Neal's Travel

Friday 25 August 1989 (approx. 1045) – Homeward bound shoppers board Neal’s Travel E46 MMT at King Street, Mildenhall which was working the Friday only (MIldenhall market day) Suffolk County Council supported service 406 to Lackford.

Friday 25 August 1989 (approx. 1045) – Homeward bound shoppers board Neal’s Travel E46 MMT at King Street, Mildenhall which was working the Friday only (MIldenhall market day) Suffolk County Council supported service 406 to Lackford. The lady looking at the camera from the window close to the door looks like the late Grace Wharton, a resident of Icklingham. In the background is Eastern Counties TH919 (C919 BEX), a Robin Hood bodied Ford Transit new in March 1986.

This handbill issued by Suffolk County Council shows the three Mildenhall area mini-bus services, supported by SCC and operated by Neals Travel, introduced on Monday 20 November 1989. These services replaced the six ‘Mildenhall Mini-Line’ services operated by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company between Monday 10 October 1988 and Saturday 18 November 1989. The reverse side of the sheet contained a map of the services along with the timetable for the twice weekly Mildenhall-Lackford service 406 also operated by Neals with support from SCC.

This handbill issued by Suffolk County Council shows the three Mildenhall area mini-bus services, supported by SCC and operated by Neals Travel, introduced on Monday 20 November 1989. These services replaced the six ‘Mildenhall Mini-Line’ services operated by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company between Monday 10 October 1988 and Saturday 18 November 1989. This handbill issued by Suffolk County Council shows the three Mildenhall area mini-bus services, supported by SCC and operated by Neals Travel, introduced on Monday 20 November 1989. These services replaced the six ‘Mildenhall Mini-Line’ services operated by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company between Monday 10 October 1988 and Saturday 18 November 1989. The reverse side contained this map of the services along with the timetable for the twice weekly Mildenhall-Lackford service 406 also operated by Neals with support from SCC.

Neal’s Travel then of Chippenham (later of Isleham) F501 SCW, an Elme bodied Mercedes-Benz 609D new in August 1988, seen in Haverhill bus station. In the background is a Cambus 2031 (C331 SFL), a Carlyle bodied Ford Transit mini-bus new in June 1986, operating town service H1. The coach on the left is Premier Travel Services 328 (C328 PEW), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in March 1986. In April/May 1990 the owners of PTS (AJS Holdings) sold the company to Cambus Holdings Limited and this coach wears the CHL inspired PTS livery.

Tuesday 27 December 1994 – Neal’s Travel vehicles getting a wash at the Isleham premises. F501 SCW was an Elme bodied Mercedes-Benz 609D new in August 1988. On the right is H84 RUX, a Caetano bodied MAN 10.80 that had been new to Boulton’s Coaches of Cardington in January 1991.

Saturday 25 November 1989 – Neal’s Travel then of Chippenham (later of Isleham) F73 FUS seen in King Street, Mildenhall working the 1140 service to Beck Row. Neal’s commenced operating a revised service around Mildenhall and the surrounding villages on the previous Monday (20 November) following the withdrawal by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company of their ‘Mildenhall Mini-Link’ services on 18 November. One vehicle covered the three different services which operated six days per week. Centred on King Street the first departure was at 0740 to Holywell Row and Beck Row (service 1) which arrived back at King Street at 0806. The vehicle then departed on service 2 at 0807 serving College Heath Road, Junction Road, Folly Road, Scott Avenue, Croft Place arriving back at King Street at 0821, It then departed on service 3 at 0800 to West Row and arrived back at King Street at 0838. This pattern continued until arriving back at King Street at 1738 except there was no service between 1240 and 1338 when the driver had a lunch break. F73 FUS was a Scott of Bellshill bodied/conversion Ford Transit new to Neal’s a year earlier in November 1988.

Saturday 25 November 1989 – Neal’s Travel then of Chippenham (later of Isleham) F73 FUS seen in King Street, Mildenhall working the 1140 service to Beck Row. Neal’s commenced operating a revised service around Mildenhall and the surrounding villages on the previous Monday (20 November) following the withdrawal by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company of their ‘Mildenhall Mini-Link’ services on 18 November. One vehicle covered the three different services which operated six days per week. Centred on King Street the first departure was at 0740 to Holywell Row and Beck Row (service 1) which arrived back at King Street at 0806. The vehicle then departed on service 2 at 0807 serving College Heath Road, Junction Road, Folly Road, Scott Avenue, Croft Place arriving back at King Street at 0821, It then departed on service 3 at 0800 to West Row and arrived back at King Street at 0838. This pattern continued until arriving back at King Street at 1738 except there was no service between 1240 and 1338 when the driver had a lunch break. F73 FUS was a Scott of Bellshill bodied/conversion Ford Transit new to Neal’s a year earlier in November 1988.

