Mike Banfield former president of the Historic Commercial vehicle Society has died. Without his lead back in the 1950s there would be few preserved commercials around today, nor would the interest be as it is. We have lost an important figurehead.
As one of the many who enjoy going to the various shows and road runs,we have a lot to thank people like him for.
Didn’t know the man,but RIP Mike.
Dave the Renegade:
As one of the many who enjoy going to the various shows and road runs,we have a lot to thank people like him for.
Didn’t know the man,but RIP Mike.
I met him a couple of times in the nineties, without his input there would be a lot less goods vehicles on the preservation scene. As far as I am aware he had never been a lorry driver but he was passionate about preserving the heritage of our industry. R.I.P. Mike.
Met the man a couple of times a helpful bloke helped me to register a couple of moters i had without blokes like him the preservation society wouldnt be were it is to day , sad to hear of his passing ,R.I.P. Mike.
An absolute gentleman.
Mike came from the bus and coach world. I think his father started Banfield coaches. They made their money from ferrying workers to the Isle of Grain power station site for Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex and had a massive fleet of old Leyland PD1’s amongst others. Their contract stipulated that they were fined for every worker they delivered late so there were some wonderful stories of how they managed to get there in time every morning.
I was involved with the London to Brighton commercial vehicle rally many years back and Michael invited me back to his house in Kent to discuss sponsorship. He had a marvellous collection of transport memorabilia in the barns on his farm and I thoroughly enjoyed his hospitality.
He was a driving force in the HCVC and our heritage collections owe him a lot.
As a long standing member of the HCVS, I knew Michael. He contributed a great deal to the preservation movement, particularly commercials, and as previously said, had some superb preserved vehicles. I remember a club visit to his Banfields Coaches premises in the seventies to look at his collection, and being impressed by the rarity and quality.
RIP Mr Banfield
Bernard
The Auction of Mike Banfield’s collection by Bonhams is being held over this weekend at Iden Grange just south of Staplehurst.