Theobold's (Bedfordshire)

Saturday 5 August 2017 (0948) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire L15 TBC, a Neoplan N516 new to Parry’s of Cheslyn Hay in March 2004 as YN04 AUU. It was seen about to re-join the A11 at Red Lodge, Suffolk when working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area to Great Yarmouth. The facility was listed in the company brochure each Saturday from 22 July until 2 September in 2017. I suspect it had just taken a break at either the Red Lodge Café or Red Lodge Inn. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 5 August 2017 (0948) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire L15 TBC, a Neoplan N516 new to Parry’s of Cheslyn Hay in March 2004 as YN04 AUU. It was seen about to re-join the A11 at Red Lodge, Suffolk when working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area to Great Yarmouth. The facility was listed in the company brochure each Saturday from 22 July until 2 September in 2017. I suspect it had just taken a break at either the Red Lodge Café or Red Lodge Inn. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 18 August 2018 (0947) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire L15 TBC, a Neoplan N516 new to Parry’s of Cheslyn Hay in March 2004 as YN04 AUU. It was seen just after leaving the Picnic Area near Fiveways (A1065), Barton Mills when working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area to Great Yarmouth. The company’s brochure listed the facility for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 18 August 2018 (0936) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire L15 TBC, a Neoplan N516 new to Parry’s of Cheslyn Hay in March 2004 as YN04 AUU. It was seen at the Picnic Area near Fiveways (A1065), Barton Mills when working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area to Great Yarmouth. The company’s brochure listed the facility for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor! In the background is Lawmans Coaches of Kettering 53 (RL17 RSL), a VDL Futura FHD2-129 new in April 2017.

Sunday 7 October 2018 (1012) - Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire L15 TBC seen leaving the Shell Service Area at Fiveways, Barton Mills after taking a refreshment break. One window label showed ‘Castle Street, St. Joseph’s’ and another ‘Luton 1’ which led me to think the coach was on a pilgrimage charter bound for Walsingham. It is a Neoplan N516 that had been new to Parry’s of Cheslyn Hey in March 2004 as YN04 AUU.

Sunday 7 October 2018 (1012) - Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire L15 TBC seen leaving the Shell Service Area at Fiveways, Barton Mills after taking a refreshment break. One window label showed ‘Castle Street, St. Joseph’s’ and another ‘Luton 1’ which led me to think the coach was on a pilgrimage charter bound for Walsingham. It is a Neoplan N516 that had been new to Parry’s of Cheslyn Hey in March 2004 as YN04 AUU.

Saturday 1 September 2018 (1736) - Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire MT60 WKA, a Neoplan N2216 new in January 2011 to Weardale Coaches, Stanhope, County Durham, seen heading westbound on the A11 at Barton Mills. This was the homeward bound run of a combined Great Yarmouth day excursion and weekly holiday express service which the company’s brochure listed for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018 so this was the last run of the season. I missed the outward bound run earlier in the day by just moments so had to be content with this shot from across the carriageway.

Saturday 1 September 2018 (1736) - Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire MT60 WKA, a Neoplan N2216 new in January 2011 to Weardale Coaches, Stanhope, County Durham, seen heading westbound on the A11 at Barton Mills. This was the homeward bound run of a combined Great Yarmouth day excursion and weekly holiday express service which the company’s brochure listed for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018 so this was the last run of the season. I missed the outward bound run earlier in the day by just moments so had to be content with this shot from across the carriageway.

Saturday 25 August 2018 (0957) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop. It was seen on the A1065 approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills having just taken a break at the nearby Picnic Area bound for Great Yarmouth working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area. The company’s brochure listed the facility for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 25 August 2018 (0931) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop. It was seen at the Picnic Area near Fiveways (A1065), Barton Mills when working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area to Great Yarmouth. The company’s brochure listed the facility for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 25 August 2018 (0957) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop. It was seen on the A1065 approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills having just taken a break at the nearby Picnic Area bound for Great Yarmouth working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area. The company’s brochure listed the facility for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 25 August 2018 (0933) – Theobold’s Coaches of Dunstable, Bedfordshire MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop. It was seen at the Picnic Area near Fiveways (A1065), Barton Mills when working a combined excursion and holiday express service from the Bedfordshire area to Great Yarmouth. The company’s brochure listed the facility for each Saturday between 21 July and 1 September in 2018. In past years there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays the holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is one survivor!

