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Michael Reed (nicknamed Mr. Venture)
Michael Reed, the son of Jack the only surviving Reed brother, was always interested in the business and as he got older was allowed to go to the shareholders meetings as his father's representative. He was not allowed to say anything but just to write everything down. Michael well remembers the day in 1969 when his father told him that he'd supported an approach from the Northern Bus Company to sell Venture Reed. He was very, very upset but it was a very good offer at a time when the future of Consett Iron Company, a major source of revenue, was in doubt.
Northern promised to retain the Venture name and livery, but this was discontinued a couple of years later and it seemed that the Venture had gone forever. In 1980, Michael was running a garage and car dealership when, he was visited by a member of the North East Bus Preservation Society. The subject turned to buses and of course Venture Buses and resulted in Michael becoming an N.E.B.P.S. member.
Shortly afterwards came the news that JPT 544, the sole complete survivor of 60 Daimler CVD 6 vehicles delivered to Venture from 1946 to 1948, had been found behind a London pub in a rather sorry state. Venture had converted this particular bus into a motor caravan for use by employees who took it on their holidays.
After wondering whether he really wanted a sick Daimler the vehicle was collected (on a low loader) by enthusiast Ted Heslop. The bus when it arrived was not a happy sight. Water had penetrated the roof and the interior was in a very poor state.
Time being at a premium he advertised for a coach-builder to come and do the work. The job centre sent over a Jack Farrel, a pattern maker by trade, which was not what he wanted but he said, " give me two weeks and I'll show you what I can do".
The result was that Jack was there for seven months and achieved fantastic results. The engine overhaul was done in house. Six years later l had realised half way through the project that the coach would have to pay for its self. He eventually acquired three more vehicles. The Daimler is very popular for weddings and other private hires. Michael or "Mr Venture", as he is nicknamed, has no plans to start bus services but his one ambition is to have a running day with all four surviving Venture vehicles operating from Consett to Newcastle.
Comments
The sound and smell of the Daimler CVD 6 runs through my veins. When I was a baby (born 1948) I was regularly taken from Northumberland to my Grandmothers who lived at Hamsterley Colliery. I used to try and mimic the noise of them before I could talk. As a boy travelling from the south to spend my school holidays with my Grandmother, I still remember the thrill of walking from Central Station into Marlborough Crescent bus station and getting on an old friend. The AEC Northerns I didn't like. Travelling on the No 11 you were always in the presence of friendly Geordies and bouncing up and down in the middle of the old Scotswood Bridge was a real treat. The unique door at the top of the front steps always kept out the cold. I am so thrilled that one of my old friends has been saved. I later worked for Charles H Roe the Coach builders in Leeds which was no doubt the result of the influence that the Venture Daimlers had on me.
Posted by: Trevor Black at March 20, 2007 10:12 AM
Thanks for your comment. There is a book called Venture Transport of Consett by G E Hutchinson which may interest you and which has lots of good photographs of Venture buses including the Daimler CVD 6. You can get this book from MDS Book Sales, 128 Pike Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 8EH. Website at
http://www.mdsbooks.co.uk/
Posted by: Whickham web Wanderers at March 20, 2007 11:05 AM
What a great site! I am involved with the North East Bus Preservation Trust who restore and operate old North Eastern vehicles. Sadly, JPT 544 appears to be out of use at present, but details of many others can be found at www.nebpt.co.uk.
Who remembers Northern's Routemasters operating on the Whickham Fellside service 76 (or 653 as it later became).
Ian Findlay, formerly of Orange Grove, Whickham.
Posted by: Ian Findlay at October 17, 2007 8:52 PM