Roads and Road Transport History Association
R&RTHA
About RTHA
Wales on Wheels
Wales on Wheels Gallery
Companion to Road Passenger Transport History
Travels in the Valleys
The Full Turn of the Wheel
75 Years of Traffic Commissioners
Companion to British Road Haulage History
RTHA Autumn Conference 2020
As previously advised, current health restrictions mean that we are deferring a physical October conference. However, a free, 40 minute Zoom conference will take place on the same date, Saturday 10 October at 11.00. All paid-up members will be welcome to participate and joining instructions will be circulated in good time.
RTHA Annual General Meeting 2020
After discussion amongst the Committee and Association Directors, we have decided, reluctantly, to postpone the AGM and business meeting in Coventry on 4th April 2020. This is due to the risk of travelling during this phase of the Coronavirus outbreak. We hope to rearrange the speakers for October, to be confirmed. We will also distribute news about a rescheduled AGM shortly, as it must be held by July.
We recognise that this will disappoint several members but may also be a relief to others.
Inevitably, Wales on Wheels 2020 is cancelled.
We had a wide range of topics and speakers lined up. Details are on the Events page.
RTHA Journal Archive
Journals from issue 68 to issue 87 have been published on the Journal Archive page. Older issues will be scanned and added over the next months.
STOP PRESS – After much searching we now have a full set of Newsletters and Journals from issue 1, plus conference proceedings. A project to digitise these is ongoing.
The Road Transport History Association
The Roads & Road Transport History Association, founded in 1992, promotes, encourages and co-ordinates the study of the history of roads, road passenger transport and the carriage of goods. In 2005, the Association became a Company Limited by Guarantee.
Brooklands Museum (John Ashley)
We cover the whole range of transport history from the earliest times to the current age … packhorses, carters, street furniture, economics, social trends, the effects of gender upon transport, personalities in road transport, avenues of research, regulation by governments or local authorities, manufacturers and bodybuilders, cycling, sources of transport history, the preservation of artefacts, photographic material, the exploration of archives, the need to promote transport and logistics as a career, a general, boundless interest in transport, and even quite simple nostalgia.
This breadth of interests contributes to valuable cross-fertilisation. We aim to encourage those interested in a particular aspect of transport, to understand their chosen subject in the context of developments in other areas and at other periods.
Change of Association Name
Previously known as the Roads and Road Transport History Association, the 2017 AGM approved the name change to Road Transport History Association.
We advise members that this change does not demote our interest in roads – it merely simplifies our title.
All roads remain an integral part of our interests – as well as the transportation modes using them. From Roman roads, turnpike roads and toll bridges to developments in smart motorways, please be assured that our focus has not changed.
Registered Office: The Kithead Trust, De Salis Drive, Hampton Lovett, Droitwich Spa, WR9 0QE.
7 thoughts on "About RTHA"
Robert McCloy September 6, 2013 at 10:23 am
Splendid layout and lively text. Bob McCloy
Stephen Riley February 26, 2017 at 8:08 am
I'm a retired journalist, seeking to confirm a bus accident in Oldham in or about 1959. The information I have is sketchy, only that a young lad (probably under 6 years old), named Michael Taylor, was apparently killed when struck by a bus as he crossed a street. Michael was from Oldham. Are there accident records held by the bus company, dating back that far? I understand Oldham Corporation Transport was the bus company at that time. I am not living in England, and it would not be convenient for me to search actual newspaper library records. Any assistance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Eduardo Teixeira November 13, 2017 at 8:19 pm
I am a Brazilian journalist. I am writing an article at our website explaining "Why do Brits drive on the left side of the road?". Can anyone at the RRTHA please answer me a few questions by phone or by email about it?
I am planning to publish it at the end of the month.
My questions bellow:
1.	Did Ancient British walk on the left side of Roman roads? How can we know it?
2.	Did Ancient British used to carry swords while walking on the roads?
3.	Were armed conflicts usual on Roman roads in Britain? Do you have examples of it?
4.	Do Brits drive on left today because Ancient Brits should be ready to use the sword in case of a fight? http://mentalfloss.com/article/501958/why-do-people-uk-drive-left-side-road
5.	Anything else you would like to add?
Roderic Ashley November 14, 2017 at 11:34 am
Dear Eduardo
The website below gives more historical detail that you one you quote and reinforces the idea of the right-hand being free for swords. (https://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/ )
I don't know about the Ancient Britons marching armed like this but the Roman invaders would have done so on occasion. (See: https://www.quora.com/On-long-marches-did-the-soldiers-in-a-Roman-legion-really-wear-their-full-armor-Or-was-the-heavy-gear-transported-by-wagons). However, that would not explain why Italy as a modern nation chose to drive on the right.
Roman roads would have been quite narrow (by today's standards). I would imagine that soldiers marched down the middle. If they had to give way to an oncoming march, I don't know which side they would move to. The blog below might help:
http://www.romanarmytalk.com/thread-18.html
I hope that this information helps, Eduardo.
Rod Ashley (Chair)
Paul brewster April 12, 2020 at 8:20 pm
Your articles on north Lincolnshire operators of buses
My grandfather Cyril Tindall of Ashby cum fenby ran buses from there to Grimsby and Louth u to the late 50s
A s a stage licence from cleethorpes to Scunthorpe on a a daily basis with a express licence with steel workers
During the war he had Bedford o b utility vehicles which I can remover in use up to the 50s
During the thirties workers had been taken to airfield builders in the area
Which carried on into my school days
The buses also used on tours school and excursions
Roderic Ashley May 14, 2020 at 10:13 am
Thank you, Paul for your comments.
That is very interesting about the steel and airfield workers in Lincolnshire. There were, of course, many airfields built there in the 1930s. In fact, my brother bought the Brookenby station commander's house a few years ago and is refurbishing it. Apparently, on the top floor is a cine projection room where officers would be briefed on forthcoming air raids.
I also remember the Bedford OBs into the 1950s, used by Wessex Coaches in Bristol, also used for Sunday School outings..
Paul brewster October 25, 2020 at 8:21 pm
We operate many old vehicles in preservation by no buses
Leave a Reply to Stephen Riley Cancel reply
admin on The Full Turn of the Wheel
Lynn Shepherd on The Full Turn of the Wheel
Paul brewster on About RTHA
Andrew Pierce on The Full Turn of the Wheel
Kithead Trust, De Salis Drive, Hampton Lovett, Droitwich, WR9 0QE