MidlandRed.net
Midland Red: Leyland Leopard — Preservation (S27 & S28)
Type code: S27
227 (R/No: JHA229L) — Undergoing Restoration
227 was new to BMMO
in March 1973, at Shrewsbury depot,
and remained at that depot until being withdrawn from service in April 1987
by Midland Red (North) Limited. She then passed into preservation
with John Sergeant, who has recently found a new storage site for her near
her old home in Shrewsbury. She has not been seen at rallies since
1989, but is now undergoing professional bodywork restoration with a company
called Holyoaks.
234 (R/No: JHA234L) — Fully Restored
234 was new to BMMO in May 1973, at Kidderminster depot, passing to Midland Red (West) Limited when Midland Red was broken up in September 1981. In June 1982, she passed to Midland Red (North) Limited, serving at Cannock depot until being withdrawn in October 1986. She then passed to Walton High School, Stafford, before returning to PSV service with Clews Coaches of Handsacre, near Lichfield, in the mid 1990s.
After being withdrawn by Clews she passed to Carmichael of Hastings and then to Mike James of MidlandRed.com for preservation. With the “downsizing” of his operations in 2003, Mike James offered this vehicle for sale for £50, and she passed to “The S27 Midland Red Group” who have now finished her full restoration.
Type code: S28
319 (R/No: PHA319M) — Undergoing Restoration
PHA319M was new to MROC at Worcester depot in May 1974, and as fleet number 319 she was numerically the first Leyland Leopard type S28. In November 1974, she left Worcester, moving to Ludlow depot for five months, before returning to Worcester, then in September 1975, she moved to Tamworth depot, where she remained until May 1977 before she again returned to Worcester. In November 1978 she moved for the last time with Midland Red Omnibus Company (MROC), this time to Bromsgrove depot, where she was still in service when the company closed on 5th September 1981.
With the closure of MROC, 319 passed to Midland Red (West) Limited with the operations of Bromsgrove depot, and remained there until the depot was closed on 16th September 1983. With the closure of Bromsgrove depot, most of the fleet at that depot was divided between Worcester and Redditch, but 319 became the only vehicle to move from Bromsgrove to Evesham depot at this time. Operating mainly rural services, the Leyland Leopards were popular at Evesham depot, and 319 remained there for the rest of her time with Midland Red West, and from June 1987 she carried the company's new bus livery of red and cream.
In June 1990, Midland Red West sold 319 to the West Midland Sea Angling Club in exchange for Leyland Leopard type LS18, number 5212 (R/No: 5212HA). This unusual deal allowed the rare LS18 to be saved for preservation as it was stored by Midland Red West for a few years before passing to a preservation group. 5212 has since passed to BaMMOT and is now undergoing a full restoration as the only surviving type LS18.
319 passed to Mike James (dealer) of Tamworth, has since been acquired by Paul Yarsley of Stourbridge for preservation. She is now undergoing a full restoration and was repainted into white and red Midland Red DP livery in July 2006.
321 (R/No: PHA321M) — Now Scrapped
321 was new to MROC in May 1974 at Worcester depot. In November of the same year she moved to Ludlow depot for six months before returning to Worcester, then in September 1975 she finally settled at Stratford depot, remaining there until being withdrawn by Midland Red (South) Limited in December 1988.
After withdrawal, she found use as a mobile display unit and then passed to Carmichael of Hastings, and later Mike James, for preservation. Unfortunately, she was deemed to be beyond economical repair and therefore ended her days donating parts for other preserved Leopards, before being scrapped.
343 (R/No: GJW43N) — Fully Restored
Owned by Tony Reekie and preserved in white, yellow and red NBC “Midland
Express” livery as it carried while in service with Midland Fox Limited
during the mid-1980s. This vehicle is in very good condition and is
a familiar sign at bus rallies.
357 (R/No: GOH357N) — Fully Restored
Preserved in white and red NBC “DP” livery as it carried while
in service with MROC at Kidderminster depot.