24th November 2010 7980 - The Early Years
Maurice Bean rescued 7980 in February 2003 when he acquired her from Colin Billington for preservation. He originally was going to buy Leyland Atlantean JJG1P, an ex East Kent bus with ECW bodywork but changed his mind and went for 7980 instead. These pictures were taken by Maurice at the time and show the state of 7980. At the time there were other Willowbrook bodied VR's around so it's a good job he wasn't put off by her looks and decided to wait until a better one came up. We may have not had a roofed Willowbrok VR in preservation today if not for Maurice so we have a lot to be thankful to him for. Maurice now owns ex Citybus Bristol RELL/Alexander XOI2526.