FOUR vintage Ribble buses will go on display outside a South Lakeland museum this weekend.

The display at the Lakeland Motor Museum, Backbarrow, on Sunday is part of a programme commemorating the centenary of the former company, Ribble Motor Services Ltd.

Among the vehicles being displayed by the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust is a 1954 Leyland Tiger Cub and a 1960 Leyland Atlantean double decker.

Ribble Valley Motor Services Ltd was formed on June 6 1919 and grew at a rapid rate over the next 20 years to become one of the major transport operators in Britain

Smaller operators were bought out and new routes were introduced to areas that had previously had no bus service.

Eventually, Ribble’s bus operating area stretched from Carlisle to Liverpool, whilst its coach services and tours took the company’s vehicles to all parts of the country.

Although many towns and cities in North West England had their own municipally owned bus operations, Ribble provided the links between most of them, in addition to serving smaller towns, villages and some very remote settlements.

In an age when few people owned their own transport, Ribble buses were the means to get to work, school, shopping and other social activities.

Whether you were a daily or infrequent passenger, or just someone who would see a cherry red bus pass by and wonder about Barrow Nook, Dungeon Ghyll, Little Crosby, or any of the other hundreds of destinations that may be displayed on the front, everyone knew Ribble.

All of this was controlled from the company’s headquarters in Frenchwood, Preston. An impressive office block was constructed in the 1930s, complemented by a well equipped workshop to provide overhaul facilities for buses and coaches.

Ribble forged a close relationship with Leyland Motors, who provided the vast majority of the chassis used by Ribble throughout its existence.

During much of its existence the company was part of a conglomerate known as British Electric Traction, though had a great deal of independence from its parent. Much of that came to an end in 1969 with the nationalisation of many bus operators in an industry slowly declining in the face of ever-growing car ownership.

The National Bus Company had Ribble as a subsidiary until privatisation in 1986. Split into two parts, and subsequently further divided, the name Ribble is no longer to be seen on the sides of buses in daily service.

Memories of the company are kept alive through the activities of the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust.

The four buses will be on display at the museum from 10am to 4pm. They are all of types that served the Lake District for many years and will jog the memories of locals who travelled by Ribble.

Supporters of the trust say they are looking forward to sharing stories of Ribble with visitors to the museum.