'Ipernity HBM

Friday 11 January 2019 (1106) – Go-Ahead owned Konectbus 950 (AU07 KMM) seen in Tombland, Norwich working cross city service 50 from Eaton to Mousehold Heath. It is an Optare Solo that had been new to Anglian Bus in August 2007. Both Konectbus and Anglian Bus were subsequently acquired by the Go-Ahead Group with the latter being absorbed by the former. The restaurant on the corner of the street carries the name of Edith Cavell, the nurse who was a native of Swardeston near Norwich. She had lived in Belgium prior to World War I and is celebrated for nursing and tending soldiers from any side indiscriminately when war started. She helped numerous Allied soldiers escape German occupied Belgium for which she was sentenced and shot by a German firing squad in 1915. Edith is buried in the grounds of the nearby Norwich Cathedral.

Mon 9 June 2008 – 1554 hrs (Local time) - A small number of buses operated by Ivo Matt A.G., the main contractor to LBA (Liechtenstein Bus Anstalt), carry the Swiss Postbus livery but with LBA logos. These buses tend to appear on school runs and peak hour service workings. FL 28503, a Setra S315, was seen at Buchs (SG), Switzerland on its first of two afternoon peak round trips from here to Balzers. We travelled on this bus to Vaduz, the Liechtenstein capital.

Friday 11 January 2019 (1057) – First Eastern Counties Buses 32201 (LT52 WTF) seen in Tombland, Norwich. It is a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL that was new in October 2001 to First Capital in London as their VTL1201 with branding for the ‘Purple Line’ group of services 36/37/38. The spire of Norwich Cathedral can be seen through the trees.

Friday 8 September 2023 (1211) – Unō (Universitybus Limited) 370 (BG14 OPC) seen on The Ridgeway at Marshalswick bound for Welwyn Garden City on ‘Tigermoth’ branded service 653. It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to Malta Public Transport registered BUS 362. The Universitybus premises are located on an industrial estate that was once the de Havilland Aircraft Company airfield and the roads on the site have names reflecting that heritage, Universitybus is based on Gypsy Moth Avenue. The names from that heritage are also used on some of Universitybus brandings that include famous aircraft types like ‘Tiger Moth’, ‘Comet’ and ‘Dragonfly’. This bus is named ‘Joan Hughes’. In January 1940 at Hatfield aerodrome, eight women pilots joined the ranks of Air Transport Auxiliary, a civilian organisation which ferried planes between factories and front-line RAF airfields during World War II. The Unō website includes a page listing the eight pilots: www.unobus.info/tigermoth-girls/?region=

Monday 25 June 2018 (1034) – Whippet Coaches Caetano Levante bodied Scania K410s seen in Mildenhall bus station working National Express service 727. One was heading eastbound on the 0630 from Heathrow to Norwich (due here 1015), the other was heading westbound on the 0855 from Norwich UEA to Gatwick Airport (due here 1035). Nearest the camera is NX28 (BV67 JZN) with NX25 (BV67 JZJ) further away. They were new in January 2018.

Wednesday 5 July 2017 (1512) – Go-South Coast (Southern Vectis) 1403 (HF09 FVW) seen on Shanklin Esplanade working the ‘Shanklin Breezer’ open top service. The service runs every 30 minutes requiring one bus for the half hour circuit. An Optare Visionaire bodied Scania N230UB new to Wilts and Dorset in June 2009.

Friday 7 July 2017 (1039) – Following the withdrawal of the normal bus service from Ventnor to St. Lawrence (west of the town) and Bonchurch (to the east) a substitute was provided with support from Ventnor Town Council. Service 31 covers three different routes worked by one mini-bus five days a week between 0945 and 1348. Renault mini-bus HX53 AZC, operated by Priory School in Whippingham, was seen on the Esplanade seafront.

Monday 13 June 2016 (0739) – Spirit Buses was based in Rothbury, Northumberland where this photograph was taken. Alexander Dennis Enviro200D MX14 FUG was on its way from the garage to Thropton at the start of its day. It was new to Ace Travel of Aintree, Liverpool in March 2014. From Thropton it would then work the 0745 service 15 via Rothbury to Alnwick serving the bus station (0815) then continuing via the town centre to Willowburn Retail Park (0825) and Cawledge Business Park (by the A1) (0830) on the eastern side of the town.

