Welcome to the official website of Midland Red books by Ashley Wakelin. The books appear below - for more details, click a cover picture. Scroll down and read more about Midland Red, the Author, and his programme of Group Talks.
“Splendid, nicely designed books that present a fantastic snapshot in so many of the aspects of the company - the operations, the people, the customers, the ups and downs, foibles, facts and so much more. Superb!” — Classic Bus magazine.
Season’s Greetings to all our followers!
Hope 2025 brings something that we are looking for!
The good news is that a new Midland Red book will be here in March. Midland Red – Evolution or Revolution? will be hitting the press in the new year and will be on sale ready for Easter.
More stories, a look at training in the old days, a nostalgic look inside Central Works and a look at vehicle developments over seven decades. We’ll also be looking at some mishaps along the way and how bus fires have become ‘a thing’.
With hundreds of images to accompany tales of nostalgia, intrigue and engineering prowess.
So do save just one present until Easter: Midland Red – Evolution or Revolution?
Have a great Christmas.
Ashley
Midland Red’s iconic buses and coaches, and the people who gave the company its direction and its drive.... Read more
“A mine of fascinating information and engaging stories, presented in an attractive layout with plenty of interesting pictures. Superb!” - Classic Bus magazine 2024.
“You will enjoy this wonderfully written book. I can heartily recommend it.” - Buses magazine 2024. ... Read more
Read reviews of this book.
£35.00 inc FREE UK mainland delivery*
In stock - available now.
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*For destinations outside the UK mainland, contact us for delivery fees.
The spirit of Midland Red and much more!
Midland Red history, and the author’s entertaining tales of his 50 years in the bus and coach industry – all influenced by Midland Red.... Read more
£35.00 inc FREE UK mainland delivery*
In stock - available now.
Credit & Debit Card payments powered by Square.
*For destinations outside the UK mainland, contact us for delivery fees.
An entertaining historical and autobiographical book recounting the author’s working life with the legendary Midland Red.
Its buses, its people, and the development of this exciting enterprise... Read more
£35.00 inc FREE UK mainland delivery*
In stock - available now.
Credit & Debit Card payments powered by Square.
*For destinations outside the UK mainland, contact us for delivery fees.
For more details of each book, click the corresponding cover image above.
To make a purchase, just click the Buy Now button above for the book you wish to buy, which will take you to the item in our online Bookshop site (powered by Square).
Then click the Add to Cart button (you can also add other books from the bookshop).
Click the cart image at the top of the page to view the contents of your cart, then click Continue to Payment.
To pay by Credit or Debit Card: Ignore the “Express Checkout” buttons at the top of the payment page (they are only for people who have their own personal payments account). For Credit/Debit card payments just scroll down and enter your name, address and card details, then click the red Place Order button.
To pay by Google Payments etc: If you have your own Google Payments or similar account, just click the corresponding “Express Checkout” button at the top of the payment page. Then follow the instructions to make the payment.
You can also buy from “Kenilworth Books”, the vibrant independent book shop in Talisman Square, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1JB. You can also find most of our books at Transport Museum Wythall, MDS Books, Hunts Bookshop in Rugby and Julian Bowden Transport Bookshop.
Bona fide trade enquiries from museums, independent and specialist book shops etc are welcome (contact details below).
Here are some of the comments we have received from buyers of Midland Red and its People, Midland Red Influence and Inside Midland Red, plus some quotes from reviews published in national magazines:
“A mine of fascinating information and engaging stories, presented in an attractive layout with plenty of interesting pictures. Superb!” — Classic Bus magazine 2024.
“You will enjoy this wonderfully written book. I can heartily recommend Midland Red and its People.” — Stuart Warr & Alan Millar, Buses magazine, review 2024. ... Read more
“Beautifully presented, solidly bound, printed on glossy paper with well-rendered photography and great value. There’s a huge amount of work in this book and every page counts. Every Midland Red enthusiast and omnibus historian needs this book on the shelf!” — Bus and Coach Preservation magazine 2024.
“Midland Red and its People, the latest volume of Ashley Wakelin’s lavish, self-published treatise about Midland Red, focuses on its most important asset: the people who kept some 1,700 buses running across the Midlands during its heyday. It is well illustrated with images of Midland Red people, places and vehicles, many in colour, with some of the earlier vehicle views being restored and colourised to bring them to life.” — Bus and Coach Buyer 2024
“Splendid, nicely designed books that present a fantastic snapshot in so many of the aspects of the company - the operations, the people, the customers, the ups and downs, foibles, facts and so much more.” — Classic Bus magazine
“Well done with ‘Midland Red and its People’. It really does give a great insight into the people who worked for Midland Red and the wide range of roles. It is like no other book on transport and is a great companion to the two previous books.” — S.K. Media
“Joy as the postman brought me Ashley Wakelin’s latest book - and it looks like an absolute cracker on the mighty and much loved Midland Red!” — D.S. Shrewsbury
“An easy transaction, quick delivery, beautifully and nostalgically packaged - perfect!” — M.L., Stockport
“I thoroughly enjoyed Midland Red and its People, so I've just ordered the other two books!” — B.J., Argyle
“A real page turner, well, I struggled to put it down once I started reading it, well done!” — S.W., Porthcawl
“Inside Midland Red – What a beautiful book, maybe an idea for a gift.” — Visit Tamworth
“A very, very good read, and lots of anecdotes by a guy who was there at the centre of things. A MUST for any Midland ‘Red’ devotees. You won’t regret your purchase.” — P.K.
“Lots of good stories. Here’s to the next book!” — M.S.
“Ashley, my book arrived this morning, it’s fabulous, congratulations on a super book. Thank you again.” — S.B., Tamworth
“Really loving the ‘Inside Midland Red’ book.” — D.T., Stafford
“Bought for me as a Christmas present - much better than a pair of socks!” — S.H., Darlington
Ashley, author of Inside Midland Red, Midland Red Influence and Midland Red and its People, 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, and has worked in both the private and public sectors with national and small independent operators... Read more
Ashley Wakelin, the author of his latest book Midland Red and its People also gives entertaining and engaging talks about Midland Red, its history and development, its social history, and its people. For more details, see After-Dinner & Group Talks.
The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company (BMMO) played a pre-eminent role in bus and coach design. Their bus and coach operations were based in the Midlands, and with their bright red livery their mission was to “paint the Midlands red” with their fleet. And so they became colloquially known as “Midland Red”... Read more
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