2009 sees the 75th Anniversary of the formation of Associated Motorways, which was the predecessor of National Express.

Cheltenham was the home of Black and White Motorways with its impressive "art décor" coach station built in the 'thirties. In 1934, Black and White joined forces with local operators: Bristol Greyhound, Midland Red, Red and White and United Counties to form the Associated Motorways "pool". 

As the name suggests, it was an arrangement where all vehicles, finances, and administration was "pooled" to set up a larger network of integrated coach services. The pool gradually expanded to cover most of the country, including Scotland.  Operators continues to join the pool and eventually this and the separate Yorkshire and Lancashire pools merged.

The result was large numbers of coaches diverging on Cheltenham every day. For anyone interested in coaches and coach travel, the sight was stunning especially on summer Saturdays during the '60s through the the '80s when hundreds of coaches would descend on Cheltenham in what was a very disciplined and well planned operation.

Organiser Kelvin Amos says: "Coaches would arrive by the back road alongside the present care home, drop their passengers and luggage, then park up in line ready to depart via two separate exits, while the passengers took a break in the famous Café while waiting for their connecting coaches.

"There were a number of coordinated departures, but the most famous was at 14.00 when a whistle was blown, and all the coaches departed together - on time! Those who remember it will recollect the mass of colour around Cheltenham as the coaches in their different liveries fought their way out of town."

Kelvin says his organising team aim to recreate this event on Sunday May 24th. At the event there will be a large static display of coaches from across the ages as well as displays and stalls.

Regular FREE coach trips will run from the site allowing visitors to experience the old days of coaching.  In addition,  Stagecoach West will also operate a bus service, using heritage vehicles, from the event to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Cheltenham Racecourse.  It will stop at the park & ride and continue on to the GWR's station. 

The event will close will the conclude on Sunday with a recreation of the 14.00 mass departure of old, but two hours late - at 16.00!