'Ipernity HFF

Wednesday 6 January 2010 (1235) – Snow started to fall in Bury St Edmunds around mid-day and within a short time the roads were covered. Coach Services Limited of Thetford R968 MGB, a snow covered Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, about to enter the bus station from St Andrew’s Street North. New in March 1998 to Henderson of Hamilton, Scotland.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1614) – First Midland Red 66691 (CN07 HVG) loading in Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham as the 1625 service 144 to Worcester. A Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to Veolia owned Bebb Travel in July 2007.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – Charterplan (GM Buses South) 100 (476 CEL) seen on Manchester Road, Rochdale. It is a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard which was new in June 1975 registered HNE 642N fitted with an Eastern Coachworks body. It was rebodied by Duple in 1981 featuring disabled access doors on the nearside. Apparently the drivers called the vehicle Daisybell. In the background is GM Buses North 508 (M508 PNA) heading for Manchester on service 17. It is a Wright Endurance bodied Volvo B10B, one of the flagship ‘Superbus’ branded vehicles, new in January 1995 it was only a few weeks old. New Barn Lane is on the right. My Great Aunt lived in Dunster Avenue which is the gap between the houses beyond the bus stop lay-by. (The house directly behind the nearside of the bus with the dark gable end fitted with the burglar alarm which is where a girl in my class at school once lived).

Saturday 13 October 2018 (1130) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36173 (BD11 CFX), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in June 2011, passing through Queens Square in Attleborough. It was heading for Norwich city centre and Spixworth on service 13 which is branded the ‘Turquoise Line’.

Friday 11 March 2016 (1104) – The metal passenger barriers in King's Lynn bus station have silhouettes of the town’s 17th century Customs House and of Captain George Vancouver, the Naval Officer born in King’s Lynn who explored of the North American Pacific region in the late 18th century and after whom the Canadian city is named. Stagecoach (Go West Travel) buses beyond both of which had been former Norfolk Green vehicles, a company acquired by Stagecoach in 2013. 25126 (YJ57 EHX), an Optare Tempo X1200 that had been new to Ambassador Travel in September 2007. Later passing to Norfolk Green. Named Claude Freestone, a World War One veteran who established the 421 Squadron King's Lynn Air Training Corps. The Optare Solo behind is 47911 (YJ10 EYA) new in March 2010 that wears the 'Coasthopper' livery.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1212) – Ambassador Travel 218 (BV19 XOZ) seen in Regent Road, Great Yarmouth when boarding passengers for the 1215 National Express service 491 to London (Victoria) when it is scheduled to arrive at 1620. This departure also picks up at Acle (1230), Norwich (1300) and UEA (University of East Anglia) (1315) before running non-stop to Stratford (1520). The return journey departs Victoria at 1800 an omits Stratford then setting down at UEA, Norwich, Acle and Great Yarmouth where it arrives at 2205. This boarding point is defined as ‘Market Gates, Regent Road, Stop A’ and is just outside Market Gates bus station where the boarding points are lettered from B upwards. A Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 that was new in June 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel as their 267. The pedestrian only Regent Road in the background leads to the sea shore and the Britannia Pier.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1111) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33806 (YX63 LJL) seen in Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth when working Coastlink service X11 to Norwich. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013 that wears the branded livery for Coastlink services X1, X2, X11 and X22.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – GM Buses North 508 (M508 PNA) seen on Manchester Road, Rochdale when heading for Manchester on service 17. It is a Wright Endurance bodied Volvo B10B, one of the flagship ‘Superbus’ branded vehicles, new in January 1995 it was only a few weeks old. New Barn Lane is on the right. My Great Aunt lived in Dunster Avenue which is the gap between the houses beyond the bus stop lay-by. (The house with the dark gable end fitted with the burglar alarm which was actually where a girl in my class at school once lived).

Monday 27 Sept 2010 (1648) – A Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company (Go-Ahead Group owned) East Lancs bodied Scania OmniDekka passing the gardens of New Steine as it travelled along St. James’s Street. Branded for service 1 (Mile Oak-City Centre-Whiteoak).

