East Anglia 2 : Norfolk

Friday 15 February 2008 - Norfolk County Services 7115 (Y332 YUT) seen in Castle Meadow, Norwich below Norwich Castle. It is a Caetano Cutlass bodied Dennis Javelin new August 2001.

Friday 15 February 2008 - Norfolk County Services 7115 (Y332 YUT) seen in Castle Meadow, Norwich below Norwich Castle. It is a Caetano Cutlass bodied Dennis Javelin new August 2001.

Monday 9 August 1993 – H S Neave and Sons Limited of Catfield, Norfolk VBH 605S seen travelling along St. Stephen’s Street in Norwich in the pouring rain when working their service to Wroxham and Stalham. It is a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YMT that had been new to Tricentrol of Dunstable in April 1978 although had been bought from fellow Norfolk operator Smith’s of Blofield in 1988. In the background is Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR308 (PRC 854X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR.

Monday 14 August 1989 – Mercedes-Benz 507D mini-bus F352 JVJ operated on community transport work by Norfolk County Council seen in King’s Lynn bus station. Not sure of the name of the bodybuilder but it certainly featured a long side window.

Thursday 28 May 2015 (1136) – Eastons Coaches of Stratton Strawless, Norfolk B7 AWE, a Setra S 416-HD GT, seen at Birchanger Service Area on the M11 in Essex. In the background ia a Neoplan coach (T7 HDD) operated by Huw’s Coaches of Penygroes near Caernarfon, North Wales.

Thursday 28 May 2015 (1135) – Eastons Coaches of Stratton Strawless, Norfolk B7 AWE, a Setra S 416-HD GT, seen at Birchanger Service Area on the M11 in Essex.

Saturday 22 December 1990 – Christmas and New Year greetings adorn the back window of B502 CBD, a Jonckheere bodied DAF of Wiltshires Coaches of Sea Palling, Norfolk. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall duplicating Premier Travel Services 372 (G372 REG) which was operating the 0820 Lowestoft to National Express service 747. The cluster of signs on the left remained from time when the car park entrance was located to the left of them. The large rectangular sign would no longer be read by any motorists, the ‘Buses and Coaches prohibited’ sign now looks rather odd in a bus and coach lay-by and the sign facing into the car park was the original ‘No Entry’ sign now guarding a brick wall!

Sunday 5 May 1985 – Swaffham Coachways (S N and C A Clarke) WNV 824W, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo B10M new to Len Wright Travel in May 1981, carried Leger Travel branding. It was seen pulling out on to the A11 at Barton Mills after taking a break at the Bull Inn. Work had already started to upgrade the A11 to dual carriageway between Fiveways, Barton Mills and Red Lodge. The house on the right now stands on the corner of the dual carriageway and Tuddenham Road. The company also operated sister vehicle WNV 822W.

Sunday 5 May 1985 – Swaffham Coachways (S N and C A Clarke) WNV 824W, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo B10M new to Len Wright Travel in May 1981, carried Leger Travel branding. It was seen about to pull out on to the A11 at Barton Mills after taking a break at the Bull Inn. Work had already started to upgrade the A11 to become dual carriageway between Fiveways, Barton Mills and Red Lodge. The car travelling towards the camera is passing the end of Tuddenham Road.

Sunday 5 May 1985 – Swaffham Coachways (S N and C A Clarke) WNV 824W, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo B10M new to Len Wright Travel in May 1981, carried Leger Travel branding. It was seen on the car park of the Bull Inn, Barton Mills whilst after taking a toilet and refreshment break. The car park is where Chestnut Close now stands.

Sunday 5 May 1985 – Swaffham Coachways (S N and C A Clarke) WNV 824W, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo B10M new to Len Wright Travel in May 1981, carried Leger Travel branding. It was seen on the car park of the Bull Inn, Barton Mills whilst after taking a toilet and refreshment break. The car park is where Chestnut Close now stands.

Saturday 29 July 1989 - The Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills closed some years ago and is now a private house. It occasionally had coaches call for refreshments and Matthews of Shouldham, Norfolk (Blue Coaches) B622 DDW had called in around lunchtime. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT that had bee new to Cleverly (Capitol Coaches) of Cwmbran in South Wales in May 1985.

Saturday 29 July 1989 - The Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills closed some years ago and is now a private house. It occasionally had coaches call for refreshments and Matthews of Shouldham, Norfolk (Blue Coaches) B622 DDW had called in around lunchtime. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT that had bee new to Cleverly (Capitol Coaches) of Cwmbran in South Wales in May 1985.

Saturday 29 July 1989 - The Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills closed some years ago and is now a private house. It occasionally had coaches call for refreshments and Matthews of Shouldham, Norfolk (Blue Coaches) B622 DDW had called in around lunchtime. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT that had bee new to Cleverly (Capitol Coaches) of Cwmbran in South Wales in May 1985.

Saturday 12 August 1989 – Starling’s Luxury Coaches of North Walsham MSU 853Y, a MAN powered Van Hool Alizee T815, rolling through Red Lodge heading westbound. It was new to Len Wright of Isleworth in May 1983. It had received Grand UK Holidays since I previously photographed it on 3 September 1988.

Saturday 3 September 1988 – Starling’s Luxury Coaches of North Walsham MSU 853Y, a MAN powered Van Hool Alizee T815, rolling through Red Lodge. It was new to Len Wright of Isleworth in May 1983. The café on the right is Sanara Services formerly the Suffolk Punch.

June 1987 – Starling’s Luxury Coaches of North Walsham, Norfolk XPP 289X seen parked at the end of Churchill Drive adjacent to North Terrace in Mildenhall. The chassis wasn’t unusual being a Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/R although the Italian built Padane (Carrozzeria Padane) bodywork was not overly common in Britain. XPP 289X was registered in April 1982 to Ensign of Grays and was entered in the Brighton Coach Rally that year sporting the fleetname of Ebdon’s Tours of Sidcup. Towards the end of its career it worked for Delta Coaches of Stockton-on-Tees registered FIL 8694 and sporting a Plaxton Paramount III front lower panel which changed its appearance somewhat!

June 1987 – Starling’s Luxury Coaches of North Walsham, Norfolk XPP 289X seen parked at the end of Churchill Drive adjacent to North Terrace in Mildenhall. The chassis wasn’t unusual being a Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/R although the Italian built Padane (Carrozzeria Padane) bodywork was not overly common in Britain. XPP 289X was registered in April 1982 to Ensign of Grays and was entered in the Brighton Coach Rally that year sporting the fleetname of Ebdon’s Tours of Sidcup. Towards the end of its career it worked for Delta Coaches of Stockton-on-Tees registered FIL 8694 and sporting a Plaxton Paramount III front lower panel which changed its appearance somewhat!