Cardiff 203 Appeal

Following the sad loss of members Geoff Griffiths and Mike Dare in the past couple of years the BTS Committee has decided to restore Cardiff 203 in memory of both gentlemen.

It was always Mike’s intention that once South Shields 204 had been restored, Cardiff 203 would be the next BTS vehicle for ‘the treatment’. In view of all the work that Mike had done not only for the BTS but also the Trolleybus preservation movement in general, it was felt that restoring 203 would be a fitting tribute.

Likewise, Geoff did a lot of work for Sandtoft, The Black Country Museum, Carlton Colville and, much nearer to his home, the Cardiff & South Wales Trolleybus Project. Geoff’s specialist role was as an electrician and he has helped solve many a problem on trolleybuses at the various trolleybus museums and, again, being a Welshman, restoring 203 in his name was also seen as a fitting tribute.

Work is now underway to restore Cardiff 203 to its former glory and repaint it in the streamlined livery it carried between 1946 and 1949 as can be seen in the photo of 203 on the right.

An appeal for funds was launched at the 2006 Sandtoft Gathering on the weekend of 29 and 30 July 2006. Restoration commenced in 2009 and is hoped that 203 will be finished in time for relaunching into service over the Spring Bank Holiday 2010, but more funds towards this are sought - please send cheques or postal orders made payable to the 'British Trolleybus Society' to: Dave Hall, Cardiff 203 Appeal, 15 Brookdene, Haydon Wick, Swindon, SN25 1RN.