East Anglia 4 : North Essex

Early July 1999 (approx. 0740) – Viceroy of Essex (from Saffron Walden) HIL 4346 seen in the Hertfordshire village of Barley working service 445 to Saffron Walden. The chassis is a Leyland Atlantean AN68/2R that had been new to Leeds City Transport circa December 1973/January 1974 fitted with Roe double deck bodywork. Re-bodied with this East Lancs EL2000 single deck body in December 1992. (Original registration said to be SUG 565M although shown as SUG 561M on ‘Bus Lists on the Web’). Richmond’s Coaches garage stands in the background.

Wednesday 30 June 2004 - Viceroy Coaches of Saffron Walden, Essex V384 NOA, a Mercedes-Benz O 405 added to the fleet in 2000, seen in the village of Barley bound for Newport and Saffron Walden on service 445. The service was just one schoolday only trip from Barley (Church End) at 0740 with a corresponding return run in the afternoon. The garage of H V Richmond Ltd (Richmond’s Coaches) is across the road.

Friday 11 May 2001 (approx. 0730) – Viceroy of Essex (from Saffron Walden) W669 TNV, a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new circa June 2000, seen in the Hertfordshire village of Barley. Showing ‘Barley’ on the destination display it would soon change to show Saffron Walden where it was now heading. Richmond’s Coaches is based in Barley and one of their coaches, parked on their garage forecourt, is located on the extreme left of the photograph.

Saturday 27 May 2000 – RAF Mildenhall Air Fete Left is Stagecoach Grimsby-Cleethorpes 671 (S671 RWJ), a Jonckheere Modulo bodied Volvo B10M new in November 1998. Right is Viceroy of Essex (from Saffron Walden) F464 SJD, a 1988/1989 Duple 340 bodied Volvo B10M, which had been acquired from Burton Coaches of Haverhill in whose colours it remained.

Friday 13 August 2010 (1648) – Two vehicles of Viceroy Coaches from Saffron Walden, Essex seen at Bury St Edmunds bus station. AE05 MZL is a BMC Probus 850-Club bought new in June 2005 and GO02 CLA an Irizar Century bodied Scania new in March 2002 to Classic of Annfield Plain, County Durham. (Behind them is Mulleys SF55 FVP).

Friday 13 August 2010 (1648) – Two vehicles of Viceroy Coaches from Saffron Walden, Essex seen at Bury St Edmunds bus station. AE05 MZL is a BMC Probus 850-Club bought new in June 2005. (Behind was GO02 CLA an Irizar Century bodied Scania new in March 2002 to Classic of Annfield Plain, County Durham).

Friday 13 August 2010 (1649) – Viceroy Coaches from Saffron Walden, Essex, GO02 CLA is an Irizar Century bodied Scania which was new in March 2002 to Classic of Annfield Plain, County Durham - hence ‘CLA’ in registration number. Seen at Bury St Edmunds bus station.

Bank Holiday Monday 28 August 1989 (approx. 0820) – Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall TIA 5819 seen in Drummer Street, Cambridge prior to leaving for Great Yarmouth as a duplicate to the National Express service 747. This was a most unusual Spanish built Ayats Apollo with Magirus-Deutz chassis (or running units if an integral model). Magirus, Fiat etc were part of the Iveco empire. It was new to Hogg’s of Boston, Lincolnshire in October 1982 registered DVC 357Y. The main passenger seating was all on one level above the cavernous luggage storage area and the toilet compartment. The luggage area was accessed by the lifting of what was a long single panel running the whole side between the front and rear wheels. There was a single seat alongside the driver in the very low set driving position as well as a driver sleeping area. It is said that only two of this type were imported into the United Kingdom. The first entered service with Halls of Coventry registered AAC 500X (later re-registered BWK 78Y). This suffered serious fire damage in 1983. ‘Motor Transport’ newspaper dated 10 August 1983 carried a report that the only other Ayats Apollo in Britain owned by Hogg of Boston, Lincolnshire was loaned to the owner of the damaged vehicle. (Later, in August 1983, there was one more Ayats Apollo which entered service in the UK operated by John Smith of Thirsk registered WJV 980 although that was MAN powered).

Bank Holiday Monday 28 August 1989 (approx. 0820) – Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall TIA 5819 seen in Drummer Street, Cambridge prior to leaving for Great Yarmouth as a duplicate to the National Express service 747. This was a most unusual Spanish built Ayats Apollo with Magirus-Deutz chassis (or running units if an integral model). Magirus, Fiat etc were part of the Iveco empire. It was new to Hogg’s of Boston, Lincolnshire in October 1982 registered DVC 357Y. The main passenger seating was all on one level above the cavernous luggage storage area and the toilet compartment. The luggage area was accessed by the lifting of what was a long single panel running the whole side between the front and rear wheels. There was a single seat alongside the driver in the very low set driving position as well as a driver sleeping area. It is said that only two of this type were imported into the United Kingdom. The first entered service with Halls of Coventry registered AAC 500X (later re-registered BWK 78Y). This suffered serious fire damage in 1983. ‘Motor Transport’ newspaper dated 10 August 1983 carried a report that the only other Ayats Apollo in Britain owned by Hogg of Boston, Lincolnshire was loaned to the owner of the damaged vehicle. (Later, in August 1983, there was one more Ayats Apollo which entered service in the UK operated by John Smith of Thirsk registered WJV 980 although that was MAN powered).

