In 1993 the Hythe & Dibden Community Association took over the running of a minibus service from the Totton and Waterside Council of Community Service.
This consisted of 3 minibuses, 11 regular user groups and about £10,000 to go towards replacement buses in the future.
The minibuses were:
Which during the previous 1991-1992 year, did about 21,000 miles between them.
The buses' origins:
In the 28th edition of the H&D Community News (June 1981) there was an article (page 3) announcing that the "New Forest East Sports Council" was fundraising to buy a "specially adapted mini-bus" run by (secretary) John Longland (844215).
When the "New Forest East Disabled Sports Association" disbanded it donated it's bus to the W.A.G centre run by W.C.C.S. This bus was the 1982 Y Reg 12(?) seater Renault.
In 1980 the Hythe & District Round Table donated to W.A.G. centre £2000 to "assist in the purchasing of a new minibus".
The two white buses had been funded by "joint finance" with money coming from "Health and Social Services" (£20,200) plus the sale of earlier T&W.C.C.S buses.
The Regular user groups were:
Cussens Day Centre (formally also run by the T&W.C.C.S), who used it twice a day, four days a week.
more to be added!
The buses were stored at the Hythe Police Station on Jone's Lane with the keys being collected and returned to an officer inside. This system worked quite well for a number of years though there was a couple of grumbles from the police about bad parking, etc.
Under the T&W.C.C.S there had been a volunteer minibus manager: Mr Ken Prince, who received an honorarium and bookings were taken by the T&W.C.C.S General Secretary: Sheila Page. "Training" or "familiarisation" for minibus drivers was done by Bob Lowther or Vic Gibbons.
After 1993
Ray White took over as Minibus Manager.
Charity number: 267994
Vic Gibbons stayed on.
Jim Tandy - Maintenance Manager. honorarium of £1000 in 2010
After 2010
Ray White retired as Minibus Manager and the Mini-buses started to be run out of the Community Centre. At this time there were four minibuses:
N387KGT R31MDY NX53HZC R990KLJ
The Minibuses stopped being stored at the Police Station as that building was being closed and sold off. Instead the four buses were parked in the Hythe & Dibden Community Centre's Car park and the keys would be collected and deposited from the office.
(C) Copyright H&D Community Association. 2024