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Wetherby Update (Sat June 6th 2020) Good Afternoon All, A further update to my previous bulletin is as follows... Having spoken again with West Yorkshire Police today regarding the latest travel information provided by Government, I have had to give some serious thought to the Wetherby date. There is a serious question mark over one part of the latest advice which is this, taken from the Gov.Uk website... 1.3 What else is a criminal offence? It is a criminal offence to: incite others to break the rules by e.g. inviting people to a party I read this as potentially putting myself personally in the spotlight in the event of a report being made about my buses collecting groups or even my actions being taken as encouraging the gathering of groups along the way again in the event of a report being made to the police. The discussion with WYP concluded with the current mutual thinking being, as the regulations are frequently modified and altered, keep the event live in the proposed format until one week before the due date, when the current regulation at that time can be studied and a decision made wether or not to operate this running day or postpone it until conditions are relaxed further. Now this is obviously not what I want to do, but I can't put myself in the potential firing line to receive criticism or maybe more serious consequences as a result of encouraging a gathering of people roadside. I shall keep a very watchful eye on the development of the conditions as we go along through June, but we shall have to make a snap decision in the week before the planned running day as to the way forward. I hope we can have a presence in July, but let it develop for now. Cheers All, Bradley

Wetherby Update (Friday June 5th 2020) Good Morning All, The latest UK Government travel advice has been announced, with much of the information broadcast surrounding changes to public transport operation. As I'm sure you are all aware, restrictions have been put in place controlling the way we use public transport, not least the new rule (from June 15th) of compulsary face covering aboard all forms of public transport. I have made the decision to change the way of working during the Wetherby running day, Sunday July 5th 2020 with further alteration possible as a result of potential future rule changes as the Covid-19 situation evolves. The revised plan involves ... - Social distancing measures implemented on all vehicles - A much reduced level of operation during the day - The day is to be re-classified as a "Roadside" event, a photographic/video based running day, where you'll be encouraged to use a bicycle, car or your feet to reach your favourite location along the route, complying with relevant social distancing rules in the local community of course, to observe the passage of classic buses during the afternoon. This leaves the buses to (unfortunately) run empty, apart from the crew on board - but the running day can still go ahead for your enjoyment, from the roadside not the saloon. I (along with all vehicle owners) love to share my classic buses with enthusiasts as much as the enthusiasts like to ride on them, so I am giving consideration to other options, to be confirmed as the day grows closer. This could involve "names out of the hat" style of tickets for say 5 passengers to ride on each of the buses during the day, providing full compliance of passengers with each newly introduced government condition is checked/observed by the volunteer staff/bus crews. Please don't be disheartened by my thoughts here, there will always be another chance to enjoy your favourite buses more freely in the future if it is not possible this time, but I really do want to get something moving on July 5th to give everyone a bit of a lift after a huge period of negativity and provide some interest along the route for the day. I know this is not an ideal situation at all, - I am doing my utmost to hopefully bring some kind of a day within current regulation... this could also mean short notice cancellation of course, but I do hope that is an avoidable situation, even if the buses have to ride empty all day... Please, if you have any thoughts about the above statement, let me know and I shall consider... Kind Regards, Bradley blackprincebuses @ outlook . com

Good Evening All, as it has been a few weeks since my last posting, I thought it time I wrote a little something new here on the blog. I do hope all readers are managing the lockdown situation positively and keeping safe and well during the pandemic response period. As a member of the "Key Worker" designation, it has been business as usual for myself and several others within the Black Prince community, keeping the wheels turning at Northern Rail, First Leeds and Arriva Yorkshire to name but a few. Key worker timetables have seen several services temporarily curtailed, we can only hope transport returns to normal after the situation has calmed somewhat, but it is with huge concern we see several coach operations sadly struggling or even worse closing permanently as a result of the almost total shutdown of the economy. In the world of Black Prince or indeed transport preservation as a whole, I'm sure you are all acutely aware that the event calendar has pretty much collapsed for the main part, with no events reported since lockdown conditions were imposed. This sadly meant our Black Prince contribution to the Morley St George weekend 2020, scheduled for the weekend just passed, did not happen because as previously reported the Town Council and St George Committee made the difficult decision to cancel the event in good time at the start of the current troubles - we are of course in contact with our Town Council and very much look forward to future possible partnerships at Morley events when the situation changes. We can however look back through our photographs and footage of last years superb St George Festival/Black Prince 50th weekend in Morley and surrounding district, recalling this great weekend with much fondness and many happy memories. As the situation develops, we watch with interest for the opportunity to begin returning to normality, but meanwhile, plans continue with the "Wetherby Wanderers" running day still very much planned to go ahead - If this situation alters, rest assured the information will be posted on this blog as soon as possible. During spare time encountered throughout the lockdown period, I have taken the opportunity to re-organise some of the wonderful memorabilia and photography within the Black Prince archive, uncovering some fascinating information and vehicle images, I would love to share on the website as time permits. I'm most aware of the slow progress in building the Black Prince story for interested readers, please keep checking back, there is lots more to come when time permits. I wish all readers good health at this most difficult time and hope to see you soon on a Black Prince bus!. Best Wishes Bradley McMullan

Hello Everyone, I have spoken with Morley Town Council and it is with regret that the council have made the decision to cancel the Morley St George Festival for 2020 following Central Government advice regarding the Corona outbreak. I'm not sure what the rest of the year has in store, but considering most public events and transport running days have been cancelled in the immediate future, I cannot see much happening for the next couple of months. I still plan to run heritage buses on the Leeds-Wetherby corridor in July and The Leeds Running Day is still scheduled to go ahead in August, in conjunction with LCC and Classic Connections. If anything changes or anything new is planned for the red and yellow bus fleet, I'll post it here on the blog and hope to see some Black Prince fans during the year!. "Let it develop", as they used to say at Black Prince! Meanwhile, good luck everyone during this "interesting" period... Stay Well! Bradley.

