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Sat. 19th February - 123 was taken to Dronfield Civic Centre to publicise a holiday to Cornwall being run by group member Dennis Vickers.

Sat. 11th March - An evening out at a Peak District pub. A return visit was made to the Anchor Inn at Tideswell Crossroads for a very enjoyable meal and lots of beer!

Saturday 29th April to Saturday 6th May - One week holiday to Newquay, Cornwall. 13 people enjoyed this break on board TM Travel's Leyland Tiger J46 SNY. Trips were included to Padstow, Paignton, Lands End, St. Ives and Tintagel.

Sun. 14th May - Sandwell. 123 travelled out via. Clay Cross, Alfreton, the A38 and "Spaghetti Junction", returning the scenic route via. Lichfield, A515, Ashbourne and a refreshment stop at the "Sycamore" at Parwich. This caused much interest amongst the locals who have probably never seen a double decker in their village before. People were standing at their doors watching us leave!

Sat. 20th May - A birthday outing this evening to the "Duke of York" at Pomeroy near Buxton. 124 was used and the outward journey was via. Baslow, Ashford-in-the-Water, Sheldon, Chelmorton and a little country lane no wider than the bus! This was a return visit to the "Duke of York" as we all enjoyed it so much last year. A wonderful meal of steak and ale pie was enjoyed washed down with plenty of Robinsons best. We returned home via. the more direct route, Monyash, Bakewell and Baslow.

Sat. 3rd June - Johnson's VR running day. 123 was taken to Johnson's premises at Hodthorpe for display during the event.

Sat. 10th June - Today was the wedding day of group member Andrew Bagshaw. 123 was taken to Matlock Bus Station to pick up his friends and members of his family who were then transported to Mastin Moor Methodist Church for the wedding ceremony. The reception took place next door at the "Gate Inn". The guests were then taken back to Matlock in 123.

Sun. 11th June - The newlyweds joined us today as 123 visited the East Coast resort of Bridlington via. the M1, M18, M62 and A614. A stop was made on the way home at the "Ferryboat Inn" near Howden (not recommended, the beer was off!).

Sat. 15th July / Sun. 16th July - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Weekend. 123 was used both days on the free shuttle service from Chesterfield Railway Station to Barrow Hill where a steam weekend was being held.

Sat. 22nd July / Sun. 23rd July - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Weekend. 124 was used both days on the free shuttle service from Chesterfield Railway Station to Barrow Hill where a model engineering weekend was being held.

Sun. 30th July - Sandtoft. 124 made the journey to Sandtoft via. Worksop and Bawtry, returning via. the M18 and M1 motorways.

Sun. 6th August - Ruddington. 123 was taken to the Nottingham Heritage Centre at Ruddington via. Alfreton, Heanor and Ilkeston. The return journey was via. Nottingham City Centre and Mansfield where a stop was made at the Kentucky Fried Chicken to re-fuel ourselves. A further stop was then made at the "Elm Tree" at Heath to wash down the chicken with a pint or two.

Sat. 19th August - Lincoln. The use of 123 had been requested by the organisers of the St. Giles Fun Day to run a free bus service to the event. Afterwards we took the opportunity to take 123 to Waddington where the remains of former Chesterfield DMS Fleetline 168 (MLH 443L) remain in a yard (formerly the premises of Enterprise & Silver Dawn). The journey continued via. Newark, Ollerton and a pub stop at Wellow. 124 was also to be used today by group member Dennis Vickers to convey a party of his friends to Buxton. In the event it did not get very far due to a water leak.

Sun. 20th August - Blackpool. This busy weekend for 123 continued with its first journey to the West Coast. The rally at Blackpool was the destination. The opportunity was taken for photos of 123 with the Blackpool Tower in the background. We took a refreshment stop at the "Robin Hood" near Hazel Grove on the return journey.

Sun. 27th August - Crich Tramway Museum. 124 (leak fixed!) made the journey to Crich Tramway Museum for their annual rally.

Mon. 28th August - Wythall. We supported the newly preserved ex. South Yorkshire Fleetline OKW 515R today on the journey to the Rear Engine Rally at Wythall. The bus still carried the livery of its previous owner "Andrews Sheffield Omnibus".

Sat. 2nd September - A birthday trip this evening and 124 was taken to the "Bulls Head" at Ashford-in-the-Water. The pub was rather full and the food considered to be rather expensive so after a quick pint we proceeded to the Monsal Head Stable Bar where we enjoyed a meal and a pint or three.

