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 Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc.
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:
The Society's 2001 President, Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc, is hosting his Presidential Weekend in Aberdeen. The Scottish Branch of the Society is organising the weekend in conjunction with FirstGroup, and has planned an event that will give members an opportunity to learn something of the UK's largest urban operator of bus services, visit other bus operations in the area, and see something of Aberdeen and the beautiful countryside that surrounds it.
Aberdeen, Europe's oil capital, is a fine, prosperous city and when Moir Lockhead led the management/employee buyout of the Grampian Regional Transport business in 1989 he was starting a process that led to the creation of the Grampian Bus Group and, following the merger with Badgerline, the formation of FirstBus, later FirstGroup, to reflect the growing involvement in rail and other areas of transport.
Aberdeen is bounded on the east by the dramatic North Sea coast, and west of the city is the road to Royal Deeside, some of Scotland's most beautiful countryside. There will be opportunities to see something of the city, as well as a Sunday tour that takes in places like Ballater and Braemar, so the Weekend is one that could be of interest to spouses and partners.
The Weekend is based at the four-star Thistle Hotel at Altens, on the city's southern fringes - but connected to the city centre by First Aberdeen service 13, running every 15 minutes and taking around 12 minutes from Guild Street, adjacent to the bus and railway stations. The hotel includes full leisure facilities. The OS has negotiated special terms with the hotel for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and members wishing to stay on Monday night should make their own arrangements directly with the hotel (tel 01224 877000), quoting The Omnibus Society when booking; a special rate will be offered, though this will be greater than the weekend rate.
Friday 14 September
Members are responsible for making their own way to the Thistle Hotel (Aberdeen Altens). The Lord Provost of Aberdeen has invited members to a reception at the Town House; coaches will leave the hotel at 17.45hrs. In view of the status of this event, members are asked to be smartly dressed. After returning to the hotel there will be an informal evening (starting approx.19.30hrs) when there will be a chance to meet Moir Lockhead and to hear something of FirstGroup's activities, followed by a chance to learn something of the history of bus services and bus companies in the area, through slide presentations.
Saturday 15 September
First Aberdeen buses will depart from the hotel at 09.00hrs, picking up in Guild Street (outside the bus station and adjacent to the railway station) at 09.l5hrs, proceeding to the company's King Street garage for a tour of the premises and an opportunity to see the company's collection of vintage vehicles. This is to be followed by a City Tour using appropriate vehicles, broken by a lunch stop in the city centre, and an opportunity for members to see and photograph buses in this busy area. After the completion of the City Tour, the party will visit the Aberdeen premises of Stagecoach Bluebird. After a short run, the buses will return to the hotel and the city centre. In the evening the society's Annual Dinner is to be held at the Thistle Hotel at 19.30hrs. From 19.00hrs there will be a drinks reception. Dress code -jacket, collar and tie.
Sunday 16 September
A 150-mile day tour departing from Guild Street at 09.l5hrs and from the hotel at 09.30hrs, gives members the opportunity to see the beautiful countryside to the west of Aberdeen, with visits to depots at Stonehaven, Banchory, Ballater and Echt, and to the Grampian Transport Museum at Alford. Lunch is provided on Royal Deeside. The cost of the lunch and the Alford visit are included in the price of the tour. The coaches will return to the Thistle Hotel, city centre or airport, as required. A meeting of the Provincial Historical Research Group (PHRG) will be held in the hotel in the evening, and members are welcome to attend.
Monday 17 September
An opportunity to explore the area to the south of Aberdeen, visiting garages of Strathtay (Montrose, Arbroath, Dundee and Blairgowne), Stagecoach (Perth), and Travel Dundee. Members could leave the Weekend at Dundee or Perth to continue their journeys south, or can return to Aberdeen. The coaches should be at Dundee at 12.i5hrs and Perth at 14.00hrs. They will return to Aberdeen at 17.00hrs (hotel) or 17.l5hrs (Guild Street).
General Information
Aberdeen is an excellent centre, well-connected by road, rail and air from London and other parts of the UK. From Aberdeen members could tour the fishing communities of north-east Scotland, across towards Inverness, or could sail to Shetland to explore the fast-changing bus scene there.
Members of the Society will find their application forms for the Presidential Weekend in the centre of OM 438, just issued. 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.
The completed booking form must be sent with full remittance to Robert Williams, 191 Station Road, Shotts ML7 4BA. The latest date for receipt of form and full payment is 14 July 2001. Cheques to be made payable to 'The Omnibus Society'.