Charabanc or Charabang

1914 Ford Model ‘T’ Charabanc by kenjonbro (Celebrating 60 Years 1952-2012), CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The term Charabanc (not Charabang as I thought) comes from the French char-a-bancs, for a “carriage with wooden benches.” The simple design included rows of seats in the body of a horse drawn carriage or open toped bus which all faced forward. A driver perched on a seat in the front, or rode in a separate carriage which was often pulled by a team of four. Typically, no covering at all was installed over the riders.

This new form of mass transport started in the 1840’s but reached its heydays in the 1920-30’s. It brought locations to the reaches of the masses not universally popular (a bit like today I guess).  In ‘Sleeping Murder‘ Agatha Christie wrote …’ There used always to be a lot of summer visitors as long as I can remember. But nice quiet people who came here every year, not these trippers and charabancs we have nowadays. A Miss Marpleish comment if ever there was one.

I had this great picture from the National Railway Museum at York and wanted to write about Charabancs. The first information I found was about Doncaster St Georges ‘Charabang’ tour of Retford a couple of years ago was done in style.

‘Joining RC Doncaster St Georges
Everyone will have their own reasons for considering joining Rotary and RC Doncaster St Georges. A few that may apply to you are listed below.

You want to meet and get to know a diverse group of professionals and business men / women, to give something back to the Community, to be part of an International movement or to join our Social activities.

Some people may remember the old Charabang song from coach trips to the seaside and rugby matches:-

“There were three Jews from Jerusalem”

There were three Jews from Jerusalem.

There were three Jews from Jerusalem.

Jerry jerry jerry – slam slam slam

Jerry jerry jerry – slam slam slam

The first Jew’s name was Abraham.

The first Jew’s name was Abraham.

Abra abra abra – ram ram ram.

Abra abra abra – ram ram ram.

The second Jew’s name was Archibald.

The second Jew’s name was Archibald.

Archie archie archie – balls balls balls

Archie archie archie – balls balls balls

The third Jew’s name was Isaac.

The third Jew’s name was Isaac.

Issa issa issa – cack cack cack

Issa issa issa – cack cack cack

.

They went for a ride in a charabang.

They went for a ride in a charabang.

Chara chara chara – bang bang bang

Chara chara chara – bang bang bang

They went for a ride to Amsterdam

They went for a ride to Amsterdam

Amster Amster Amster – damn damn damn

Amster Amster Amster – damn damn damn

They drove o’er the edge of a precipice.

They drove o’er the edge of a precipice.

Preci preci preci – wee wee wee

Preci preci preci – wee wee wee

.

And now we  have to finish it.

And now we  have to finish it.

Fini fini fini – sh sh sh

Fini fini fini – sh sh sh

And now we  have to finish it.