Ashley Wakelin has seen the bus and coach industry evolve over fifty years of change. He has worked in manual and managerial roles, has been an enthusiast, preservationist and operator. He has worked in both the private and public sectors, as a County Council Public Transport Officer and with national and small independent operators.

Besides being a collector of Midland Red memorabilia and models, he has had over sixty full sized buses and coaches, some passing through his hands and others staying for either work or pleasure – all between his sixteenth and sixtieth birthdays.

He also gives entertaining talks to groups about Midland Red, its history, its buses and its people.

Ashley was instrumental in purchasing and saving two significant BMMO Midland Red buses – the only running Midland Red CM6T motorway express coach (surely the swansong of their coach production), and the last built Midland Red S16 single-decker service bus.

But it was his passionate enthusiasm for, and his career with Midland Red, and the association he had with staff at all levels which has provided the content for his books.

Published Books:

Inside Midland Red
Midland Red Influence
Midland Red and its People
Midland Red Evolution or Revolution

Awards:

Midland Red Evolution or Revolution – winner of the RCHS Popular Transport Book of the Year 2026

Main profile photo:

Book of the Year Award presentation by RCHS President Peter Cross-Rudkin (left) and Awards Organiser Philip Brown (right).