A BUS that plied the route between Redhill and Reigate in the Victorian era returned to service at the weekend for the culmination of the borough's 150th birthday celebrations.
Redhill took on a distinctly Victorian air as 21st century residents took the horse-drawn coach seats their 19th century forbears occupied, for a trot around the town.
It was a similar story in the Belfry Shopping Centre, where a three-day Victorian market took shoppers back in time.
Belfry manager Andy Nash said: "The people of Redhill certainly came out in their numbers over the weekend and enjoyed our celebrations to mark the borough's 150th anniversary.
"It felt like Christmas, with the centre busy, and many of shops and cafes reporting double-digit percentage increases [in trade] on the same weekend last year.
"The Redhill and Reigate 150th Anniversary Centre in the Belfry also had its busiest ever day on Saturday, with well over 1,000 people visiting, all hopefully learning a little bit more about our great local history here.
"There wasn't an empty seat all day on our Victorian horse-drawn bus that we had giving rides around Redhill on Saturday – this bus actually used to operate between Redhill and Reigate.
"It was great to get the bunting up and celebrate our great little town's 150th anniversary and genuinely rewarding for so many people to come out, get involved and to enjoy it."
He thanked the RR150 collective, which organised many of the celebrations, as well as other contributors for their support.
The events marked the finale to the celebrations of the moment on September 11, 1863, when Queen Victoria signed the charter to created the municipal borough of Reigate and Redhill.
The anniversary centre in the Belfry is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until the end of September.
