The restoration of our 1950 Leyland Olympic bus is a major project for FoKAB, as 708 is the only known remaining King Alfred bus that has not yet been restored by us and is a significant part of Hampshire’s transport heritage. The replacement of much of the framing was completed professionally in March 2007 and then the bus returned to Winchester.  The next stage is now in progress – to overhaul or renew all the mechanical parts and running gear, and to deal with all the dents in the roof.  Please visit the Olympic Project page for details of FoKAB's appeal for financial help in the restoration of this unique bus.

Updated 28/03/2008

Front springs refitted
Easter 2008

In removing the front springs for refurbishment last year, the shackle pins inevitably suffered considerable damage.  They are of a highly specialised design involving threads, splines, grooves, and Metallastik® bushes.  Searches for replacements had been disappointingly fruitless, but then  on Running Day, Norman Aish introduced Charlie Lemon, who undertook to remake the shackle pins with bushes in an alternative synthetic material.  The pins, together with associated new nuts and bolts, were ready by mid-March.  Charlie and Norman, with Charlie’s wife Teresa, came to fit them and re-attach the springs, and then the front axle.

Added 30/03/2008

Charlie & Teresa replacing the springs
Picture courtesy & © Ruth Andrews

New and old shackle pins
Picture courtesy & © Ruth Andrews

Job well done, now for the wheels..........
Picture courtesy & © Ruth Andrews

PERIOD ELEGANCE - one of the glass light shades
Picture courtesy & © Ruth Andrews

 Interior lights found
March 2008

   On New Year’s Day when Eric Chambers arrived to help with the catering for Running Day, he handed over a sample of the glass interior lights.  He had located a full set, thanks to Colin Billington who had kept them for many years in the knowledge that “one day they would be useful to someone”.  He has now delivered all the 12 glass interior light shades, complete with fully refurbished backing plates and bulb holders.

   Added 31/01/2008

Roof dents
February 2008

A major challenge is what to do with the roof.  To tackle the next stage of the straightening-out process needed a working party, as it involved attacking the panels from both sides.  Roland Graves, Keith Andrews, Ray Evans, and Ruth Andrews spent a noisy afternoon knocking dents out of the offside roof panels.  The names are in that order because Roland was the ‘experienced’ panel beater, as Keith lent (leant?) a hand bracing the roof externally, whilst Ray and Ruth staggered about inside supporting the metal from below with heavy wooden props.

Added 28/03/2008

Mayor makes a visit Central Works
16th August 2007

Added 17/08/07

The 808th Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Chris Pines, visited the Friends of King Alfred Buses Headquarters to see what the effects of the Silverhill Development will be on our charity and  the restoration projects.

Picture courtesy & ©
Peter Murnaghan

The Mayor, Cllr Chris Pines, pictured in front of 708 with Peter Murnaghan, FoKAB Chairman and Ruth Andrews, 708 Project Manager.  Ruth is holding the Olympic badge that will one day grace the front of JAA 708

Engine started!
11th August 2007

Set of number plates donated for 708

Added 17/08/07


708's number plates ready to fit

Stephen Morris wrote in the September edition of the Bus & Coach Preservation (B&CP):

"708 at least has at least has some splendid new number plates ready to go on the bus, though fitting them is not yet a priority! FoKAB show a display board about JAA at events and it was seen by someone from Classic number plate manufacturer Framptons (PO Box 707, Waterlooville, PO7 9AY, www.framptons.net) who volunteered a pair of plates for the bus.  Expecting them to be pressed aluminium, Framptons were good as their word even when it transpired the plates on the bus were painted and they had to go out and hire a signwriter to produce them."

FoKAB is very grateful to Steve Frampton for his generous donation.  Steve saw the display board at our 2007 running day as he is a regular visitor to our annual running days.

The above extract is from Stephen's four page preservation update entitled "An Olympic for the Olympics?" in the September edition of B&CP. Besides updating readers on our progress with 708 there are some 10 pictures. Included in the article is an appeal for a number of missing electrical components ranging from control board, CAV 1897 to trafficator switch, CAV SD85.

708 front steering and
new kingpin

Progress in July

Added 17/08/07


708 front spring


Melvyn discovering advert for Westcombe Motors, City Road

Upper right: The rear door


All pictures courtesy & © Ruth Andrews except lower right

In Central Works, the front axle is still in pieces, but we have a new king pin ready to fit.  The springs are away at Jones Springs in Darlaston, being refurbished.  The radiator and fuel tank have been repaired and tested by Kingston Radiators.  Frampton’s (specialist number plate makers) have donated a set of number plates, although of course, there is nowhere to put them yet (except on a safe shelf).

Barry Thomas has removed one ceiling panel and magically fixed most of the dents in the rear dome; he is about to do the same for the front dome.  Brian Gilbert has almost completed his engine inspection, including removing the sump to remove the last of the old oil, and is about to install reconditioned fuel injectors (ex 590's old engine); he is itching to start the engine.

Meanwhile, on 7 July, Stephen Morris visited Central Works to write the next progress report for Bus & Coach Preservation.  During his visit, Melvyn Lovelock discovered an original advert under the red paint on the rear door.  Pete Staples has now produced a rear-view photo of 708 in service displaying the self-same advert.

So finally we have really proved that our bus is the genuine article.  Melvyn also revealed some of the green paint! 

 The restoration of our Leyland Olympic is a major project for FoKAB, as 708 is the only known remaining King Alfred bus that has not yet been restored by us and is a significant part of Hampshire’s transport heritage.

  Good progress has been made on the integral body framing, greatly helped initially by a £2,000 grant in 2004 from Hampshire County Council. As you will have seen from reports, however, FoKAB is has had to rely on expensive professional expertise to remove corroded and damaged frame sections and to replace them with specially fabricated new ones. When the framing now complete we have begun replacing or refurbishment many of the mechanical parts. Work has also begun on removing dents in roof then fitting the body panels, some of which will also need to be newly made.

  FoKAB is unable to both maintain our current fleet of 12 buses and coaches and continue to fund this major restoration project. So FoKAB launched a special appeal to help 708’s return to the road and received a terrific response from its members. If you would also like to help please make any donation you can by cheque, payable to the Friends of King Alfred Buses, and send to FoKAB, 13 Ashley Close, Winchester, SO22 6LR. Your support is much appreciated.