Royal Blue 2381 (OTA 641G) in Farnborough - Nov 1973

November 1973 – Royal Blue 2381 (OTA 641G), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RELH6G new March 1969, seen in Farnborough when working the Birmingham to Portsmouth Associated Motorways service.

Before the introduction of the National Bus Company corporate white coach livery the NBC subsidiaries in the south-west had started to adopt a white scheme relieved by a coloured band relevant to the individual operator. This was the Royal Blue version. Royal Blue Express Services was owned by the Western National Omnibus Company and the Southern National Omnibus Company and this coach was assigned to the latter.

The location is very close to where a Doctor's Surgery now stands. I believe the rooftop visible on the extreme right of the photo is that of the Tumbledown Dick pub, now a MacDonald's 'Restaurant'. The pub name was derived from a nickname given to Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell, after his abrupt fall from power as Lord Protector in 1658–59.

Unfortunately this coach was one of those completely lost during a disastrous fire at Bournemouth Coach Station in the early hours of 25 July 1976. The fire caused such serious damage to the underground coach station that it could not be used thereafter.