We’re all going on a...

Never lost for things to talk about, Rick Wilson shares another selection from his collection.

Admit it, you’re singing it in your head already! But, can you believe it’s the 60th anniversary of Summer Holiday this year? The film premiered in London on 10th January 1963 (60 years to the day as I am typing this!), before going on general release on 18th February. It was the norm back then for it to then take a while to go overseas, and this film was no exception, finally premiering in the USA over a year later, on 12th March 1964.

The plot was a simple one – Don (Cliff Richard) and friends Cyril, Steve and Edwin are bus mechanics at the London Transport bus works in Aldenham, Hertfordshire. During a miserably wet British summer lunch break, Don arrives, having persuaded London Transport to lend him and his friends an AEC Regent III RT doubledecker bus.They convert the bus into a holiday caravan, which they are to drive across continental Europe, intending to reach the South of France. On the way, they are joined by a group of young women and the destination changes to Athens, in Greece.

THE REAL BUSES

Three actual London buses were used in the filming, posing as bus number RT1881 and fitted with the fake number plate WLB 991.The buses - 1949 London Transport AEC Regent III RTs - were in fact RT2305 (original number plate KGU 334), RT2366 (KGU 395), and RT4326 (NLE 990). Interestingly, a real bus had previously been given the fleet number RT1881 by London Transport, with the number plate LLU 767.

A COMMEMORATIVE MODEL

For the 50th anniversary, in 2013, Richmond Toys released a rather cute little 1/72 scale diecast in a splendid, commemorative box, featuring images and graphics from the movie (thanks to it being an officially licensed product). It also featured the correct, period advertising on the sides of the bus and the destination blinds, as modified by our band of happy campers in the film.The only non-authentic graphics were the replacement of the golden “LONDON TRANSPORT” on the lower deck sides, below the windows, with “50TH ANNIVERSARY”, albeit in a similar style.

It’s a fab little model and I’ve owned it for ten years now, keeping it within the box for display, because the artwork is so cheery.

▲ The bus is a basic, but very appealing replica, and features period advertising and destination blinds.

One of the promotional posters used at the time of the film’s release in the US.

▲ Richmond Toys' 50th anniversary model, released in 2013, comes in a wonderful box, covered with scenes and graphics from the film.