A HISTORIC bus which was nearly destroyed in a fire will go on display as its owners plan its restoration.

The rare King Alfred Leyland Olympic JAA 708 was one of eight vehicles damaged in an industrial blaze which swept through Penton Mewsey on December 8.

Seven of the buses belonged to private owners yet this special bus was owned by charity Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB).

The charity explained the significance of the bus and successfully persuaded its insurance company not to destroy it.

READ MORE: King Alfred bus saved from scrap following fire near Andover

The King Alfred bus after the fire (Image: FoKAB)

Now FoKAB are transporting the classic vehicle from its current site in Winchester to the nationally-noted Buses Festival at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire on Sunday, September 1, 2024.

It will be transported with great care on a low-loader lorry and will remain on the trailer on display to the public.

Arrangements are also in place to take the 1967 Leyland Atlantean HOR 590E from the King Alfred collection. It was converted to open-top by the Bristol Omnibus Company in 1979. This will be parked alongside the Olympic, allowing people to go upstairs and get a good view down onto the fire-ravaged vehicle.

The purpose of this major exercise is to attract the attention of the very best of British bus restoration experts and professionals to the project, because the next big step, after rescuing this bus from the disastrous fire last year, is to put together a fully detailed and costed plan for its potential reconstruction.

This will need specialist input from one or more experts and FoKAB is inviting them to express an interest.

SEE ALSO: King Alfred running day returns to Winchester: Free bus rides all day!

FoKAB’s chairman James Freeman said: “We’re hoping to find one or more gifted people who know enough about vehicle restoration to be able to consider the wholesale rebuilding of this vehicle, while keeping as much as possible of the original. The plan comes first, of course, but then it will need somebody to take on the rebuild job.”

A reasonable sum is available from the insurance settlement to put together the feasibility and business plans that will allow FoKAB’s trustees to take the final decision to proceed. The plan will be the starting point of a substantial campaign to raise the necessary funds, expected to come in at least £500,000.

For more details of the event put ‘Buses Festival 2024’ into any search engine or to know more about FoKAB go to kingalfredbuses.org.uk.