Vectis Bus 100

Welcome to this very special DVD programme celebrating a milestone of bus travel on the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum put on a special event over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of October 2021 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first bus service on the Isle of Wight operated by the Vectis Bus Company. The first public bus services began on 24th October 1921. There were three routes and these were Newport (Market Square) to West Cowes (Police Station); West Cowes (Park Gates) to Gurnard (Tinkers Lane); Newport to East Cowes (Ferry Square). A further service from Ryde to Newport was introduced a few weeks later. To celebrate this momentous event the Museum organised a tour of these routes using three special vehicles, 405 (DL 9015), a 1934 Dennis Ace with Harrington B20F bodywork, 216 (FDL 676), a 1949 Bedford OB with a Duple C29F body and ‘The Old Girl’ 702 (CDL 899) the 1939 Bristol K5G with an ECW O56R body.