Monday 22 April 2024 (1136) – Whippet Coaches Limited FX41 (OY23 CYP), a Neoplan N2216 Tourliner new in July 2023, seen arriving at Trumpington Park & Ride, Cambridge working Flixbus service N601 from Amsterdam (The Netherlands) to Leeds (UK). It had departed Amsterdam at 2250 the previous evening (Sunday 21 April 2024). The timetable is as follows although it was 1 hour 21 minutes behind schedule when seen here: Amsterdam 2250 Utrecht 2330-2335 Antwerp 0115-0120 C4T 0345-0355 Calais Eurotunnel 0410-0620 Folkestone Eurotunnel 0655-0700 London, North Greenwich 0835-0840 London, Stratford 0905-0915 Cambridge, Trumpington 1015-1025 Leicester, Fosse Park 1210-1215 Nottingham, Cinderhill 1255-1300 Sheffield, Meadowhall 1350-1355 Leeds 1325

Friday 8 September 2023 (1017) – Unō (Universitybus Limited) 316 (BF59 NHY) seen on The Ridgeway, Marshalswick when working 0900 service 653 from Welwyn Garden City to St. Albans and New Greens running about 23 minutes late. It is a Mercedes-Benz O 530 Citaro new in September 2009. In the late 1990s my younger daughter Jane attended the University of Hertfordshire and, together with a number of other students, rented one of the apartments in the background.

Tuesday 2 November 1993 – A time exposure shot on a very gloomy morning at Newmarket bus station to feature a destination display I had not personally seen before. Cambus 720 (YNG 210S), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new to Eastern Counties as their VR210 in June 1978, was working to Ely College on service 116.

Saturday 25 May 2019 (0848) – Preston’s iconic bus station opened in October 1969 and a leaflet published by Ribble Motor Services for the opening said it was the largest bus station in Britain. Originally it had 80 loading stands. Those on the on the western side were numbered 1 to 40 and were primarily used by the buses of Preston Corporation Transport (plus Ribble on some joint services they worked with PCT). The bays on this side of the bus station are no longer used by buses and the area outside is being redeveloped. Consequently the interior where passengers would wait is somewhat empty looking now. All the activity is concentrated on the eastern side.

September 1998 - Some of the school/college related services operated by Suffolk County Council were also available to the general public. B588 NJF was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 0738 service 152 from Beck Row to Bury St. Edmunds. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied DAF SB 2300 that was new to Lewis of Pailton near Rugby in February 1985. It carries the blue and white livery that replaced the earlier orange and cream.

Thursday 1 June 1989 - During late May/early June 1989 the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall was temporarily closed for repaving. During the period of the closure buses and coaches stopped outside the Budgens store in St. Andrew’s Street. The lay-by and shelter is visible in the background. The coach is S.U.T. of Sheffield A341 YDT, a Jonckheere Jubilee bodied Volvo B10M new to National Travel (East) in May 1984, that was operating the 0715 Norwich to Blackpool National Express service 352. There was a National Express inspector carrying out a spot check this morning. This was one of ten such coaches (A332-341 YDT) received by National Travel (East) in the Spring of 1984 delivered in a contract livery for tour operator Intasun.

Sunday 28 June 2015 (1421) – O Ddrws I Ddrws, a community organisation, Renault mini-bus CN12 DFP seen during a break at Aberdaron on the tip of the Llŷn peninsula in north west Wales. It was working the Sunday only Llŷn Coastal Bus service. For information the approximate translations are: O Ddrws I Ddrws = From door to door Bws Arfordir Llŷn = Llŷn Coastal Bus

Saturday 5 August 1995 – Simonds of Botesdale LIB 226 seen at King Street, Mildenhall working a Grand UK tour feeder service. It is a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Nationwide, Lanark in August 1988 registered F711 SFS. After sale by Simonds this coach passed to Mulleys Motorways in 1997 having been re-registered as F310 EVG.

Tuesday 24 July 2007 (approx. 0745) - First Cymru 41197 (S197 KLM) was a Marshall bodied Dennis Dart that had been new to First Centrewest (London) in September 1998. It was seen in South Parade, Tenby about to work the 0750 service 349 to Haverfordwest. The bi-lingual destination indicator shows Withybush Hospital (Ysbyty Llwyn Helyg).