The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-08-26, Page 17t>
i
On the big
us with
The Be
and to
rt & Ernie Kiddie Club had a chance to experience a ride in a double decker bus
learn about Goderich at the same time on Thursday when Bob and Carol
G
Stephenson and their daughter Sherry conducted a tour just for them. (Photo by Cath
Gooden)
the
h
SIGNAL
133 YEAR -39
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1981
All
•
1
`fair' at Dungannon
SECOND SECTION
What's a fair without candy floss? Laurie O'Neill of 1lt.
Auburn enjoyed axe sticky stuff at Duugainiou fair on
weekend. Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
R. 3
the
Prospers Star Carol got some thorough grooming from Livestock judging was only one of many features at the
Harold Menary and his son James before being shown in the annual two-day fair. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan )
junior heifer class at the Dungannon fair on Saturday.
More photos inside
Bradley Black driving this wagon and pony and carrying a couple
dressed -up companions won second place in the most -original category
the Dungannon fair's parade' on Saturday. First place went to Hudson Warr.
(Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
of
Bob Stephenson sits behind the wheel of his London Transport red double decker bus used in
England between 1948-52. The Stephensons conduct tours of Goderich in the bus. (Photo by
Cath Wooden)
BY CATH WOODEN
A little bit of England is driving around
the streets of Goderich these days.
A little bit of postwar London to be
precise. Bob, and Carol Stephenson. 'of
Benmiller have acquired one of those red
double decker buses that became famous
in London after World War II. and 'are
using it to give tours of Goderich.
"My goal is to create the atmosphere
and conditions that I had as a, boy, and at
the same time, make a tour that people
' can say was worth, it," says Bob who is
originally from Sussex, about 50 miles
from London, England.
He remembers riding on the big double
deckers as a youngster and feeling the
thrill of it.
The Stepherfsons bought the bus, which
travelled the streets of London, between
1948-52, a few months ago from a man who
had brought it over from England to make.
a fish and chip .franchise out of it. It was
converted to a stationary restaurant and
the owner promptly went broke. Bob.
rewired it, and got it ready to conduct tours
here in Goderich:
The 14 -foot high bus is lisenced only to
drive in town and can be driven out to its
storage place at Sid Bruinsma's farm and
• to the Stephenson' home. It hasa diesel
engine built by the Automotive
Engineering Company of London. Its body
and transmission were built co-operatively
by the AEC and London Transport.
The transmission on the bus is highly
• unique. It has an epicyclic pneumatic gear
box which means that the driver puts it in
gear first and then pushes the clutch. The
• bus gets somewhere around 14 miles to the
"gallon of diesel fuel. If Bob needs parts for
the bus. he knows a man in Niagara Falls
who owns 14 of•them and has loads of parts
shipped over,
Does it tip easy? Not on your life. Bob
has seen pictures of a bus sitting on a 30
degree angle with no means of support,
and . the driver waving out the 'window. •
,.
They are built to negotiate the hilly,
twisting streets of London.
The bus is Bob's second one. He owns
another, a 1955 Leyland, that he shipped
over from England to use for driving
members of his church around. He even
wrote a book about his adventures driving
the bus here from Halifax.
the Goderich tours are a nostalgia trip
for Bob, who wears an old conductor's
uniform when he gives tours. His wife
Carol -does the commentary and even their
little daughter Sherry gets in on the act,
ringing the bell and holding up the flag of
Goderich.
The Stephensons realize that they have
started their enterprise rather late in the
season, but feel they have received a fairly
good response. The bus is a novelty for
kids and adults both from Goderich and
out of town. "One man..sat.in.the top.front
seat for ' an hour' before a tour started,
because that was his favorite spot when he
was a boy in London," Bob laughs even as
he identifies strongly with the man.
Children also love the tide -and squeal in
delight when tree limbs bang on the roof.
The tree limbs have become the only
source of contention between the
Stephensons and the town. "I've received
good co-operation from the PUC and the
police," said Bob,' but "there are five or six
tree limbs on certain spots in the tour
which are scratching the bus." So far; the
town has not agreed to remove the limbs
but Bob hopes this will change next season
when he proves the tours viable. .
Of her commentary, Carol says that she
never knew that Goderich: had such in-
teresting historical,. scenic, as well as
industrial places. The tour covers over an
hour's worth of them and Carol welcomes
any contributions of information from
those who have it.
So if you've a little bit of London in you
aching to• get out, how about ,hopping
aboard'. You'll learn about Goderich at the
same time..And if you don't? Pity.
Blyth Summer Festival
needs big budget
for high-quality shows
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
"When James Roy founded the Blyth
Summer Festival seven years ago. he
operated on a shoestring budget and, at the
end of the season. a profit of a few hundred
dollars was realized.
These. days, with a longer season and.
increasingly higher quality productions.
the budget is approximately $200.000 per
summer.
" The fund-raising onus falls to the 17-
mtmiber• board of the Blyth Centre for the
Arts. Every year. before the siunmer
season. starts. they must raise Operating
capital to pay equity wages to the actors
and actresses: to pay the office staff: and
to buy props. Costumes, etc for each play.
Besides the operating costs, the board
has also been trying to reduce a $5,000
debt for improvements to the 491 -seat
Blyth Memorial Hall where the plays are
staged. These improvements included the
addition of dressing rooms. washrooms. a
box office. a new heating system. a
wheelchair ramp and fire safety
upgrading. There is now $28,000 left owing
on these improvements.
Recently a group called Friends of Blyth
was formed. Originally. this group was
organized to help with the time-consuming
chore of selling subscriptions nd mem'
berships. But they now also helwith fund-
raising projects. This y ear the i riends
group came up with a celebrity sweep-
st ikes idea. and ra"ker'whIch allows •
ticket holders the -chance to win one. of
approximately 60 items donated by
Celebrities or well-known local per-
sonalities.
Friends of Blyth is actually made up of
several groups, one in Blyth, one in
Auburn and one in Clinton. Seaforth,
Dungannon and Bayfield each have one
member but Goderich has none and
Mildred McAdam, board president. is
interested in seeing the groups built up in
each of these areas.
In order to raise money this year, the
board members have come up with a
number of fund-raisers. ' they rent
cushions at each of the performances for
50 cents. They„sell hasty notes featuring
pictures of Blyth hall for $2.50. They are
selling tickets on a handmade quilt and
afghan to be drawn for September 5.
A giant book sale. at which used books.
magazines and baking are sold. is
becoming an annual event at Blyth hall
each June. And the board holds one
country supper of its own each year )the
others are put on by church, ladies and
Women's Institute groups and these
groups receive the profits). Presently, a
ook book featuring recipes from the
ladies who put on these suppers, is being
compiled and should be ready- for sale by
the board at the end of the sim mer.
This y ear. in addition to its other fund-
raising activities. the board is also plan-
ning a gala affair Including a dinner,
auction and dance to be held October 2:1
and24.
The board does plain old canvassing too-
-that is gtr. erg t1oor to door in bot h-.Bl-y'ih and -....
the surrounding countryside asking for
Contributions.
Tun to page 2A