What we do
The Friends are restoring a 1939 bus originally operated until 1955 by the Chatham & District Traction Company. GKE 68 is a Bristol K5G with 54-seat double-deck bodywork by Weymann's. The restored bus will become the Medway Heritage Bus, supporting local and social history studies in the Medway area.
Historical Significance
GKE 68 is the second oldest surviving Bristol K type bus with original bodywork. The majority of K types were bodied by Eastern Coachworks but GKE 68 is a unique survivor with distinctive Weyman bodywork, a combination strongly associated with Chatham and District's parent Maidstone & District . NARTM ‘s scoring system applied to heritage vehicles places the vehicle in the top 10% for importance. The bus served exclusively on routes in the Medway area operated by Chatham and District. It remains a visible symbol of the area’s heritage and the distinctive livery is a link to everyday life during the 1940s and 50s.