Sun. 10th September - Sheffield, Meadowhall. Our local rally at the Meadowhall coach park in Sheffield. Both 123 and 124 were taken to Chesterfield Town Hall where a road run started at 10:09. 123 was at the head followed by JRA 635 (Ex. Chesterfield Leyland Tiger PS1), 124, TWF 201Y (Roe bodied Leyland Olympian Ex. South Yorkshire PTE, Chesterfield Transport, now owned by Stagecoach East Midland), X167 BNH (Marshall bodied Dennis Dart entered by Aston Express of Killamarsh), ENU 93H (Ex. Chesterfield Corporation Leyland Panther), B82 WUV (TM Travel Leyland Titan), FDV 830V (TM Travel Leyland National 2). The convoy made its way to Sheffield via. Dronfield Woodhouse.

Friday 6th to Sunday 8th October - Weekend break to Weymouth. 21 people joined us on TM Travel Leyland Tiger J48 SNY. We returned via. The Kidderminster Rally at the Severn Valley Railway.

Sat. 7th October - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Weekend. 123 was used on the free shuttle service from Chesterfield Railway Station to Barrow Hill where a diesel weekend was being held.

Sun. 8th October - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Weekend. 123 and 124 were used on the free shuttle service from Chesterfield Railway Station to Barrow Hill where a diesel weekend was being held.

Sat. 28th October - 123 was taken to Matlock where it was parked in the Derbyshire County Council car park for the evening. We then made use of the park and ride facility to Matlock Bath operated by Hulleys of Baslow. Three Leyland Lynx's were used on the service linking Matlock and Matlock Bath for a Firework Display which was watched from the beer garden of the "Temple Hotel"

Sun. 5th November - 123 was used for our annual trip to the Blackpool Illuminations. 20 passengers made up of group members and friends were on board as we left Chesterfield Town Hall at 09:02. A 30 minute stop was made at Bolton West Service before arrival at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Coach Park at 12:40. The passengers dispersed to enjoy the many attractions on offer including Blackpool Atlanteans operating along the sea front. The party re-assembled at the Pleasure Beach for a 17:12 departure through the illuminations finishing at Bispham at 17:49. A refreshment stop was made at the Robin Hood near Hazel Grove before arriving back at Chesterfield Town Hall at 22:25 in heavy rain.

Sat. 18th November - We were celebrating the birthdays of group members Dennis Vickers and Andrew Bagshaw this evening and 123 was taken to the "Highwayman" at Eastmoor via. Holme Hall, Newbold, Barlow and Cutthorpe.

Sun. 10th December - We collected our third bus today - Chesterfield Leyland Atlantean PNU 114K. It had latterly been used as a permanent way gang bus by Blackpool Tramways and had been purchased from them by The SELNEC Preservation Society whose intention was to use it for spares for their own buses. Luckily for us they found 114 to be unsuitable and contacted one of our group members and told us that it was available should we wish to buy it. Ten of us set off this morning in 123 to Westhoughton near Bolton where 114 had been stored on a farm since collection from Blackpool in mid September. 114 was driven home with a much slower 123 following behind. The only problem encountered on the journey was flat batteries. Luckily we had borrowed 124's for the day and these were hooked up to 114 to get us home. At 19:00 114 reached it's new home and returned to Chesterfield for the first time since 1986.

Sun. 17th December - Our annual Christmas run. 123 was taken around some of its old routes and visited Newbold, Sheepbridge Industrial Estate, Spital, Hasland and Clay Cross. We then had Christmas dinner at the "Red Lion" at Stanedge before returning to Chesterfield for pictures of 123 under the Christmas Illuminations. Finally we visited Clowne where the residents of Northfields had decorated their houses with coloured lights and illuminated Santas!

Sat. 23rd December - 123 was taken out into the Peak District to the village of Castleton. The journey out was via. Baslow, Calver, Great Hucklow (for the Christmas lights), Bradwell & Hope. We spent the evening in the Bulls Head before returning via. Hathersage, Owler Bar, Dronfield Woodhouse and Unstone. Seventeen members and friends joined us for the night. Thanks to our driver Andy Bagshaw for staying on the Coke!

Sat. 30th December - We had been asked to provide a bus for the East Midlands Area of the Motor Caravan Club to take their members to Chesterfield Bowl. Group Member and Stagecoach East Midlands employee Steve Crossland arranged the loan of Volvo Olympian P157 KWJ to take 40 passengers from Hady to the bowling alley at Birdholme.

 

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