Friday 29 December 1989 – This Ford Transit operated on the Neal’s Travel local services in and around Mildenhall and was seen here setting out for West Row on the 1422 service. Prior to the opening of the bus station in January 2006 buses and coaches departing the King Street lay-by travelled down St. Andrew’s Street rather than along King Street towards the War Memorial as they do now. F73 FUS is seen about to turn from St. Andrew’s Street into the High Street.

Friday 29 December 1989 – Neal’s Travel then of Chippenham (later of Isleham) F73 FUS seen in High Street, Mildenhall working the 1422 service to West Row. Neal’s commenced operating a revised service around Mildenhall and the surrounding villages on Monday 20 November following the withdrawal by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company of their ‘Mildenhall Mini-Link’ services on 18 November. One vehicle covered the three different services which operated six days per week. Centred on King Street the first departure was at 0740 to Holywell Row and Beck Row (service 1) which arrived back at King Street at 0806. The vehicle then departed on service 2 at 0807 serving College Heath Road, Junction Road, Folly Road, Scott Avenue, Croft Place arriving back at King Street at 0821, It then departed on service 3 at 0800 to West Row and arrived back at King Street at 0838. This pattern continued until arriving back at King Street at 1738 except there was no service between 1240 and 1338 when the driver had a lunch break. F73 FUS was a Scott of Bellshill bodied/conversion Ford Transit new to Neal’s in November 1988.

Sunday 31 May 1992 – The County Councils of East Anglia subsidised many Sunday bus services for a number of years serving main towns and tourist attractions/stately homes etc. Neal’s Travel F722 SML was a Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 811D new in January 1989 seen loading for Ipswich at King Street, Mildenhall.

A Saturday in November 1995 (0905) – Two vehicles of Neal’s Travel of Isleham occupy the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall so Ambassador Travel 108 (G108 HNG), working the 0700 Cromer-London National Express service 495, picks up in the entrance to the lay-by. The Neal’s vehicles are Reeve Burgess bodied Leyland Swift G642 WMG, working a private hire, which is standing in front Marshall SPV bodied Mercedes-Benz of M373 VER, working the Mildenhall town service.

Sunday 26 October 1997 – Neal’s Travel F651 OHD, a Duple 320 bodied DAF 2305 that had been new to Brown of East Grinstead in January 1989, seen heading westbound on the A11 at Red Lodge. Neal’s operated two such coaches registered F651/652 OHD.

Friday 30 December 1994 – Neal’s Travel F652 OHD, a Duple 320 bodied DAF 2305 that had been new to Brown of East Grinstead in January 1989, seen at the Isleham premises. Neal’s operated two such coaches registered F651/652 OHD.

Friday 4 November 1994 – A group of Barton Mills residents board a Neal’s Travel service in Church Lane heading to Mildenhall for their market day shopping. Sadly all have now passed away (Mrs Saker, Mr Saker, Mrs Charles and Mrs Gage). Neal’s operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included market day only runs and their destination boards were simple showing the service number and an abbreviated destination usually comprising three or four characters. G806 HRN, a Reeve-Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 814D, was operating the inward service 145 from Lackford to Mildenhall.

Friday 22 October 1993 - Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included market day only runs. Reeve-Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 814D G806 HRN was seen at King Street, Mildenhall working the return market day service 145 to Lackford. Neal’s destination boards showed the service number and an abbreviated destination usually comprising three or four characters.

Friday 3 March 1995 – Friday is market day in Mildenhall and a number of Barton Mills villagers are boarding Neal’s Travel G806 HRN, a Reeve-Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 814D new in September 1989, which was working the 0900 Suffolk County Council supported Fridays only service 145 from Lackford to Mildenhall. Suffolk doesn’t see serious snowfalls as perhaps experienced in other parts of Britain but on this particular morning there was a fair bit of it around which didn’t prevent there being ten passengers boarding here today. Mrs Gill is paying the driver. On the pavement are Mrs Spry, Mrs Boustead, Mrs Wright, Mrs Gage and Mr Gage.

Friday 3 March 1995 – Suffolk doesn’t see serious snowfalls as perhaps experienced in other parts of Britain but on this particular morning there was a fair bit of it around. Friday is market day in Mildenhall and despite the weather there were ten passengers at Barton Mills today heading to the market and shops. They are seen walking very gingerly across the snow towards the coach. From left to right the visible passengers are Mrs Spry, Mr Gage, Mrs Boustead (in beige coat), Mrs Gage (darker blue coat) and Mrs Wright (light blue coat). Neal’s Travel G806 HRN, a Reeve-Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 814D new in September 1989, was working the 0900 Suffolk County Council supported Fridays only service 145 from Lackford to Mildenhall.