Elizabeth to wow crowds at Lord Mayor's Parade
Story Published: 11 October 2010
Yorkshire's hardest working pensioner, Elizabeth the Steam Bus, is to be a star attraction in this year's London Lord Mayor's Parade.
79 year old Elizabeth is still working 280 days a year carrying 50,000 passengers around the seaside town of Whitby so her starring role in the November 13th Parade will represent a leisurely stroll compared to her usual exertions.
However, with half a million people expected to line the route and more than three million people watching live on the BBC, Elizabeth will be entertaining her biggest crowd yet. It is hoped that by the end of her weekend in the capital many of her new fans will head north to see Elizabeth in action again.
Welcome to Yorkshire, the county's tourism agency, is supporting Elizabeth's participation by helping to transport her from Whitby to London via a low-loader on the motorway network.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "Elizabeth should be a national treasure. She is a Yorkshire attraction in her own right and I'm sure her appearance in the Parade will make her a national and international star! As a result we look forward to welcoming a new legion of Elizabeth fans from all over the world to see her in action in Yorkshire."
Elizabeth's owner Vernon Smith said: "Elizabeth has exploded into something of a phenomenon with more and more people adoring her every day. Her taking part in the parade is a dream come true, especially as she is going back to where her working life started nearly 80 years ago. We are all very proud and know Elizabeth will weave her own special kind of magic in London, enchanting everyone that sees her."
Vernon's son, Vernon Junior will drive Elizabeth through the Parade. At just 20 years old it is believed that he is the youngest full-time steam bus driver in the world.
Elizabeth the Steam Bus facts:
- She is the only Steam Bus in the world you can enjoy a ride on as a fare paying passenger.
- Elizabeth has rewritten UK law. The Secretary of State for Transport changed the Road Traffic Act by agreeing to issue a special licence for Elizabeth to legally carry passengers.
- Elizabeth's trip to London will be her first since 1948 - essentially she will be going home as she started life as haulage wagon in London and still has her original GT London registration.
- Elizabeth consumes 100 tonnes of coal a year to create the steam to power her way around Whitby.
- Elizabeth's sister is Charlotte a 1929 Charabanc who can be seen carrying passengers around Whitby too. A pair of rather grand old ladies, still working and still entertaining the crowds.
- Ends -
Editors' Notes:
- Welcome to Yorkshire is the official tourism agency for Yorkshire, working to grow the county's visitor economy.
- Welcome to Yorkshire is funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy.
- Key facts include:
- Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £6.5 billion annually
- The county's industry employs almost a quarter of a million people
- There are 209 million visits to Yorkshire each year
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For further information contact:
Andy Denton - Press Officer
Email: adenton@yorkshire.com
Direct Line: 0113 322 3537
Mobile: 07855 812094
Dee Marshall - Head of Communications
Email: dmarshall@yorkshire.com
Direct Line: 0113 3223505
Mobile: 07950 325 901