The Trust membership scheme currently has almost 300 members who share an interest in Ribble Motor Services and the work we do to preserve the company’s history. The annual subscription is £25 and members receive a full colour magazine four times a year as well as access to our members Facebook page and the chance to participate in our work.
You can apply for membership by completing the application form via the Contact Page
As well as supporting our overall aims members also have the chance to work directly with the Trust. A whole range of opportunities awaits – some members work regularly at our depot on vehicle preparation, regular maintenance and vehicle restoration. We have plenty of tasks for those with specific skills and those who help in a more general way. Others help out at events by conducting on the bus service, carrying out marshalling, talking to visitors. There’s plenty of enjoyment as well as hard work and a lot of satisfaction in helping a restoration project to completion or successfully delivering a major event.
If you would like to know more and possibly take a look around do get in touch.
Mercedes Minibus 567
Reg: G567 PRM
Chassis: Mercedes-Benz 709D
Body: Alexander DP25F
Built: 1990
Although small buses had been used by operators over many years it was the build up to deregulation in the mid-1980s that led to large numbers of them being put into service. Ribble was no exception and in the late 1980s Sherpas, Ivecos and Mercedes 608s were purchased. Following the acquisition by Stagecoach their standard types appeared and the preferred minibus in the early 1990s was the Mercedes 709D. One has now joined the RVPT collection.
New to Stagecoach Ribble in 1990 fleet no. 567 was registered G567 PRM. It was operated from Preston Depot in Stagecoach stripes with Zippy Ribble fleet name. It later transferred to Lancaster/Morecambe depots but retained its Zippy Ribble fleet name.
Sold to Mac Tours in the early 2000s, it was numbered 27 in their fleet and carried the registration XIL 1483. Sold in 2008 to Pringle of Bearsden to operate Bikes Boats Boots Bus from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, towing a bike trailer. Withdrawn in 2010 it entered preservation joining the Bridgeton Museum collection. Sold to Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust in 2019 and repainted into the original Stagecoach Ribble stripes with Zippy fleet name. It is now part of the active fleet and regularly attends our events.