Hastings Trolleybus Restoration Group

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Update 2012 - out and about with Happy Harold

Our 20th annual show was held on the Oval as usual. - click here for map

24th November 2012 - a sad day for Happy Harold at Battle. Happy Harold was on his way to join the start of Battle Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Festivities when he stopped, no arrows in the eye as happened to his namesake a nearly thousand yards and a nearly a thousand years ago. An undramatic stop with a complete failure to restart. A siezed big-end bearing is suspected but we won't know until the engine is removed and dismantled. Many thanks to Mick Gould of Flimwell for the expert and trauma-free recovery back to Hastings.


24th November 2012 - Happy Harold visits Hastings Herring Fair. Happy Harold with some unlikely companions when he made an unannounced stop at Hastings' Herring Fair on the Stade in Hastings Old Town.

12th October 2012 - Happy Harold transports staff from Hastings' EF language school. Happy Harold was pressed into service to transport EF staff during their annual conference in Hastings

9th September 2012 - Happy Harold stars during Heritage Open Days in Hastings Although only able to turn out for one day during Hastings' Heritage open Days where historic or interesting buildings in the borough were opened to the public and Happy Harold transported visitors along the seafront

	12th September 2012 - Happy Harold takes a party from St.Mary Star of the sea Social Club for a trip. Happy Harold went to Bexhill again to see the Italian Job Coach (see below)
1st September 2012 - Happy Harold appears in Hastings' Alexandra Park during 'A Day in the Park'

27th August 2012 - Happy Harold takes part in the Bexhill 100 Happy Harold travelled to Bexhill for the Bexhill 100 car show that celebrates Bexhill as the birtplace of motor racing in England ove a hundred years ago.

5th August 2012 - Happy Harold stars in the "Trolleybus Pull" Happy Harold is pulled by teams of men and women against the clock to win the Trolley Pull Trophy. The pull is part of Mick Barrow's fundraising effort in aid of the Prostate Cancer Charity


4th August 2012 - Happy Harold carries visiting Carnival Courts before Hastings Old Town Carnival Happy Harold transported visiting carnival courts from a reception to the sart of the carnival at Rock-a-Nore via a trip down All saints Street and along the Seafront

22nd July 2012 - Happy Harold takes part in Pirate Day Happy Harold participated as a 'Pirate Bus' during Pirate day when Hastings regained its crown as the town where the record number of 14,231 pirates in one place at one time was set on this day. Hastings' Carnival Court took part of course.

6th July 2012 - Happy Harold passes his MoT test at Rossetts of Eastbourne.
We'd like to particularly thank Tom Bewick of Bewick Engineering, seen here inspecting part of the ash framework that’s replacing the timber side and floor that had succumbed to dry rot. Tom, a professional vehicle restorer carried out the majority of the work needed for the MoT and believe me, adjusting brakes made 84 years ago with no technical data or instruction book available is an amazing feat in itself	After problems with dry rot, woodworm and a setback with the brakes Hastings' own 1928 former trolleybus finally passed his MoT with flying colours at Rossetts in Eastbourne on 6th July. There was even an Olympic connection at Rossetts where they’ve got part of the contract to refurbish hundreds of London ‘bendy buses’ to transport visitors to and from the games and our ‘bus was happy to pose with one whilst waiting to be tested. Happy Harold went on to stage his own cultural tour for the benefit of the hardworking crew that maintains the vehicle so that it can be shared with the public. including the Hastings area, It's taken us a lot longer to get the vehicle MoT'd this year and We'd like to apologise to the public who have been disappointed by the non-appearance of the ‘bus,	First port of call was the Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne with its collection of local coastline views
......then on to Bexhill to pose with the latest art installation, the commission by Richard Wilson re-creating the final scene of The Italian Job by balancing a full-sized coach on the edge of the roof of the iconic De la Warr Pavilion, a particularly significant stop in itself because our 84-year-old vehicle would have been in service and passing the De la Warr whilst it was being built in the 1930's.
We finally ended up at the Stade in Hastings to welcome the 'Collective Spirit' - made from more than 2,000 donated wooden items and on its own tour of the south coast.

March 15th & 16th 2012 Happy Harold conveys VIP visitors from Hastings Station to the new Jerwood Gallery on the site of the former Coach & Lorry Park.

Hastings Trolleybus at the Jerwood

Waiting at Hastings Station with Empress Coaches

Waiting at the Jerwood to take passengers back to Hastings Station

March 13th 2012 Crew member Steve Peak shows off our new signwriting kindly donated by Pete Thomsett
Hastings Trolleybus Restoration Group

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