Join us for a classic bus running day centred on the Leeds-Boston Spa-Wetherby corridor. More detail to follow on this blog nearer the date. Sunday 05/07/2020

The Morley St George festival will be in full swing again during the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 25/26th April 2020. Saturday will give the opportunity to ride a Black Prince bus in the Morley area, with a timetable to be published in the run up to the date. The Sunday will see our bus taking part in the St George parade, then on display at the Rugby/Cricket ground. Come for a ride and enjoy the St George weekend in Morley, the home of Black prince!. Saturday 25/04/2020 Black Prince bus service Sunday 26/04/2020 St George parade

July 30th 2005 saw the red and yellow fleet of Black Prince buses returning home to Morley base for the final time, when the company was closed on retirement of Brian & Sheila Crowther. The day was action packed but also a very sad occasion, several enthusiasts and well wishers were present during the day and in the depot at midnight to welcome in the last arrivals. David and Brian Crowther crewed Leyland PD FTF702F for several trips during the course of the day, the attached photo showing the father and son crew in Morley depot, on service for the final time. I thought it would be nice to mark the last day somehow, what better way than with the involvement of red and yellow buses?!. A plan will be made available shortly when the final idea has been decided-watch this blog!. Take care all-Bradley.

You'll be able to enjoy a ride on 2 different vehicles during our New Year's Day 87 timetable. You'll see P441SWX representing the large Mercedes/Optare Prisma single deck type and M73WYG making a rare, most welcome appearance in service representing the smaller MAN/Optare Vecta type!. Service will commence at 0935 from Morley railway station, arriving at the White Rose Centre at 1000, in time for opening. Our buses will run each hour thereafter during centre opening hours. Black Prince goodies will be available for purchase during the day. Happy New Year to all :-)

Wishing all readers and Black Prince enthusiasts a most successful 2020!. Throughout 2019, our red and yellow buses have been involved with events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the former Black Prince bus company, a full review of the year will follow when I have chance to write up the blog. You will of course be able to start the new year with a ride on a Black Prince bus, operating on service 87 between Morley and the White Rose Centre. Stay tuned to find out where you'll be able to ride on a preserved Black Prince bus in 2020, where you'll be most welcome aboard!. Thank you all for your support and good wishes in 2019!. Good Luck for 2020!... Bradley McMullan

The festive week is upon us, so here is the final Black Prince timetable for Christmas/New Year 2019/2020. I do hope our FREE bus service will be useful in getting people around when no regular bus service is available to do so. Huge thanks must go out to all who help make these FREE festive Black Prince bus services possible, your help is greatly appreciated!. Other organisations kind enough to give up time to provide bus services around West Yorkshire over the festive period are listed in the links found lower down this page, the information is courtesy of WYPTE Metro. Please be aware, whilst some festive services such as our Black Prince routes are FREE and staffed by volunteers using preserved heritage buses, the rest are standard bus services on which usual bus fares apply. Christmas Day 2019 Transport https://www.wymetro.com/media/5322/christmas-day-timetable-2019.pdf Boxing Day 2019 Transport https://www.wymetro.com/media/5368/boxing-day-timetable-2019-v3.pdf New Year's Day 2020 Transport https://www.wymetro.com/media/5321/new-year-day-timetable-2020.pdf Railway You'll find no trains operating on Christmas Day, but a skeleton train service will operate on Boxing Day on the Bradford F-SQ-Skipton-Ilkley route, the train complementing the bus services of West Yorkshire. A normal train service will operate on New Year's day, our Black Prince 87 offering train connections at Morley railway station. Season's Greetings, from the Black Prince Buses family :-)

Great News!... You'll find a Black Prince bus at your service during the festive season. On Christmas Day 2019, the X51 will work between Morley and Leeds every hour, extending to Morley Tingley Mills and the hospitals at LGI/Jimmy's every other hour. On New Year's Day 2020, the 87 will run during White Rose Centre opening hours, linking Morley Railway Station, Morley Town Hall and Churwell to the WRC. Both of these bus services will replicate former Black Prince routes with special alterations to serve the hospitals and the railway. The services are to run with the blessing of METRO and the White Rose Shopping Centre, with the support of several individuals and groups keen to see these festive buses continue running into the future. I'm extremely proud to be able to offer these services once again and after a huge year for preserved Black Prince buses, feel it the perfect way to close 2019. 2019, the 50th anniversary of Black Prince, has seen many individual events organised to celebrate the business which started operation in 1969, closing in 2005 on the retirement of founder Brian Crowther. Timetable for festive season services coming shortly.

Learn about the market town of Morley with an opportunity to enjoy a town tour aboard a Black Prince bus, hosted by the Morley Community Archive. As part of the National Heritage Open Days events, Morley opens up with town hall tours on Saturday 14/09/19 at 1030/1400. In addition to this, full town tours using a Black Prince bus will run on Sunday 15/09/19 at 1100/1430. The bus tours will pick up in the lay-by outside the leisure centre on Queensway, Morley. Events are organised and co-ordinated by Morley Town Council, with the community archive providing fantastic background and knowledge about the town we know as the home of Black Prince!... It is really nice to be able to include the Black Prince bus in this years events, particularly with this being the 50th year since Brian Crowther started running his buses in the area. There is more information about the town tours and the Morley Archive below... https://www.morleyarchives.org.uk https://www.scribd.com/document/420823968/HODS-Booklet-2019