The Metro Bus was a bus that got me into trouble!
When we took office in the West Midlands County Council. It was during one of the worst recessions the UK had seen. Jobs were being haemorrhaged as Thatcher closed pits and steel works right across the West midlands.
The Labour Group on the West Midlands County Council, vowed to do all we could to protect jobs and service.
We made a conscious decision to buy locally made buses being manufactured in Birmingham by Metro Camel l Weymann. Instead of Leyland’s that was the biggest fleet name at the time.
This caused up roar and I received a legal document delivered to my home by a chauffeur in a Rolls Royce. The document was addressed to me, and was delivered to my home in what was then Bargery Road by Leyland’s.
I was flabbergasted at the time….But we didn’t collapse indeed we bought Metro buses, and they became the great work horse of the WMPTE fleet for decades.
The photo records the day we went to MCW met the chairman who was speaking from the front entrance of the bus.
Even though I looked disinterested in this photograph. The fact is that the MCW bus was a great buy for the West Midlands, and we helped them survive a little bit longer, providing local jobs for local people.
In the photo is Eric Jenkins-Engineer Mr Sutton Director of Operations Next comes Phil Bateman Cllr Malcolm Speake, Cllr Eric Hirons, Director General James Isaac, and Gordon Morgan, Leader of the WMCC standing alongside the Chairman of MCW.
