Sunday school outing.
For many people of a certain age and older, me included, Sunday School was a way of life and whether you liked it or not, it was where you spent at least one hour on the Sabbath.
Each year, the one I attended, undertook an 'Outing' usually to somewhere where fun could be had, but where more brazen pleasures such as funfares and amusement arcades were thin on the ground. Alton Towers before it's re-invention as a major theme park and Drayton Manor Park likewise, were two popular destinations. We never made it to Blackpool, but stopped short in St. Annes, similarly trips in the Rhyl direction ended at Ffryth Beach or were by-passed in favour of Llandudno or Colwyn Bay ... somewhat infuriating for a young boisterous youth!
In this 1960s picture, not taken by me I hasten to add, The year's three hired buses can be seen, all from the Stonier's fleet. There was almost always three buses, one for the boys, one for the girls and one for parents and other senior brethren and sisters. Buses were allocated thus, most elderly and decrepit (in the eyes of the superintendent) for the boys, 'best' for the adults and whatever fell in the middle for the girls. I don't actually remember this occasion, but it almost goes without saying, I'd have been on the ex Ribble Leyland Royal Tiger. The venue looks like either Alton Towers or Drayton Manor of the era. The women present facing us are Mrs Jean Goulding (left) My mother (centre) and Mrs Gwen Brown (right ... wife of the photographer and superintendent).
The Royal Tiger bus still has it's destination set for the Miner's service to Chatterley Whitfield Colliery.
Sunday school outing.
For many people of a certain age and older, me included, Sunday School was a way of life and whether you liked it or not, it was where you spent at least one hour on the Sabbath.
Each year, the one I attended, undertook an 'Outing' usually to somewhere where fun could be had, but where more brazen pleasures such as funfares and amusement arcades were thin on the ground. Alton Towers before it's re-invention as a major theme park and Drayton Manor Park likewise, were two popular destinations. We never made it to Blackpool, but stopped short in St. Annes, similarly trips in the Rhyl direction ended at Ffryth Beach or were by-passed in favour of Llandudno or Colwyn Bay ... somewhat infuriating for a young boisterous youth!
In this 1960s picture, not taken by me I hasten to add, The year's three hired buses can be seen, all from the Stonier's fleet. There was almost always three buses, one for the boys, one for the girls and one for parents and other senior brethren and sisters. Buses were allocated thus, most elderly and decrepit (in the eyes of the superintendent) for the boys, 'best' for the adults and whatever fell in the middle for the girls. I don't actually remember this occasion, but it almost goes without saying, I'd have been on the ex Ribble Leyland Royal Tiger. The venue looks like either Alton Towers or Drayton Manor of the era. The women present facing us are Mrs Jean Goulding (left) My mother (centre) and Mrs Gwen Brown (right ... wife of the photographer and superintendent).
The Royal Tiger bus still has it's destination set for the Miner's service to Chatterley Whitfield Colliery.