On 24th April 2021, former Portsmouth Leyland National ERV115W joined the collection following a long period sat in a yard in Gloucester. In 2020, fellow preservationist, Mike Ede, purchased the bus from its former keeper and carried out some restoration work and attained a class 5 MOT. Being a family friend, Mike knew of my interest in 115 and a deal was struck to purchase the vehicle and bring her back to Hampshire. Due to the timing, family friends Del Burnside and Stewart Legg agreed to form a group with us in order to secure the bus and it made the trip back to our then, Winchester base under it's own power.
With the help of family friends Tom and Ben, 115 received much attention mostly underneath. To name but a few, the following jobs were carried out before her first show appearance in 2022: * New Tyres * New Water/Coolant hoses throughout * Fresh new coolant * Power steering overhaul * Track rod ends replaced * Air bags and supports replaced * Front brake chamber replaced * Engine timing and valves adjusted * Engine oil and filters replaced * Fuel filters replaced * Exhaust repairs/replacement * Various electrical issues resolved
In July 2022, 115 attended her first show in preservation at Alton Bus Rally then attended some other events during 2023 including Netley and Gosport. 115 is a rare bus being the sole surviving former Portsmouth Mk2 Leyland National but also, is the short 'B' series version. She is a very important vehicle which we are now proud to own and preserve.
115 has recently appeared in Bus & Coach Preservation magazine having been returned to Portsmouth for the first time in over 30 years. She is currently preserved in Stagecoach stripes livery with Southdown Portsmouth fleet-names depicting the period in 1990 when both Portsmouth Citybus and Southdown were combined to form the said company.
Eventually, 115 will receive Portsmouth Corporation livery but for now, we are enjoying seeing her in the 'what might have been' guise.