Sovereign 153 (L153 BFV) in Aston - 10 May 2001 - 464-06

Thursday 10 May 2001 (approx 0800) - Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 153(?) (L153 BFV) seen near the Pig and Whistle pub when leaving the village of Aston near Stevenage working school service 889 to the Buntingford schools. Sworder’s Coaches had operated this contract for a number of years up to 2001.

It was a Plaxton Premiere Interurban bodied Dennis Javelin that had been new to Stagecoach owned Ribble Motor Services in November 1993. The Interurban model was bought by the Stagecoach Group for operation on longer distance stage carriage services that had previously been operated with dual purpose vehicles. It featured coach seating but also had fitments relevant for bus service operation.

Sovereign was part of the Blazefield Group and on 15 April 2001 Blazefield had acquired the East Lancashire services of Stagecoach which included the vehicles and garages at Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley and Clitheroe. A number of said vehicles were transferred south to Sovereign and they were placed in service operating in Stagecoach livery for a time before being repainted.