A while ago we had some correspondence from Mrs J Spencer, inquiring about when the last trolleybuses in Bradford ran.

As you might imagine, our old Remember When? friend Stanley King, formerly Lord Mayor of this parish, was quick off the buffers.

Mr King is something of an expert on the matter of Bradford’s trolleybuses, and he has provided us with a wealth of information, as well as some new events which might tickle trolleybus aficionados.

He writes: “There are at least ten Bradford trolleybuses still in existence. The Bradford Industrial Museum has one on permanent display, as well as the body of a 1914 vehicle, which may be the oldest trolleybus in the world, although in need of restoration.

“The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft (between Doncaster and Scunthorpe) has five post-war vehicles, a 1929 single-decker currently undergoing restoration and three of our later vehicles which are awaiting a thorough programme of renovation.

“The Keighley Bus Museum are custodians of our last trolleybus, which actually belongs to Metro (West Yorkshire PTE).

“I know of two further vehicles in private hands. This year will mark the centenary of the introduction of trolleybuses to the United Kingdom, in Bradford and Leeds, on June 20, 1911.

“All being well, the centenary will be marked in Bradford on Sunday, June 19, when our last trolleybus will be on display at the Industrial Museum. On the following Sunday, June 26, it will be in passenger-carrying operation at the Sandtoft Museum.”

To get to Sandtoft, writes Mr King, take the M62, M18, M180 – then the exit for Goole and Gainsborough and follow the Gainsborough road to Belton (one mile), then turn right for Sandtoft Museum (two miles). Total distance from Bradford, about 50 miles. “Easy” he adds.

“I look forward to meeting Mrs Spencer and all our fellow-Bradfordians at both these events.

“All being well, the grandson of our first trolleybus driver in 1911 will be present at Sandtoft, as will the man who was deputy chairman of Bradford Transport Committee in the year we ceased trolleybus operation (ie, me), so the event(s) should be a fitting commemoration of a fine form of public transport. But I would say that, wouldn’t I?”

You certainly would, Stanley.