Theobold’s Coaches MF11 LUJ at Fiveways, Barton Mills - 7 Aug 2021 (P1090314)

Saturday 7 August 2021 (0939) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills heading for Great Yarmouth.

For some years Theobold’s has operated this holiday express service and it was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630.

I don’t know where the coach would take a break. In past years the café at Red Lodge has been used (2017) as has the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways (both in 2018). It didn’t use either of the two Barton Mills locations on 24 July (passing through at 0917) and 7 August (passing through at 0939).

I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!