2023 News
Friday 22nd September
Terry Knappett’s celebration of life and last journey will take place on Wednesday 4th October at 13:00hrs at Wessex Vale Crematorium, Bubb Lane, West End, SO30 2HL.
Family flowers only, donations welcome to various charities via this link.
Sunday 10th September
It is with great sadness that we announce the sad passing of member Terry Knappett.
Terry was a founding member of S&DTHT and was member No. 1, something that he would remind us all from time to time.
Most will remember Terry from his driving days at Coliseum Coaches, Southampton City Bus and his final days at UniLink.
After retirement Terry was a very active member of the Trust and until a few years ago was driving the heritage buses around until he had to stop driving. When Terry stop driving this did not stop him from volunteering and he always enjoyed a trip out, even if it was just a trip down the road.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Terry’s family at this very sad time.
When more news is known, we will informed you all.
R.I.P Terry x
Monday 12th June
On Sunday 11th June, the unveiling of the latest of the Spitfire Makers plaques was completed. We were present at the ceremony since one of the latest plaques was sponsored by our members. The location of the plaque is at PureGym at Shirley Retail Park, Winchester Road, Southampton. This was the site of the former Hants & Dorset bodyworks now demolished, which was requisitioned by the Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1940. The works were employed to construct Spitfire wings from aluminium using special jigs.
The actual unveiling was performed by S&DTHT Chairman David Hutchings and Spitfire Makers Patron Mandy Singleton MBE, a former RAF Engineering Officer.
If you would like to help support our members with the cost of this plaque with a donation, please get in contact.
Tuesday 25th April
Firstly, many thanks to all those that attended our open afternoon at The Brickworks Museum on Saturday 24th April. We hope to hold another chance for you to come and visit us again in the future.
Our friends at Independent Transport Videos have released two DVDs covering the final days of First bus in Southampton and our successful running day in February. They are available to you for £25 for both or £15 separately for either when purchased from the Trust.
If you would like to purchased them, please contact us.
Sunday 12th March
Following on from our successful running day in February, we will be holding a public open day at our area at The Brickworks Museum, Swanwick Lane on Saturday 22nd April. The event will run from 12:00hrs until 16:00hrs. We intend to run free short heritage bus trips as part of the event. The Brickworks Museum itself will not be open on this day. More information about this event can be found on the Facebook event page.
Our AGM was due to take place on Monday 13th March, however, the decision was made to delay it until MONDAY 17th APRIL 2023. The venue of the AGM is unchanged as the Southampton Sailing Club, Victoria Road, Woolston, Southampton, SO19 9EF. This meeting will start at 19:30hrs.
Tuesday 21st February
Thank you all to everyone that made our event yesterday a huge success. More than we ever expected, yes there were a few problems but we gave the red buses of Southampton the send off they deserved.
Its now time for out volunteers (who gave up there time for free to run this event) to enjoy a rest and let the buses enjoy their retirement but they will be out again soon.
We had 325 programmes printed (the Trust itself has to burden the cost of this) and these were sold within one hour!! We are going to print more, if you would like one or even two, please email us.
We are intending to hold an open afternoon at our area at 'The Brickworks Museum' in mid April. More news on that soon.
Love from team S&DTHT x
Tuesday 7th February
We are pleased to announce the acquisition of M504 PNA, donated kindly by First Bus. This vehicle has been converted for use as a mobile exhibition unit. The bus was originally new to Manchester in 1995 before moving south and being converted to its current use. It was last used by “We Make Southampton”, a social enterprise which uses community journalism to promote local issues and stories of citizens in the Southampton area.
It is the intention for this vehicle to be used in partnership with The Brickworks Museum near Southampton, so we can reach out to more local communities and the surrounding areas to promote The Brickworks Museum alongside S&DTHT. Both organisations are registered charities. Grant funding will be sought to enable this joint project to visit schools and events with a range of exciting new activities and displays.
S&DTHT would like to place on record its thanks for being given this unique vehicle to support its aims going forward. It would not have been possible without the work and support from staff at First Bus in assisting the members of S&DTHT.
David Hutchings, Chairman of S&DTHT said: 'This remarkable and generous donation from First Bus will help us achieve our future aims of reaching out more into the community with this vehicle. It means that we can use it as a mobile method of supporting various projects.'
Gemma Ingason, Education Manager for The Brickworks Museum said: 'We are delighted to be part of this exciting
and engaging project. Being able to take the story of bricks and brick making on the road will allow us to reach out to a whole new audience. We are very grateful to First Bus and S&DTHT for making this possible.'
Simon Goff, Managing Director, First Bus (South) said: “We really appreciate the great work that both the S&DTHT and The Brickworks Museum do, keeping the history of transport and The Brickworks alive through engaging stories and important memorabilia. We are so pleased that our donation of the mobile exhibition unit will be going to such a good cause and be used to show people in the local and surrounding areas especially schools, Southampton’s interesting heritage, through exciting new activities and displays.”
It is intended for M504 PNA to make its first appearance at our forthcoming running day on Sunday 19th February for the Farewell to Southampton's Red Buses.
Sunday 25th December 2022
A very Merry Christmas from us all here at S&DTHT.
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The Southampton & District Transport Heritage Trust will mark the end of 144 years of transport history on Sunday 19th February 2023 with 'Farewell to Southampton’s Red Buses'. This will also see the return of heritage buses in operation on the streets of Southampton for the first time since September 2019.
The announcement by First Bus the successor of the original operator to close the Southampton depot on Saturday 18th February will bring an end to a chapter of history that started in 1879, when public transport started in Southampton, red vehicles have plied the streets of the City for many years which saw huge changes in the City.
We are grateful for the agreement of First Bus, Bluestar and Southampton City Council for allowing us to mark this occasion.
The event will run from 11:00hrs until 16:00hrs with free to ride heritage buses over three routes: City Centre to Shirley and return, City Centre to Portswood and return and City Centre to Woolston and return. All services will start and finish at Pound Tree Road in the City Centre, unfortunately on this occasion there will be NO boarding the heritage buses apart from the start of the routes.
A souvenir programme giving details will also be available to purchase on the day.
More updates will be posted in due course.