In 1972, Mrs Jessie Boyd of Distington had the distinction of being the first public service passenger on the brand new Leyland National ‘super-bus’. 

READ MORE: Workington Transport Heritage Trust to mark Inaugural 'super' bus journey

She boarded it, with her two young children, on its inaugural run to Whitehaven. Asked for her impressions, she said: "It seems okay."

Workington Transport Heritage Trust, which is organising a major free event in Whitehaven this weekend to mark 50 years of the Leyland National, put out an appeal to find that first passenger. 

Sadly, Mrs Boyd had passed away in 1993, but one of her daughters, June Begg, contacted the station. Although she was only four at the time, she remembered the day clearly. She said: "We were going to visit our Aunty in Lowca. There were men in suits. Then this bus arrived which was shiny, and like a star ship." Once on board her mother was mortified, as her children ran up and down the aisle.

June joined members of the Trust on Thursday, when they recreate that historic, first journey, with the oldest surviving Cumberland Leyland National.

Passengers aboard the bus, which is virtually identical to that first one, included Ken Hargreaves, former Production Superintendent at Leyland National Ltd, who was responsible for the testing and development of assembly lines and prototypes, and other people with significant experience of this revolutionary vehicle, together with former drivers and journalists.

READ MORE: Bank holiday Leyland heritage bus exhibition to take place in Whitehaven

Leyland National 50 has been made possible with the kind co-operation of local organisations including Whitehaven Town Council, Copeland Borough Council, Whitehaven Harbour Commission, The Beacon Museum, Lakes College, Britain’s Energy Coast, Eddie Stobart and Stagecoach. 

If you would like to attend the Leyland National 50 event you can come and see the exhibtion at Whitehaven Harbour on April 30 and May 1 of the bank holiday weekend. 

READ MORE: Event showcasing historic Leyland buses to take place on April Bank Holiday

The event is free and there will be around thirty buses on the harbour. Some will be offering a park and ride service around the town and to the old Leyand Bus Factory at Lillyhall. There will also be continental markets on offer.