Neal's Travel

Friday 9 February 2024 (0931) – Neal’s Coaches, Isleham (or Mil-Ken Travel) N21 NKT seen parked on the A1303 between Cambridge Airport and Quy. It is a Jonckheere bodied Volvo B11RT which I believe was new in November 2016 as BT66 MPX to Proctors Coaches, Leeming Bar for Lochs and Glens contract work.

Friday 4 November 1994 (0953) - Neal’s Travel M373 VER had just arrived back at King Street, Mildenhall having worked the 0922 service to/from West Row. It would now go on to work the 0940 service (slightly late) to/from Beck Row on which I took a ride. New to Neal’s in October 1994 this was a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV it became the regular vehicle on the Mildenhall local services. In addition to the Beck Row and West Row services there was also a town circular serving College Heath.

Wednesday 21 August 1991 – Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. Neal’s Travel C235 GNA, a Ford Transit/Deansgate new in 1986, was just leaving on one of their infrequent services to outlying villages. Behind that is a Cambus Leyland National sporting an all over advertising livery for Cambridge Museums. In the distance is a Cambridge Coach Services Plaxton Paramount bodied Volvo B10M and a Cambus Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR.

Saturday 26 June 1993 (1540) - Neal’s Travel E283 OMG, a Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 609D new in March 1988, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1540 service to Beck Row. Until May 1993 Neal’s had been based in the village of Chippenham and had recently moved to a new larger site at Isleham about 3 miles away.

Friday (11?) November 1994 - Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included market day only runs. Caetano Optimo bodied Toyota Coaster H391 CFT, which was new in March 1991, setting down in Church Lane, Barton Mills as it worked the return trip of service 145 from Mildenhall to Lackford. My then near neighbours Mr (Ted) and Mrs (Pam) Gage are in the photograph.

Friday 7 February 1992 – Neal’s Travel H475 HSG seen after setting down in Barton Mills when working the return trip of Suffolk County Council supported service 145 from Mildenhall to Lackford. The service comprised just one trip each way. This return trip departed Mildenhall Health Centre (Chestnut Close) at 1047 calling at King Street at 1050 then travelling via Barton Mills and Icklingham. Neal’s operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included such market day only runs. Mrs Chapman (in the green coat) and Mrs Brabbin had returned from Mildenhall with their market day shopping. St. Mary’s Church forms the backcloth. The Church dates from around the mid-1300s some parts possibly earlier.

Friday 4 November 1994 – Bus ticket issued on Neal’s Travel M373 VER working the 0940 service to/from Beck Row.

Thursday 11 May 1995 – King Street, Mildenhall just after 1800 hrs Left: Stagecoach owned United Counties Omnibus Company 711 (K711 KSA) had pulled up to set down students on a special contract for Cambridge Regional College. It was an Alexander RL bodied Leyland Olympian that was new to Fife Scottish, also a Stagecoach subsidiary, in September 1992. This was the regular bus assigned to the contract. It was part of the Huntingdon garage allocation although was parked overnight at the outstation site at Fiveways Filling Station, Barton Mills. Right: Neal’s Travel M373 VER had just arrived back from Beck Row on the last run of the day on the Mildenhall group of three local services. It became the regular vehicle on these services which comprised a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of Beck Row and West Row. New to Neal’s in October 1994 this was a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV.

Saturday 6 February 1993 - Neal’s Travel E46 MMT, a Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz L307D new in September 1997, seen parked at the former Mildenhall Upper School/Dome Sports Centre in Mildenhall.

Tuesday 8 November 1994 – The management of Schering-Plough decided it would be a good idea for the workforce at Mildenhall to visit the new head office at Welwyn Garden City for familiarisation visits which took place over three days 8/9/10 November 1994. I was tasked to hire the coaches and chose Neal’s Travel that provided Caetano Optimo bodied Toyota Coaster H314 HRY each day. It was seen in the office car park at Mildenhall on the first day. The staff based at Welwyn Garden City had visited the Mildenhall site on 25 and 27 October.

Tuesday 8 November 1994 – The management of Schering-Plough decided it would be a good idea for the workforce at Mildenhall to visit the new head office at Welwyn Garden City for familiarisation visits which took place over three days 8/9/10 November 1994. I was tasked to hire the coaches and chose Neal’s Travel that provided Caetano Optimo bodied Toyota Coaster H314 HRY each day. It was seen in the office car park at Mildenhall on the first day. The staff based at Welwyn Garden City had visited the Mildenhall site on 25 and 27 October.

Tuesday 27 December 1994 – The Neal’s Travel fleet had quite a number of small sized mini-coaches some of which were operated on taxi licences. This view at the Isleham premises shows (left to right): K327 EJV, an Autobus Classique bodied Mercedes-Benz 410D new in August 1992 E46 MMT, a Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz L307D new in September 1997 E353 DHK, a Ford Transit (possibly taxi/non-PSV) C235 GNA, a Ford Transit/Deansgate new in 1986