North Devon (Red Bus) 2508 (A508 HVT) in Mildenhall - 31 Oct 1987

Saturday 31 October 1987 (0905) - The cross country National Express 747 service saw variations to the terminal points at different times. Whilst most services worked between Norwich and Bristol some worked to/from Cromer, Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft at the eastern end and some terminated at Taunton, Paignton, Plymouth or Barnstaple at the western end.

Was this white coach pretending to be a Red Bus?! Actually, Red Bus was the trading name of North Devon Limited, one of the four companies formed when the Western National Omnibus Company was split up prior to deregulation.

Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger 2508 (A508HVT) was seen at King Street, Mildenhall working the Norwich to Barnstaple National Express service 347.

The photograph was taken from under the canopy of Corals Betting Shop. The building in the background was the Mildenhall Social Club that occupied the site where Sainsbury’s now is. The car park behind the coach became the site of Mildenhall bus station which opened in January 2006.