Mike gave a great presentation about what some would consider, the Bristol buses being the best in the world.

A timeline from 1900 was shown and discussed; the key years of interest maybe;

1900 – The first Bristol bus being a Daimler Wagonette.

1908 – First Bristol bus build.

1919 – Bence Motor Services based in Hanham and Longwell Green founded.

1921 – Greyhound Motors formed in Bristol

1945 – Change of colour to Tilling Green from Blue and White.

1949 – Introduction of Lodekka

1957 – Formation of the Bristol Omnibus Company

1958 – Bristol Bus Station completed

1963 – Probable peak of 500 city buses (excludes country buses). Now more like 230.

1984 – End of bus conductors.

1986 – Badgerline and Cityline formed.

1995 – Firstbus formed from Badgerline and Grampian Regional Transport.

2018 -23 – Metrobus.

2025 – Electric buses.

The talk was completed showing many examples of the several types of bus throughout the years in various locations around Bristol. Questions were then taken.

Someone told me at the talk that on a full City Dart bus in Kingswood, on the hills you might expect to get out and meet the bus at the top!