Coach driver 'proud' to show late dad's bus at event

A coach driver said she was "very proud" to showcase her late father's vehicle at an inaugural bus show.

The first ever Fenland Bus Show will take place in the centre of Whittlesey, near Peterborough, on Sunday.

As part of the celebrations, people were being offered free rides to the Fenland countryside, and storytime sessions were being put on for children.

Alison Gretton, 39, whose father Roger ran Gretton's Coaches of Peterborough, will be driving his single-decker, 53-seat Scania Van Hool coach to the event.

The coach she will drive at the event was first registered in 1999, and was affectionately known as "Prince Roger G" after Mr Gretton, who ran the Fengate company from the seventies until his death in 2019.

It even carried Mr Gretton to his funeral after being specially adapted by the family.

Ms Gretton said it was "very recognisable", and added: "I think any bus spotters would know that bus and say, 'that used to be Roger Gretton's'."

The company wound up in 2020, after which Ms Gretton began driving coaches for another local company.

During the Fenland Bus Show, she will be offering "forget me not" trips on Prince Roger G to the Fenland countryside, aimed at people living with dementia and Alzheimer's.

"Everyone wants a brand spanking new bus, don't they, but I'm very proud to be driving in Dad's old bus," said Ms Gretton.

The Fenland Bus Show will have about 30 coaches on display in the town centre, and it comes two years after the town's annual Busfest was cancelled.

Matt Page, one of the organisers, said Busfest was so popular in Whittlesey that they decided to put on a similar event.

"We had to change the name, obviously," he said.

"It's hopefully something we can build on this year and take even further next year."

He said Ms Gretton "jumped straight away" to support the event.

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