Every year the Omnibus Society holds its most prestigious event, the summer Presidential Weekend, located in the area of the current President, who this year is Ron Whittle, Senior Partner of Whittle Coach, Bus & Holidays.
The event is residential and therefore allows a good social mix. It gives a great opportunity for newer members, and for longer-standing members - whether frequent or infrequent attendees - to enjoy the events and to see much of what the Omnibus Society is about:
This year we are based at The Manor House, Northfield, Birmingham, which is run by the University of Birmingham. It is a late Georgian house of character converted to mock Tudor by one of the Cadbury dynasty, some 100 years ago. The venue has been used by us in the past, but now enjoys new fully en-suite accommodation built c. 1994. It is situated on the north side of the Bristol Road South at Griffin's Brook.
(Note - this is not on the main University campus)
The rooms are easily accessible on the ground floor, but please state on the booking form if you prefer a room close to the entrance. The dining and meeting rooms are all in close proximity and are also at ground floor level, with few steps to encounter, for those to whom this may be of concern.
As in the recent past years, the event will commence with assembly late on Friday afternoon, 8 September (when tea & biscuits will be provided on arrival), running through until dispersal on Monday afternoon, 11 September.
The highlight of the weekend will be the Presidential Dinner to be held on the Manor House premises on the Saturday night.
Travel West Midlands services 61,62 & 63 provide some 12/15 buses per hour from Birmingham city centre. The main city centre stops are at Colmore Circus (for Snow Hill Station), then Corporation Street, then Stephenson Street (for New Street Station). After a ride of about 20-22 minutes out of the city, on the main A38 Bristol Road, look for a pedestrian overbridge spanning the dual-carriageway and alight at the next stop, Griffin's Brook (a low point in the road!). Cross by the adjacent pelican crossing and after a further 4-minute walk in the out-of-city direction you come to the clearly-announced drive to The Manor House. For those unfamiliar with TWM's exact-money, no change farebox system, the peak-time fare (pre-0930 and 1530-1800 Monday to Friday) is £1. At all other times it is 90p maximum, no limit to distance. However, if you feel that the hassle of a local bus and a walk is not for you then why not use our shuttle service? We intend to provide three departures on Friday afternoon from New Street Station (city centre traffic disruption permitting), at times convenient to the majority, actual departure times being determined after receipt of your booking forms, from which your preferences will be adjudicated. For those using their cars, there is adequate parking adjacent to the Manor House.
Tea and biscuits on arrival at The Manor House
Three course dinner and coffee.
Welcome and presentations by Ron Whittle and by fellow member Geoff Lusher (of Travel Midland Metro) giving 'tasters' for the weekend.
consisting of visits to North Birmingham Busways, Walsall Bus Station (without guarantee that it will be operational!), Warstone Motors (Green Bus Service), Arriva Midlands North at Cannock and to Wolverhampton to inspect its Bus Station. There will be limited time for you to make your own arrangements for lunch here, before walking some 500 metres to catch the Midland Metro from St George's. An inspection of the Operations Centre of Midland Metro at Wednesbury will be followed by further riding of the system into Birmingham Snow Hill. Limited time will be available to study activities in Colmore Row before return to Northfield.
Evening Reception and Presidential Dinner at the Manor House.
Our first call is at Pensnett to see Travel Merry Hill followed by a run to Bridgnorth. Either see Bridgnorth High Town or activities at the Severn Valley Railway station, before deciding how you travel to Kidderminster - the railway itself or bus following Whittle's own route. Ron Whittle has kindly invited us to lunch at his Kidderminster headquarters and to inspect his new custom-built coach station & fleet maintenance facilities. Our day will continue by going on to Stratford-upon-Avon with time to view the town as well as visiting Guide Friday's premises and for up to 77 of us to partake of the Straford tour.
Evening three course dinner and coffee.
Provincial Historical Research Group meeting (for those interested)
Seeing the work of the Birmingham and Midland Museum of Transport at Wythall with, hopefully, a vintage ride. Then we go on to study Stagecoach Midland Red's depot in Leamington Spa, and thence to Coventry, where lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, TWM Coventry Garage and Pool Meadow Bus Station will be induded. (The adjacent Museum of Road Transport is not included, but members may elect to take a quick look there and admission is free}.
Our coaches will call at Coventry Rail Station (for trains to London, etc.) before returning to Birmingham City Centre and Northfield, for dispersal.
The organisers hope that this outline programme will make you want to join in on this occasion. All you have to do now is
Members of the Society should automatically receive their application forms for the Presidential Weekend in the regular mailing. Any non-member who would like to attend should join the Society using the application forms provided, after which the Booking Form will be sent to them.