David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

July 1973 - Mostonian Coaches was the owner/driver business of Derek Painter and, as far as I can recall, only operated one full sized coach at a time during the late 1960s/early 1970s. The business still exists today run by the Painter family. This Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied AEC Reliance was seen in Rhyl having worked as a duplicate to the North Manchester Motor Coaches North Wales service. The red and white hire label, in the same design style as those used by Yelloway, was carried. RRV 604J had been new to Byng’s of Portsmouth and the lettering used by Byng’s on the sides had been modified for Derek. On the hidden side the words were in English, ‘Mostonian Coaches, Manchester, England’ but on the side visible here the words were in French and read ‘Mostonian Autocars, Manchester, Angleterre' Lettering not wasted really because Derek did do some continental work. In the side lockers he had a full tool kit and important spare parts all nicely laid out on panels and mounted with spring clips.

Wednesday 4 September 1985 - The badge carried by the Leyland built Royal Tiger Doyen model was quite impressive. This one was carried on Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 107 (648 RJO) new in June 1985 (I believe the registration 648 RJO was applied to this coach from new).

Wednesday 4 September 1985 - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 107 (648 RJO), a Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new in June 1985, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working an Oxford bound service 747. Service 747 was operated jointly by Percivals, Premier Travel and National Express. (I believe the registration 648 RJO was applied to this coach from new). Presumably one of the later vehicles that was built at Workington - are the fleet number transfers of the grey style used by the National Bus Company? The red pick-up truck is parked in the car park on the space later used as the taxi rank.

Wednesday 4 September 1985 - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 107 (648 RJO), a Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new in June 1985, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working an Oxford bound service 747. Service 747 was operated jointly by Percivals, Premier Travel and National Express. (I believe the registration 648 RJO was applied to this coach from new). Presumably one of the later vehicles that was built at Workington - are the fleet number transfers of the grey style used by the National Bus Company?

Wednesday 4 September 1985 - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 107 (648 RJO), a Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new in June 1985, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working an Oxford bound service 747. Service 747 was operated jointly by Percivals, Premier Travel and National Express. (I believe the registration 648 RJO was applied to this coach from new). The entrance to the car park, where the bus station was built in 2005, can be seen to the rear of the coach.

Thursday 1 December 2011 (1359) – Cavendish Coaches & Limousines Limited from Llwynypia in South Wales GFZ 2964 seen leaving Bury St Edmunds bus station on a Constable Country tour. It was a tri-axle Bova Futura FHD 14-430 which was new to Edwards of Llantwit Fardre in June 2004 registered CN04 XCC.

Late June 2000 (0755) – Arriva the Shires 3113 (L313 HPP) seen outside the Rose and Crown in Aston when working the service 390 from Hertford to Stevenage. It was a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M new in February 1994 to Luton & District Transport – a company which, through various takeovers, came into Arriva ownership.

Late June 2000 (0755) – Arriva the Shires 3113 (L313 HPP) seen outside the Rose and Crown in Aston when working the service 390 from Hertford to Stevenage. It was a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M new in February 1994 to Luton & District Transport – a company which, through various takeovers, came into Arriva ownership.