MILDRED
coach
MILDRED is a BIG red coach. She was so named because a) our previous coach was named George and b) she was previously used by a company called MIdLand RED. MILDRED was built in 1984 and first registered in 1985. She is a Bedford “Ventura” on a YNV air suspension chassis with a Bedford straight six cylinder turbo charged 500 cu” (8.2 litre) engine. 1st Blackwater Valley B-P Scout group purchased MILDRED early in 2008 and re-registered her as a Class 5 private vehicle. JUNE 2015, Mildred signwriting supplied and applied by CSBANNERS.co.uk
Mildred has ventured to Pressignac in France for Scout summer camp in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed herself in the Gaelic sun. Here she is pictured trying to hide down a leafy lany in the Hamlet of Grand Chalaise where Craig and Mary McColville kindly host our Scouts on their farm. The Scouts can be seen ditch cleaning and hedge brushing. Close by to the Hamlet is a lake with a white sand beach where MILDRED took the Scouts for picnic, swimming and indulged in a minor repair one occassion. When refitting the oil feed to the turbo charger, a jubilee clip had been put back at an angle that fouled the throttle linkage. Once discovered and rectified MILDRED returned to her former regulated power potential.
| Bedford FT series UK Vehicles Built / delivered from 1984 to 1985 | ||||||
| Chassis No. | Type | Registration | Body No. | Seating | New | Owner |
| FT700323 | YNV | D864AHG | Wt G14 | C51F | 5/1987 | A&S McLaughlin,Penwortham |
D864 AHG is the only YNV Bedford chassis with a Wright Contour body ever made. The chassis was manufactured in 1985 and the body fitted in 1987. The Bedford YNV chassis was the best and last coach chassis built by Bedford and the only one to carry a name; “Venturer”. It had air suspension and it was powered by the last and best large Bedford engine, the “Blue” 500 cu” (8.2 litre) turbo charged 206 hp. Only 254 YNV were manufactured and possibly less than that number finally put into service. The Wright Contour body was recognised as an industry leader at that time and the Wright Bus company is still in existence as a flourishing bus and coach manufacturer, still based in Ireland.
The BEDFORD “Y” SERIES HISTORY
Announced in September 1970, the Bedford YRQ was a 10-metre (33 ft) coach chassis intended to replace the Bedford VAM. The engine was mounted centrally under the floor.
In 1972 an 11-metre (36 ft) version, the YRT, entered production as a replacement for the twin-steer Bedford VAL.[1]
New more powerful engines were introduced in 1975 with the YLQ (10m) and YMT (11m).
The 1980 YNT was a development of the YMT with a turbocharged engine,[2] while the YLQ became the YMQ and then the YMP.
The 12-metre YNV Venturer with air suspension was the final development of the Y series, announced in 1984.
Bus and truck production by Bedford ceased in 1986.
OUR GROUP COACH HISTORY
We originally owned a Bedford YRT coach named “Penelope Pitstop” that was donated to our Scout Group.
Penelope was replaced by a short lived Leyland short bus named “Cubette”, purchased for £50.00 and scrapped for the same amount.
We then had a Bedford YMT coach named “George” donated and a new engine (£900.00) paid for by a local company. Parents and leaders of the Group swapped engines in a mammoth endeavour over a single weekend. George passed his MOT that Monday.
“Mildred” was found on the internet and was purchased for the Group by Mrs. Jean Llewellyn as a gift.
1st BLACKWATER VALLEY OWNERSHIP
2009 in France
2008 SEAT BELTS
Two point lap belts were fitted throughout Mildred as soon as we bought her in 2008.
TURBO CHARGER OVERHAULED
The engine turbo charger was removed and overhauled.
INJECTORS SERVICED
The six Injectors were removed from the engine and sent for inspection and service.
CYLINDER HEAD SKIMMED
The cylinder head from the engine was removed and sent to engineering works in Fleet for a surface skim.
WHEEL CHAIR LIFT REMOVED.
The wheel chair lift fitted at the back of Mildred was removed by two Scouts whilst on summer camp in Devon. That reduced weight in the back and freed up locker space for camp equipment.
NEW CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER
The master cylinder and hydraulic pipework to the clutch were replaced with new.
MAY 2017 REPLACEMENT TYRES
All seven tyres (includes spare) were replaced by professional fitters locally.
MARCH 2017 NEW LIGHTS
Front headlights and top marker lights were replaced with new units.
MAY 2017 STEP TREADS IMPROVED
Anti-slip strips and checker plate treads were introduced to the entry stairs.
MAY 2017 NEW FAN BELTS
New belts were fitted to the alternator drive (x1) and the fan drive (x2).
JUNE 2017 NEW O/S F SUSPENSION TOP PLATE
Whilst replacing a balance valve on the front air suspension the top plate to the front offside airbag was found to be in bad condition. New top plates and fittings were purchased for all six suspension units on Mildred and the front O/S plate replaced immediately.
JUNE 2017 NEW FRONT WINDSCREEN
Wright Bus, manufacturers of Mildred’s coach body, was wonderfully helpful in finding a replacement front windscreen off the shelf. Installation was carried out by professional fitters organised by our insurers.
JANUARY 2018 REAR SUSPENSION UNITS REPLACED
All four rear air suspension unites were removed and all top plates, fittings and airbags were replaced with new. Two of the four bottom pistons were rebuilt.
In 2019 we re-built the boot and repaired both bumpers:
2020 NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS FITTED FRONT AND BACK
2021 FEBRUARY REFURBISHED TURBO CHARGER FITTED
2021 MARCH NEW BACK NUMBER PLATE LIGHTS FITTED
2021 MARCH NEW NEAR SIDE TRACK ROD END FITTED
