Coventry Buses - past and present

This morning I have been to the Coventry Transport Fair at the Butts Arena which has been advertised in this forum. I was slightly concerned that the only other place that the event was advertised was on a website for preserved buses, but no matter, we had been there before and seen a good selection of old buses, and even had a ride on a few of them. Today as we drove into the car park we saw a Midland Red single deck bus leaving so at least the event was actually taking place. We then paid the £5 weekend parking fee and I remembered why I usually avoid this car park at weekends. We then walked around the end of the stadium which seemed to be very quiet. Looking into a window I could see a large room which appeared to be devoted to nothing more than the sale of books and DVD's (it was hard to see much because the lights were not on). Before paying our £4 entry fee we asked if there were any buses present and were told that there were supposed to be two buses but one had broken down so there was only the one. A decision was required, do I pay £8 for my wife and I to look at a selection of books for sale, or do I not. Anyway, we were soon home in Bedworth having wasted our time. By contrast we had visited the Statfold Railway near to Tamworth on the previous weekend, it had cost us £10 each but we saw a huge selection of classic cars, we visited a very large museum devoted to narrow gauge railways, we had a ride on two different narrow gauge lines, and finally a delightful ride on a preserved Midland Red bus. Statfold was good value for money, but Coventry was not. Perhaps the organisers should change the name of the event to Coventry Transport Book Fair in future.

Very sorry Not Local - I reported this in good faith but it sounds like a con.

Helen, no apology needed. I think it was just that the event was poorly described by the organisers and no doubt there are bus enthusiasts who will have been happy buying books etc. What fooled me was the reference to booking in vehicles to take part in the fair. I have been to events and shows that were inaccurately advertised, and those where the standards slipped over the years, it is bound to happen occasionally. I don't know if their standards have improved because I never go back. The Riley event at the canal basin a couple of weeks back was a superb day out, and I only found out about it through our forum.

Not local, if you are into cars there is a monthly car meet at Middleton Hall just outside Tamworth every first Sunday of the month starting again on 5th May. If you just visit you do have to pay the entrance fee to the hall (which I do feel is a bit excessive), but if you have a classic car you pay £5 to park in the field and can visit the Hall, a restored Elizabethan house and the Peel Police museum is inside. There are also some courtyard shops and nice gardens and walks.

Not Local, I was also at Statfold, not in the Riley though, my MGB, it has a heater !!!!!!!! I am a member of a local classic car club and we meet the first Monday in the month (except bank hols) at Weston Hall in Bulkington. Usually at this time of the year we gather in the rear car park and kick tyres, in June we have our pride of ownership meet, vehicles are judged in classes, lots of polishing involved.