Cherished Number Plate Running Footman
17th July 2015
1972 Bedford VAL70 Registration: VAL466G
New to Smiths Imperial Coaches of Stratford Road Sparkill Birmingham. Registered as DOE 11K. After some years of good service she was sold to John Watson. He ran as WATSONIAN and often hired her back to Smiths at peak times, driving her himself he cherished the coach so much that when he had to sell her due to a change in job location he kept the registration and put it on his car.
DOE 11K then became SCK 56K running in Liverpool on Magical Mystery Tours around the Beatles homes and the Cavern Club etc. in a rather bright blue and yellow livery associated with the film of the same name.
SCK 56K was then to become VAL 466G (Val for the type and 446 for the Bedford 446 engine) When purchased by Ben Fosker for his RUNNING FOOTMAN fleet in Norfolk. Brought initially for preservation, after a full ground up restoration, she kept her Class 6 Certificate and was used for School runs, weddings and social occasions. A service life of 40 years!
Recently purchased and now with a Class 5 certificate, she is exhibited nowadays at various classic and veteran shows around the country.