East Anglia 4 : North Essex

Wednesday 31 October 2018 (1120) – Don's Coaches of Great Dunmow 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. It was seen during a toilet/refreshment break at Fiveways, Barton Mills on a private hire charter working with a second vehicle DH16 DON, an Irizar i6.

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.

Friday 10 May 2019 (1655) – Don’s of Dunmow DN10 DON seen in slow moving traffic on the A11 at Barton Mills. It is a Van Hool TD927 Astromega new to Watts Coaches of Bonvilston, near Cardiff in June 2010 registered WA10 CGE.

Monday 17 May 2021 (1323) – Don’s Coaches of Great Dunmow DH21 DON, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new in March 2021, seen in traffic on the approach to Fiveways, Barton Mills.

Monday 17 May 2021 (1323) – Don’s Coaches of Great Dunmow DH21 DON, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new in March 2021, seen in traffic on the approach to Fiveways, Barton Mills.

Saturday evening 5 August 1995 – Brandons of Blackmore End near Great Dunmow LXR 958 seen at King Street, Mildenhall. It is a Van Hool TD824 Astromega that had been new to Parks of Hamilton in March 1983 registered MSU 586Y.

Saturday evening 5 August 1995 – Brandons of Blackmore End near Great Dunmow LXR 958 seen at King Street, Mildenhall. It is a Van Hool TD824 Astromega that had been new to Parks of Hamilton in March 1983 registered MSU 586Y.

Monday 11 October 2021 (0942) – Flagfinders (CTB) Limited of Braintree GB54 FLG seen cruising down Chalk Hill between Red Lodge and Barton Mills on the A11. It is a Bova Futura FHD13-340 new to Brookfield Coaches of Stockport in October 2004 registered YJ54 EXG. Flagfinders of Braintree GB54 FLG (YJ54 EXG) on the A11 near Barton Mills - 11 Oct 2021 (

Monday 11 October 2021 (0942) – Flagfinders (CTB) Limited of Braintree GB54 FLG seen cruising along the A11 near Barton Mills. It is a Bova Futura FHD13-340 new to Brookfield Coaches of Stockport in October 2004 registered YJ54 EXG

Sunday 13 August 2023 – ‘The Big Bus Show’ Rally held at Stonham Barns. LJ03 MBY, a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL was new to Arriva London North (VLW151) in April 2003. Now a playbus with the East Anglian Playbus Company, Thorpe St. Andrew, Norfolk. In the background is M511 VJO, a Marshall bodied Dennis Dart that had been new to City of Oxford Motor Services in March 1995. Now owned by West Suffolk SOS Bus, a multi-agency initiative primarily designed to meet the needs of vulnerable people out and about in West Suffolk's nightlife.

Sunday 13 August 2023 - Some of the vehicles on display at ‘The Big Bus Show’ Rally held at Stonham Barns. Preserved PRO 439W, a Plaxton Supreme IV bodied Bristol LHS6L that had been new to Skinner & Harvey, Oxted in October 1980. Preserved as Independent Coachways, Horsforth. Peelings Coaches (J Joplin), Tittleshall near King’s Lynn FAH 275Y, a Plaxton Supreme V bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1982 to Smith’s Coaches of Wood Norton, near Fakenham. Peelings Coaches (J Joplin), Tittleshall near King’s Lynn JJZ 8022 is a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B12B that was new to Kenzie’s Coaches in April 2008 initially registered YJ08 NSY then re-registered K10 CBK. Don’s of Dunmow F602 MSL, an Alexander RL bodied Leyland Olympian new to Stagecoach owned Hampshire Bus in August 1988 Preserved OJD 45R, an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol LH new in September 1976 to London Transport (BL45) Thompson’s Coaches of Framlingham YJ67 TCZ, a Yutong ZK6939HQ new in September 2017 to Sewards Coaches, Dalwood, Devon. Fareline Bus & Coach Company (G Morss) of Wingfield, Suffolk T127 OAH, a Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE new to Ambassador Travel (524) in March 1999. Previously operated by Whincop Coaches of Peasenhall registered OJI 742.

Sunday 13 August 2023 – ‘The Big Bus Show’ Rally held at Stonham Barns. Don’s Coaches of Dunmow TXI 8756, a unique Jonckheere bodied Dennis Lancet which was new to Young’s Coaches of Rampton in February 1985 registered B135 AAV. Fareline Bus & Coach Company (G Morss) of Wingfield, Suffolk T127 OAH, a Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE new to Ambassador Travel (524) in March 1999. Previously operated by Whincop Coaches of Peasenhall registered OJI 742.

Sunday 13 August 2023 – ‘The Big Bus Show’ Rally held at Stonham Barns. D434 BCJ, a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT new to Yeomans, Canon Pyon (9) in April 1997

Sunday 13 August 2023 – Ticket machines for sale on a stall at ‘The Big Bus Show’ Rally, Stonham Barns. Top left and right are ‘Ultimate’ ticket machines manufactured by the Bell Punch Company. Left is a five bank machine and right is a six bank machine. These machines required rolls of pre-printed and numbered tickets. The different value rolls were usually different colours and the conductor would issue any number of combinations to achieve the required fare value. Sometimes this would be by issuing two of the same value ticket (say two twopence tickets to cover a fourpence fare). When this was the case the ticket number of the second ticket would have strike bars through the number. A mixture of ticket values and operator names are featured in the tickets in the machines (Maidstone Borough Council, City of Cardiff Transport, South Yorkshire etc). My inserted photograph shows an example of a Rochdale Corporation bus ticket. Bottom left and right are ‘T.I.M.’ ticket machines manufactured by Ticket Issuing Machines of Cirencester. These machines required plain paper ticket rolls. The conductor dialled up the fare value, class of ticket (adult, child, workman etc), stage number and wound the handle to issue the ticket. My inserted photographs show example of tickets issued by Swiss Post Bus and Bury Corporation Transport. Both types of machine record information which can be viewed through apertures on the machine body.

Sunday 13 August 2023 – ‘The Big Bus Show’ Rally held at Stonham Barns. Former Post Office Corporation LDV Post Bus 6750039 (P920 RSC) new circa 1996 KV03 ZFE, a Caetano bodied Transbus Dart new in April 2003 to CT Plus (Hackney Community Transport) as their DCS1.