Italian visitors spending Christmas in Newcastle with their daughter and English son in law, took the opportunity to visit Shildon Locomotion Museum to see the NRM collection as well as Tim Peake’s space craft before returning home.

Pina and Vincenzo Logozzo (left) were also able to view the Aycliffe Bus Society’s ‘Heartbeat’ bus. Club member Peter Mitchell acted as guide and translator as neither visitor spoke any English. Assured that they did not have to ” Blow the B******y Doors Off” to sit on board, while enjoying the experience of the ‘Heartbeat’ connection first hand.

The bus then travelled to Beamish to run for the last two of six Christmas Fair Nights which were attended by an estimated 18,000 people.

This booking with Beamish brought to a close a most successful running season for the Aycliffe Bus Preservation Society which amounted to over 70 vehicle running days. Society chairman Kevin Openshaw wished it be known that the Society very much appreciated the help and support of local businesses and organisations over the last year.

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