Imber bus

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

I put "some other reason" because I get my fix of vintage buses each September at the Kingsbidge bus running day especially as I spend quite a lot of my time in the area....not least that month.
I've still got Imber on my radar though, if just for the sake of variety.

[grahame]

Good questions - poll added for those who went AND those who did not!

This is the first time that I can recall I have added a poll onto an old thread - and THANK YOU to those who have already gone back and voted.  This follow up post is a "bump" to bring it to more attention, though actually it's done remarkably well overnight.

As clarified yesterday, I am not associated with the organising and staffing team in any way (though I know a number of people who are) so these inputs are not directly going to inform, but it's likely they will be read by some people who are. I suspect the results will not be news to them, but never the less interesting - and also interesting to the rest of us who may sometimes help get people onto public transport in its various forms.

[bobm]

The organisers have said over £38,000 was raised at this year’s event. 

[Marlburian]

I voted for the first two options, then for the penultimate one, so rather contradicted myself. I don't like crowds, and have memories of my very first visit when my parents drove me there when it was open. We were the only people there, so it was very atmospheric - and there were remains of rather more houses.

Time was when visitors were cautioned about leaving the main village street except to take the path to the church because of various hazards, with an NCO cautioning that future access might be prevented if people strayed. I guess that on the bus day visitors were wandering all over the place.

Had I been there on the bus day I would have certainly looked at the vehicles, but the mass assembly would not have tempted me to make a special journey.

[Clan Line]

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/23738004.wiltshire-village-imber-overwhelmed-10-000-visitors-open-day/

[rogerw]

I couldn't attend this year as i was on my way back from Switzerland (by rail)

[Marlburian]

I was in Imber this morning (the 28th) and by midday it was quite busy - perhaps 80 cars, including a vintage one, and lots of cyclists (not so much of the Lycra type, more tourists and recreational riders, and including quite a few children). There were refreshments and several stalls in the church. Volunteers, presumably, had done an excellent job of taping off no-go areas and putting up information boards. One of the leading lights acknowledged that the turn-out for the bus day had been overwhelming and that the organisers would be reviewing the situation with the military.

Incidentally the 14th and 15th Canadian Field Companies, Canadian Engineers, were in the Tilshead-Chitterne area in mid-1917, building and repairing roads and laying tramlines and railways (presumably of narrow gauge to facilitate the transport of stores and shells to Chapperton Down, (part of the Imber ranges). In their war diaries are references to the latter being laid at Five Down Dump, Hoopers Hollow and Middle Barn, this last being on the Tilshead-Chitterne road and referred to as the "Middle Barn Artillery Training Camp".