Burtons Coaches S102 VBJ in Stetchworth – 27 Jun 2006 (559-25A)

Tuesday 27 June 2006 (approx. 0730) – A peaceful scene outside the Marquis of Granby in Stetchworth with Burtons Coaches S102 VBJ, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in November 1998, paused when working the 0702 service 46 from Ashley to Dullingham which continued as the 0720 service from Dullingham to Newmarket.

Within seconds the silence was broken when P704 LCF, a similar style bus, working the 0720 service 16 to Cambridge driven by one of the Burtons controllers came through and got me to change buses. The reason for this was because S102 VBJ had a manual gearbox and my duty (516) required a bus with an automatic gearbox because the lunchtime relief driver only held an automatic class driver’s licence (known as a ‘Teflon’ driver because his licence was ‘non stick’). Both the controller and myself held manual gearbox licences.

Why were so many pubs named the ‘Marquis of Granby’? John Manners, The Marquis of Granby ( from the village of Granby in the Vale of Belvoir, Nottinghamshire), was an Army Commander in the 18th century. He was so appalled by the lack of financial help offered to his officers disabled in conflicts that when they left military service he set them up as innkeepers to ensure they had a living and income. In gratitude many of the men named their hostelries after their benefactor. (Technically since he did not outlive his father and inherit the dukedom he should really be defined by his father’s subsidiary title The Marquess of Granby).