Bank Holiday Monday 28 August 1989 (approx. 0820) – Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall TIA 5819 seen in Drummer Street, Cambridge prior to leaving for Great Yarmouth as a duplicate to the National Express service 747. This was a most unusual Spanish built Ayats Apollo with Magirus-Deutz chassis (or running units if an integral model). Magirus, Fiat etc were part of the Iveco empire. It was new to Hogg’s of Boston, Lincolnshire in October 1982 registered DVC 357Y. The main passenger seating was all on one level above the cavernous luggage storage area and the toilet compartment. The luggage area was accessed by the lifting of what was a long single panel running the whole side between the front and rear wheels. There was a single seat alongside the driver in the very low set driving position as well as a driver sleeping area. It is said that only two of this type were imported into the United Kingdom. The first entered service with Halls of Coventry registered AAC 500X (later re-registered BWK 78Y). This suffered serious fire damage in 1983. ‘Motor Transport’ newspaper dated 10 August 1983 carried a report that the only other Ayats Apollo in Britain owned by Hogg of Boston, Lincolnshire was loaned to the owner of the damaged vehicle. (Later, in August 1983, there was one more Ayats Apollo which entered service in the UK operated by John Smith of Thirsk registered WJV 980 although that was MAN powered).

Bank Holiday Monday 28 August 1989 (approx. 0820) – Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall PSU 353 seen parked in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge awaiting instructions to work as a National Express duplicate. It is a Caetano Algarve bodied DAF MB200 which I believe was new to Thomas of Tonypandy in April 1984 registered A336 VHB. The Cambus Leyland Leopard on the right was working the 0830 National Express service 098 to London (Victoria).

Sunday 22 October 1989 – Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall PSU 353 seen unloading at Drummer Street, Cambridge (on hire to Premier Travel Services I seem to recall). Funstons was based in the former Premier Travel garage at Chrishall. It is a Caetano Algarve bodied DAF MB200 which I believe was new to Thomas of Tonypandy in April 1984 registered A336 VHB.

Easter Sunday 26 April 1989 - Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall coaches parked at their garage in Chrishall. This property had once been a key base of Premier Travel Services Limited until PTS centralised their operations on the outskirts of Cambridge. Prominent is BRN 3Y, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger new to Ribble (1003) in April 1983. Alongside that is YWE 499M, a Duple Dominant 1 bodied Bedford YRT that had been new to National Travel East (Hebble) (71) in December 1973. Furthest away is EAP 939V, a Duple Dominant 2 bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new to Southdown (1339) in December 1979.

Easter Sunday 26 April 1989 - Funstons Transport Services Limited of Chrishall coaches parked at their garage in Chrishall. This property had once been a key base of Premier Travel Services Limited until PTS centralised their operations on the outskirts of Cambridge. Left to right: EAP 939V, a Duple Dominant 2 bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new to Southdown (1339) in December 1979 YWE 499M, a Duple Dominant 1 bodied Bedford YRT that had been new to National Travel East (Hebble) (71) in December 1973 BRN 3Y, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger new to Ribble (1003) in April 1983

Sunday 6 May 2018 – Ipswich-Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run Wearing the livery of Don’s Coaches and entered by Steve Harvey (both of Great Dunmow, Essex) is A62 OJX, a Plaxton Panorama 3200 Mark I bodied Leyland Leopard. It was new to Abbeyways/Ivesway (Traject) of Huddersfield in February 1984.

Sunday 6 May 2018 – Ipswich-Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run Wearing the livery of Don’s Coaches and entered by Steve Harvey (both of Great Dunmow, Essex) is A62 OJX, a Plaxton Panorama 3200 Mark I bodied Leyland Leopard. It was new to Abbeyways/Ivesway (Traject) of Huddersfield in February 1984.

Saturday 12 August 2017 (1548) – Three vehicles of Don’s Coaches of Dunmow seen in the coach parking area at the July Racecourse at Newmarket. DN12 DON, a Van Hool Alizee bodied Volvo B13R that was new in March 2012 to Memory Lane Holidays and Travel (Elliot) of Golborne near Warrington registered YJ12 KFE. DH61 DON, a Lahden OmniExpress bodied Scania K400EB6 new to CMAC of Accrington in December 2012 registered YT61 FFG. DH15 DON, an Irizar PB bodied Scania K410 new to City Circle, Hayes in March 2015 registered YT15 AVB.

Wednesday 31 October 2018 (1120) – Two vehicles operated by Don's Coaches of Great Dunmow seen during a toilet/refreshment break at Fiveways, Barton Mills on a private hire charter. DH16 DON is an Irizar i6 new to City Circle, Hayes in April 2016 registered YN16 WUP. Standing behind is DN12 DON, a Van Hool T9 Alizee bodied Volvo B13RT new to Memory Lane Holidays and Travel (Elliott) of Golborne near Warrington in March 2012 registered YJ12 KFE.