Title
Unique Model of an Oxford Bus - nearly 70 yrs old
Subject
Roads, infrastructure and transport
Description
I don't know if you caught a post in the ' History of Oxford' group on Facebook in mid-October where I told the story of a model of an Oxford bus, made for me as a three year old by my Dad, Bob Rogers in the early 1950s.
He constructed it out of spare pieces of wood he found, purely out of his observation and imagination, using his amateur wood-working skills. I have attached photos of the bus as it is now, and one of me at three years old with it when it was new, together with a wooden model of an articulated petrol bowser. Sadly the latter didn't survive the years.
We lived in Cromwell Close, Old Marston, on the council estate where I was brought up and where my parents lived for the greater part of their lives. In the Facebook post I explained that the bus had been stored in my parents' loft in Oxford for many years, before being re-discovered by me in 2011.
During its active life it had been well-played with, so had some life-wounds, and because of the fittings and the type of paint it would be inappropriate to consider passing it on for one of today's children to play with. However, I am reaching the stage in life to 'de-clutter' and wasn't sure what to do with it.
The very last resort would be the tip. The response from other members of the group was overwhelmingly positive in appreciating the charm of the bus and in favour of contacting a museum to see if there was any interest, in terms of putting it on display. I even had one specific approach from an academic who wanted to buy it and put it on display within the University!
Family discussions revealed a wish to hold on to ownership of the bus, but with the concession that if agreement could be reached with a suitable sponsor museum, then it could be lent on a long loan for public display, (at no charge) along with a printed explanation of its history.
I can add that Bob Rogers was born in New Marston, Oxford in 1923, served in the Royal Navy during WW2 as a signalman, participating in Arctic convoys to Russia and special operations against the Tirpitz. After marrying my mother, Margaret in 1949, they emigrated to New Zealand, where I was born, but they returned to the UK in 1951 and lived in Oxford for the rest of their lives. Bob worked at Nuffield Exports and Morris's for 28 years as a quality inspector, and then as a messenger for the Ministry of Agriculture on Marston Road. Margaret died in 2011 and Bob passed away two years later. Bob was always interested in woodworking and developed an interest in using spare wood to make clock housings, into which he put commercial movements. He made more than a hundred, giving them all away to family and friends.
The photos give you an idea of the bus and its condition. From my memory of growing up using Oxford buses (usually the No 8 from Northway into the City Centre), the design layout upstairs looks like the buses which were made to clear the Oxford and Cowley station bridges, though I'm sure enthusiasts would know better than me. The critical dimensions of the bus are as follows: Length 18" - WIdth 7" - Height 14" - Weight 3kg(approx)
He constructed it out of spare pieces of wood he found, purely out of his observation and imagination, using his amateur wood-working skills. I have attached photos of the bus as it is now, and one of me at three years old with it when it was new, together with a wooden model of an articulated petrol bowser. Sadly the latter didn't survive the years.
We lived in Cromwell Close, Old Marston, on the council estate where I was brought up and where my parents lived for the greater part of their lives. In the Facebook post I explained that the bus had been stored in my parents' loft in Oxford for many years, before being re-discovered by me in 2011.
During its active life it had been well-played with, so had some life-wounds, and because of the fittings and the type of paint it would be inappropriate to consider passing it on for one of today's children to play with. However, I am reaching the stage in life to 'de-clutter' and wasn't sure what to do with it.
The very last resort would be the tip. The response from other members of the group was overwhelmingly positive in appreciating the charm of the bus and in favour of contacting a museum to see if there was any interest, in terms of putting it on display. I even had one specific approach from an academic who wanted to buy it and put it on display within the University!
Family discussions revealed a wish to hold on to ownership of the bus, but with the concession that if agreement could be reached with a suitable sponsor museum, then it could be lent on a long loan for public display, (at no charge) along with a printed explanation of its history.
I can add that Bob Rogers was born in New Marston, Oxford in 1923, served in the Royal Navy during WW2 as a signalman, participating in Arctic convoys to Russia and special operations against the Tirpitz. After marrying my mother, Margaret in 1949, they emigrated to New Zealand, where I was born, but they returned to the UK in 1951 and lived in Oxford for the rest of their lives. Bob worked at Nuffield Exports and Morris's for 28 years as a quality inspector, and then as a messenger for the Ministry of Agriculture on Marston Road. Margaret died in 2011 and Bob passed away two years later. Bob was always interested in woodworking and developed an interest in using spare wood to make clock housings, into which he put commercial movements. He made more than a hundred, giving them all away to family and friends.
The photos give you an idea of the bus and its condition. From my memory of growing up using Oxford buses (usually the No 8 from Northway into the City Centre), the design layout upstairs looks like the buses which were made to clear the Oxford and Cowley station bridges, though I'm sure enthusiasts would know better than me. The critical dimensions of the bus are as follows: Length 18" - WIdth 7" - Height 14" - Weight 3kg(approx)
Date
1950s
Contributor
Chris Rogers
Publisher
Museum of Oxford
Rights
Chris Rogers
Creator
Chris Rogers
Questions and Comments
Do you remember using a bus like this one?
Add your thoughts