Saturday 7 August 2021 (0939) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills heading for Great Yarmouth. For some years Theobold’s has operated this holiday express service and it was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630. I don’t know where the coach would take a break. In past years the café at Red Lodge has been used (2017) as has the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways (both in 2018). It didn’t use either of the two Barton Mills locations on 24 July (passing through at 0917) and 7 August (passing through at 0939). I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!

Saturday 7 August 2021 (0939) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills heading for Great Yarmouth. For some years Theobold’s has operated this holiday express service and it was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630. I don’t know where the coach would take a break. In past years the café at Red Lodge has been used (2017) as has the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways (both in 2018). It didn’t use either of the two Barton Mills locations on 24 July (passing through at 0917) and 7 August (passing through at 0939). I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!

Saturday 7 August 2021 (0939) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton MF11 LUJ, a Neoplan N2216 new in March 2011 to Johnson’s Tours of Worksop, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills heading for Great Yarmouth. For some years Theobold’s has operated this holiday express service and it was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630. I don’t know where the coach would take a break. In past years the café at Red Lodge has been used (2017) as has the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways (both in 2018). It didn’t use either of the two Barton Mills locations on 24 July (passing through at 0917) and 7 August (passing through at 0939). I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!

Saturday 14 August 2021 (0933) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton, Bedfordshire MT60 WKA, a Neoplan N2216 new in January 2011 to Weardale Coaches, Stanhope, County Durham. It was seen during a refreshment/toilet break (0930-0954) at the Barton Mills Picnic Area (A1065) when operating the holiday express service to Great Yarmouth which Theobold’s has operated for quite a few years. It was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630. On the two previous Saturdays the coach didn’t make a stop at Barton Mills and passed straight through (on 24 July at 0917 and on 7 August at 0939). In past years various points have been used in Suffolk for the break including the café at Red Lodge (2017) plus the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area (both in 2018). I don’t think the service operated in 2019 due to the pandemic. I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!

Saturday 14 August 2021 (0934) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton, Bedfordshire MT60 WKA, a Neoplan N2216 new in January 2011 to Weardale Coaches, Stanhope, County Durham. It was seen during a refreshment/toilet break (0930-0954) at the Barton Mills Picnic Area (A1065) when operating the holiday express service to Great Yarmouth which Theobold’s has operated for quite a few years. It was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630. On the two previous Saturdays the coach didn’t make a stop at Barton Mills and passed straight through (on 24 July at 0917 and on 7 August at 0939). In past years various points have been used in Suffolk for the break including the café at Red Lodge (2017) plus the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area (both in 2018). I don’t think the service operated in 2019 due to the pandemic. I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!

Saturday 14 August 2021 (0954) – Theobold’s Coaches of Luton, Bedfordshire MT60 WKA, a Neoplan N2216 new in January 2011 to Weardale Coaches, Stanhope, County Durham. It was seen resuming its journey after taking a refreshment/toilet break (0930-0954) at the Barton Mills Picnic Area (A1065) when operating the holiday express service to Great Yarmouth which Theobold’s has operated for quite a few years. It was nice to see it revived again for 2021 despite all the Coronavirus uncertainties. (Operated on 29 May, 5 June, 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2021). As well as carrying holiday passengers who stay at the coast for a week or two, the coach is also advertised as a day excursion. It would give day visitors an arrival at about 1130 returning about 1630. On the two previous Saturdays the coach didn’t make a stop at Barton Mills and passed straight through (on 24 July at 0917 and on 7 August at 0939). In past years various points have been used in Suffolk for the break including the café at Red Lodge (2017) plus the Shell Service Area and the Picnic Area (both in 2018). I don’t think the service operated in 2019 due to the pandemic. I recall in the 1980s/1990s there was quite an abundance of companies that operated Saturday holiday services to the Norfolk coast which travelled through this district making a call at one of the catering establishments in Red Lodge or Barton Mills. Nowadays these holiday services are all but gone. Glad to see there is at least one survivor!