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1330) – National Express West Midlands buses taking the corner from Park Street to Digbeth in Birmingham. Leading, in the newer style livery, is 2217 (YX15 OZG) - an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 MMC new in July 2015. Following, in the older style livery, is 1825 (BV57 XGR), a Scania K230UB Omnilink new in November 2007. Dominating the background is the Selfridge's department store building which forms part of the Bull Ring Shopping Centre. The building, which has become an icon of Birmingham city centre, was completed in 2003 at a cost of around £60million.

Saturday 30 May 2015 (1413) - Stagecoach (East Kent) 36858 (GN13 EXP), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in May 2013, seen leaving Ramsgate Harbour. It carries 'The Loop' livery for the circular service linking Margate-Broadstairs-Ramsgate-Westwood-Margate.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1100) – Preserved former Eastern Counties Omnibus CompanyRL516 (EPW 516K), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RELL6G new in April 1979. It was seen leaving on a road run as part of the bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1012) – The Dereham Coachways premises on Rash’s Green Industrial Estate, East Dereham. Parked within are two Van Hool T9 Alizée bodied Volvo B10Ms. Left is XFK 305, new in February 1998 to Cleaver (Highland Heritage Coach Tours) of Dalmally (PA33 1AS), Scotland. It carries a ‘Canary Express’ window label in readiness for a run to Norwich City Football Club’s game with West Ham at Carrow Road. The company offers ‘season ticket’ travel deals to all home games of the Canaries. Today though the supporters would return home somewhat disheartened because West Ham beat them four goals to nil. Right BIG 2216, new in March 2000 to Armchair Passenger Transport registered W17 APT. (Konectbus (Go-Ahead Group) occupies the neighbouring site, the building beyond XFK 305 is their workshop).

Sunday 15 May 2022 (1157) – The Fenland Busfest at Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. The rally is held in the town centre occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Preserved former National Travel (South West) 359 (KAD 359V), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in March 1980. National Express livery with ‘Black and White’ fleetnames. The destination blinds showed ‘777 Paris’ for a service operated in the 1970s from Cheltenham to the French capital.

Tuesday 5 June 2012 (0849) - Adorned with flags to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Whittle Coach & Bus Limited 84 (FJ11 GJX), a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B9R new in June 2011, seen travelling along Belle Vue Terrace in Great Malvern when working the 0830 Worcester-London National Express service 444.

Sunday 15 May 2022 (1231) – The Fenland Busfest at Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. The rally is held in the town centre occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Former London Transport AEC/Park Royal Routemaster RCL2239 (CUV 239C) was new in 1965 as a Green Line coach. In the 1980s it was transferred to Central Area for red bus service work after removal of the folding doors yet retaining the full width rear panelling/emergency door layout.

Friday 1 October 2021 (1203) – Mulleys Motorways YN54 AHE, a Scania N94UD OmniCity new to Nottingham City Transport as their 211 in September 2004. It was seen arriving back in Mildenhall on service 358 from West Row unfortunately nearly 20 minutes late having been caught up in the tailbacks created by motorists queueing to panic buy fuel at the Jet filling station in North Terrace. A shortage of fuel tanker delivery drivers nationally resulted in a shortage of fuel at filling stations with panic buying only exacerbating the situation. (* A popular feature on Fridays for many Ipernity members is the challenge to submit a photograph featuring a fence under the title of ‘HFF’ or ‘Happy Fence Friday’. Similarly on Mondays the topic is ‘HBM’ or ‘Happy Bench Monday’ with photographs featuring a bench).

Sunday 8 May 2022 (0918) – Coach Services Limited of Thetford CS12 BUS, a Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2012, seen leaving Thetford Bus Interchange as it worked the 0842 service 86 from Brandon to Bury St. Edmunds. Five round trips are operated on this route on Sundays and Bank Holidays at 0842, 1042, 1342 and 1542 with the 1742 journey running from Brandon to Thetford only. From Bury St. Edmunds the departure times are 0955, 1255, 1455 and 1655 plus a Thetford to Brandon journey at 0830. The Bus Interchange at Thetford opened in March 2015 to replace an old site by the Riverside which had limited facilities and a very difficult access.