The Formation of FoKAB

The King is dead - long live the King!

This is the loyal toast at the Friends of King Alfred Buses' annual dinner. King Alfred Motor Services died on 28 April 1973 but the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) was born in 1985. Its continuing aim is preserve King Alfred buses & coaches and anything and everything to do with King Alfred Motor Services.

FoKAB was formed in 1985 to assist James Freeman in the preservation of two KAMS buses that he had purchased - 104 and 591 (since scrapped). Since then further ex-KAMS buses and coaches have been rescued, including two repatriated from the USA. FoKAB attempts to maintain 9 buses and 2 coaches in a roadworthy condition. With the Bedford VAL14, CCG 704C, completing its restoration in time for the 2002 King Alfred Bus Running Day. The Leyland Olympic bus, JAA 708, is under restoration and is in secure under cover accommodation.  Our newest acquisition, Bedford CAL 543 is awaiting restoration.

About Us

FoKAB's membership now stands at about 250 people. One may ask why there still so much interest in a bus company of such relatively small size that has been gone for more than thirty years? The answer lies in the nature of King Alfred Motor Services (KAMS) itself. King Alfred was one of the few privately owned bus companies to run a municipal service. KAMS was proudly independent, with the statue of King Alfred on the green side panels of its buses to add that ultimate distinction.  It is also down to the enthusiasm of members to keep the memory of KAMS alive and protect part of Winchester's great heritage.

In 2000 we became a charitable trust,  rather than just a group of enthusiasts preserving buses and coaches. Anyone who has travelled on our vehicles at our running days or at other events will have noticed, even the crews try to wear the correct uniform of the 1960's.

Our aims are to eventually house all our vehicles together in a living museum in Hampshire to assist in educating the public in the role of transport in Winchester and in the surrounding district. We of course already re-create the past when we hold our annual running days and show our vehicles at many local events.

Being a charity can have many advantages. Already we are benefiting financially from the Gift Aid scheme where we are able to reclaim the tax paid on donations. In 2004, Hampshire County Council made a small grant towards the restoration of 708. As we have a unique collection of ex KAMS buses and coaches, our next aim is attain museum status. At the 2004 running day we launched our new mobile information unit to explain the work of FoKAB and the history of KAMS.

Preserving the past takes both time and money. This where you can help by becoming a member! We hold regular working sessions on the vehicles in Winchester on Tuesday afternoon and evenings and all day Saturday.

Showing Our Vehicles

You will certainly see our buses and coaches at our annual running day, usually on New Year's Day, and have the chance to ride on many of them. We also take them to other running days and rallies in southern England. We also try to show them at other local events, along with our Mobile Information Unit.

As an organisation we do not hold an operator's licence so are not allowed to carry out private hires with our vehicles. We do, though, occasionally run free bus services for other charities and non-profit making organisations in Winchester and the surrounding district, when members of the general public can have a free ride and experience bus and coach travel as it used to be.