Ken Hargreaves becomes Honorary Life Member of The Leyland Society

Published: 18/05/2026

Pictured  (Left to Right) Mike Humble (former bus mechanic, driver, salesman and freelance writer), Ken Hargreaves (built the prototypes, hot and cold tested them in Spain and Finland, trained the new workforce at the factory and became Factory Manager), Richard Lukey who worked on the Leyland Nationals for two and a half years in Venezuela and Bill Pitcher much of whose Leyland career was in engine development.

At the Leyland National 54 event, held in Whitehaven on 3 May, The Leyland Society awarded Ken Hargreaves an Honorary Life Membership.

Ken Hargreaves is 'Mr Leyland National' – often referred to as the first man into the new factory at Lillyhall and the last man out.  But his involvement with the National project pre-dates the opening of the factory.

Ken started at Leyland Motors as an apprentice in 1955.  He joined the elite team within the research, proving and development department and worked on the FPB7 (National) project from the outset.  He was involved in building the prototypes and testing them in the extreme heat of Spain as well as at temperatures of minus 30 degrees centigrade in the Arctic Circle.

 In 1970 he moved to the new Lillyhall plant as a Superintendent and became heavily involved in training the factory’s workforce.  He oversaw projects such as B15 Titan and the Railbus before becoming General Manager.  He saw ownership of the company pass to a management buy-out and then to Volvo.

With deregulation of the UK bus industry demand for new vehicles plummeted.  Sadly in 1993 after an extended period of plant run down Ken switched off the lights and locked all the doors for the final time.

A career leading to a very well deserved award from The Leyland Society.

See website for further details https://www.leylandsociety.co.uk/latest-news/