On 16th March 2024, Safeguard Coaches celebrated their 100th anniversary with an event at Guildford Cathedral. The event featured some of Safeguard's current bus and coach fleet as well as some preserved Safeguard buses. The London Bus Museum and Friends of King Alfred Buses were also in attendance with some preserved buses providing links Friary Bus Station and Onslow Park and Ride, as well as round trips to Park Barn estate.
Lined up outside the cathedral building were a number of vehicles from Safeguard's history
The most dominating vehicles in this line up were two of Safeguard's current coach fleet. YX71 LTO, a Volvo B8R with Plaxton Panther 3 bodywork, on the left and the newest member SA24 SAF, a Volvo B8R with Plaxton Leopard bodywork, on the right. SA24 SAF only had its logbook registered on the 14th and was driven down from Volvo on the 15th for this event.
SA24 SAF also carries a large 100 years emblem on the rear, much like the buses carry by the doors.
The other Safeguard coach was 644 HAA, a Bedford J2 coach, which despite its age had the 100 years emblem in the rear window. This coach was operated by Empress Coaches in Hastings for event hire, but appears to be back in the Safeguard fleet having been part of it during the late 1960's.
The other side of the display were some preserved buses from Safeguard. Initially one of the new Volvo B8RLE with MCW eVoRa bodywork buses was also part of this lineup but joined in with the running buses in order to cope with the number of people.
On the left was 200 APB, an AEC Reliance from 1956, and on the right was OPC 26R, a Leyland Leopard with Duple Dominant bodywork from 1976.
The London Bus Museum had XX 9591, a Dennis 4-ton with Dodson O26/22RO bodywork, as part of the lineup. This vehicle is from the mid-1920's and Dennis was a Guildford based company, I can't find any connection to Safeguard directly.
There were three routes operating as part of the centenary event.
Route A was the connection to the town centre via the railway station. Route B was a loop around Park Barn estate. Route C was the connection to the park and ride at Onslow.
The loop around the Park Barn estate has been Safeguard's main territory in Guildford, and is still served by the 4 and 5 services.
The first London Transport vehicle was RF600 (NLE 600), an AEC Regal Mark IV.
The next was UMP 277, an AEC Regal IV prototype.
The final vehicle was RT 4779 (OLD 566), an AEC Regent III.
The Friends of King Alfred Buses provided two of their fleet. The first was single decker UOU 419H, a Leyland Panther with Plaxton Derwent body work.
The second was double decker 595 LCG, an AEC Renown with Park Royal bodywork.
The final preserved bus was Aldershot and District 178 (HOU 904), a Dennis Lancet III with Strachan bodywork.
Safeguard had to deploy some of their current fleet to keep up with the numbers of passengers. BV23 NUP was part of the static display but was brought out to operated the routes.
Another member of Safeguard's current fleet to make an appearance was YJ60 LRO, an Optare Versa.
The final Safeguard buses vehicle on the event services was X308 CBT, an Optare Excel, withdrawn in July 2023. As this vehicle is no longer part of the active fleet, it hasn't gained the 100 years emblem and instead still carries the 90 years one from 2014.
Outside the cathedral was a sales stand for Safeguard Coaches selling a book covering a brief history of the company.
Included with the book was a bag of Safeguard related items.
Also included was a set of timetables for Safeguard services and information about connections to the Royal Surrey County hospital.
Inside the cathedral there were a selection of sales stands with bus models from all over the UK for sale, as well as stands for local charities that the event was supporting.
Safeguard had a stand in the cathedral with some items from their history and photos of their fleet going back to the 1920's. At this stand they also had another book for sale with a more detailed history of the company.
This event was also a good time to see some of Safeguard's other vehicles in service around Guildford. Here are YD63 UZJ and YJ64 DVY, both Optare Versas, at Friary Bus Station.
