Reliance Bus Works, Newcastle-under-Lyme

[jp4712]

Within the bus preservation fraternity, Reliance and its proprietor Martyn Hearson are very well known and held in some affection. However, it appears that yesterday (Sunday 8 January), kids got into the yard and appear to have broken every window of every bus present, including those of clients’ buses being worked on. They also appear to have made liberal use of spray paint cans for graffiti. The link to the Facebook post reporting the vandalism, and with photos showing the damage, is here: https://m.facebook.com/100057069116...UyhUTxXL4faq5XFSkvEwg97atxSZESgR8t6LsXew8bal/

I used Reliance for work on one of my buses, and a nicer bunch of people you wouldn’t meet - it’s a huge shame and I suspect that insurance won’t cover all the losses. Someone has set up a Go Fund Me page - I hope it’s permitted to share the link here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/reliance...heet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

People like this are a vital part of keeping old buses on the road, they don’t deserve this.

 

[A0]

Within the bus preservation fraternity, Reliance and its proprietor Martyn Hearson are very well known and held in some affection. However, it appears that yesterday (Sunday 8 January), kids got into the yard and appear to have broken every window of every bus present, including those of clients’ buses being worked on. They also appear to have made liberal use of spray paint cans for graffiti. The link to the Facebook post reporting the vandalism, and with photos showing the damage, is here: https://m.facebook.com/100057069116...UyhUTxXL4faq5XFSkvEwg97atxSZESgR8t6LsXew8bal/

I used Reliance for work on one of my buses, and a nicer bunch of people you wouldn’t meet - it’s a huge shame and I suspect that insurance won’t cover all the losses. Someone has set up a Go Fund Me page - I hope it’s permitted to share the link here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/reliance...heet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

People like this are a vital part of keeping old buses on the road, they don’t deserve this.

Whilst I don't for a minute condone what has happened - I'm not sure you can necessarily claim it was "kids" who got into the yard. Vandalism can and is undertaken by people of various ages.

Let the police investigate - hopefully Reliance Bus Works has some form of CCTV or one of the neighbouring units does which may give up some evidence as to who did this.

 

[Tom Gallacher]

Thanks for the heads up on this. I've known Martin for over 20 years and value his knowledge immensely. I've supplied him with a lot of parts over the years but there has also been occasions when he has been able to help me out. I'm truly gutted for him.

Donation made.

 

[jp4712]

Whilst I don't for a minute condone what has happened - I'm not sure you can necessarily claim it was "kids" who got into the yard. Vandalism can and is undertaken by people of various ages.

Let the police investigate - hopefully Reliance Bus Works has some form of CCTV or one of the neighbouring units does which may give up some evidence as to who did this.

Another post from Martyn says they do have CCTV, and it was indeed children.

 

[SLC001]

I do not know Martyn but I do follow his Flickr pages and must have admired his work. All I can do is express my sympathies as well as my disgust. I am very sorry to read this.
Many people simply do not respect other people's property and feel they can do what they want. Graffiti a case in point. Where are the bounds now? What are the limits?
While it may have been children, there is no excuse - a newly installed defibrillator near us was wrecked days after installation by children.

 

[david1212]

I have just seen this on BBC Midlands news. I really feel for all of the company.

Within the bus preservation fraternity, Reliance and its proprietor Martyn Hearson are very well known and held in some affection.

...

People like this are a vital part of keeping old buses on the road, they don’t deserve this.

Indeed.

 

[Towers]

Saddened, disappointed but regretfully not surprised by this. What a scummy society it is in which we live and must all do our best to survive Sadly anything even vaguely visible or accessible is at constant risk of being 'got at' by scum who often have such a worthless existance that they cannot comprehend the idea of anything having a value .

I'm heartened by the crowdfunding response, which at least demonstrates that the force of decent folk in society can rival that of the oxygen thieves when called upon; I shall be putting my own humble contribution in to do my bit to help. I hope that there might be enough funding left over for the business to make whatever adjustments they can in order to prevent being targeted a second time. Sympathies and very best wishes to them.

 

[DunsBus]

Saddened, disappointed but regretfully not surprised by this. What a scummy society it is in which we live and must all do our best to survive Sadly anything even vaguely visible or accessible is at constant risk of being 'got at' by scum who often have such a worthless existance that they cannot comprehend the idea of anything having a value .

A friend of mine had his vintage bus destroyed back in 2007 after some pondlife set fire to the workshop that it was in. What was all the more galling was that the bus was nearing the end of a very thorough restoration at the time. This happened just a few weeks after the Ruddington heritage centre was targeted by firebugs and various vehicles destroyed, amongst them the last-built Fleetline.

 

[Towers]

The scourge of mindless vandalism at our heritage railways and sites like the above is utterly depressing, it really is