace. Join us and enjoy, but do book early! You can book seats by debit or credit cards on 02476 633624 Monday to Saturday 0930 till 1430hrs. OR Call in to our Pool Meadow Office.
BUS ADVERTISING
We have a number of vehicles which have advertising space
available.
We can arrange the designs and artwork, produce the adverts for you and have
them fitted to our vehicles and all for a very reasonable fee.
If you are interested in promoting your business or product or wish to advertise
a vacancy or special event then get in touch.
Currently available:
Single Deckers: Side (above windows), Side (below windows), and rear
panel.
Double Deckers: Sides - large panel (between decks), rear panel.
email us for more information: buses@wheels.co.uk
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2004 MIDLAND RED Celebrates 100 years.
WHEELS are celebrating the Midland Red Centenary (1904-2004) with the
introduction of a special Limited Edition print.
Depicting the three Midland Red leaders - Wyndham-Shire, O.C. Power, and D.M.
Sinclair, alongside all the famous and affectionately remembered buses and
coaches from the twenties to the late sixties.
WHEELS have commissioned the original oil painting -the basis of the Limited
Edition and no doubt collectable prints. The painting is now well advanced and
we will show an image of this as soon as this is possible., but advanced orders
are now being accepted. The extent of the Limited Edition print will
amount only to 500 copies. Advanced orders are recommended to avoid
disappointment. The opportunity to celebrate this once in a lifetime event
by owning one of our full-colour pIeces of artwork will cost you £17.99 plus
£2.95 postage and packing and it will be sent to you rolled and tubed ready for
you to frame in your chosen style. If you wish to pick up your print from
our office in Coventry Pool Meadow you can save the post and packing charge. The
prints are now in stock.
2004 - WHEELS celebrates 20 years.
Look out for our special promotions during 2004 - we have some special limited edition mugs available, and we will be launching hundreds of Wheels balloons throughout our operating area, some of which will contain messages and special offers associated with our anniversary and birthday celebrations.
STAFF VACANCIES
PART TIME PSV ENGINEER WANTED
An experienced Fitter is required who can maintain our fleet to MOT standards
and make periodic inspections and undertake MOT test preparation etc.
Hours and Days to suit, please get in touch. amended Jan 07
We are currently compiling a list of part time Driving staff for next season. You can see from this web-site that we operate a diverse fleet of interesting vehicles and a similarly diverse and interesting range of work for large and small business clients and individual customers who want something a little different to make their day out something very individual and special. It takes particular people with a caring nature who are outgoing and flexible to make this possible. If you firstly are interested, and consider yourself suited to this type of work and hold a PSV (PCV) Driving Licence* and have at least three years experience, have excellent 'people' skills, are flexible and enthusiastic in your approach to work, have untold patience, and prove you can care for our traditional buses and coaches, then call Ashley on 07966 237888 and request an application form. We reward good drivers with a highly competitive pay scale.
* Some of our vehicles have traditional "crash" gearboxes and so will require an 'all-types' driving licence. Holders of automatic/semi-automatic licences should not be deterred from applying.
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