S.U.T. Limited

Saturday 11 February 1989 (1317) – S.U.T. of Sheffield operated the National Express service 351 through Mildenhall for a time. A339 YDT was running about 25 minutes late when seen at King Street, Mildenhall operating the 1010 service from Lowestoft to Manchester. Between Lowestoft and Cambridge this departure slotted into the two hourly frequency schedule mainly covered by service 747. This particular timing was always popular with riders bound for Newmarket and Cambridge for the afternoon and there had been quite a crowd of waiting passengers including Jane (Sparrow) and John (surname?) at the kerbside. The initials S.U.T. were derived from the well respected name of Sheffield United Tours, a company which was absorbed into National Travel (East). The post privatisation owners used names like N.T.E and S.U.T. The coach is a Jonckheere Jubilee bodied Volvo B10M registered in May 1984, one of ten such coaches (A332-341 YDT) new to National Travel (East) in the Spring of that year delivered in a contract livery for tour operator Intasun.

Wednesday 31 May 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 and visible on the left in the background. S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield A339 YDT was operating the 0715 Norwich to Blackpool National Express service 352. It is a Jonckheere Jubilee bodied Volvo B10M one of ten such coaches (A332-341 YDT) new to National Travel (East) in the Spring of 1984 delivered in a contract livery for tour operator Intasun. (This one registered in April 1984). The coach behind was a duplicate operated by Viking of Heywood.

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.

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. S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield A341 YDT was operating the 0715 Norwich to Blackpool National Express service 352. It is a Jonckheere Jubilee bodied Volvo B10M one of ten such coaches (A332-341 YDT) new to National Travel (East) in the Spring of 1984 delivered in a contract livery for tour operator Intasun. (This one registered in May 1984).

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. S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield A341 YDT was operating the 0715 Norwich to Blackpool National Express service 352. It is a Jonckheere Jubilee bodied Volvo B10M one of ten such coaches (A332-341 YDT) new to National Travel (East) in the Spring of 1984 delivered in a contract livery for tour operator Intasun. (This one registered in May 1984).

Sunday 21 February 1988 (approx. 1120) - S.U.T. of Sheffield operated the National Express service 351 through Mildenhall for a time. A309 XHE was seen King Street, Mildenhall when operating the 0900 Great Yarmouth to Blackpool service. Between Great Yarmouth and Cambridge this departure slotted into the schedule mainly covered by service 747. The initials S.U.T. were derived from the well respected name of Sheffield United Tours, a company which was absorbed into National Travel (East). The post privatisation owners used names like N.T.E and S.U.T. This coach was one of ten such vehicles (A305-314 XHE) received by National Travel (East) in late 1983 to operate a Club 18-30 Holiday contract and wore the Club 18-30 livery and fitted out with 7 reclining seats and 42 convertible sleeper type seats. New November 1983.

Sunday 21 February 1988 (approx. 1120) - S.U.T. of Sheffield operated the National Express service 351 through Mildenhall for a time. A309 XHE seen King Street, Mildenhall when operating the 0900 Great Yarmouth to Blackpool service. Between Great Yarmouth and Cambridge this departure slotted into the schedule mainly covered by service 747. The initials S.U.T. were derived from the well respected name of Sheffield United Tours, a company which was absorbed into National Travel (East). The post privatisation owners used names like N.T.E and S.U.T. This coach was one of ten such vehicles (A305-314 XHE) received by National Travel (East) in late 1983 to operate a Club 18-30 Holiday contract and wore the Club 18-30 livery and fitted out with 7 reclining seats and 42 convertible sleeper type seats. New November 1983. The white hoarding in the background surrounds the site that would later occupy Willow House, Ritz Video (later Blockbuster then Costa), Computer Scene (later En Thai Sing). The roof of the Budgens store (now Wilko) is on the right.

Thursday 7 September 1989 - S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield operated National Express services through Mildenhall for a time. SPY 372X was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard PSU5C/4R that had been new to Martindale Coaches of Ferryhill in March 1982. After sale by Martindales this coach was operated by different ATL Holdings group companies including Yelloway Motor Services of Rochdale. It had carried National Express livery but by now was painted in a light cream or off white colour. Liverpool bound on National Express service 350.

Thursday 7 September 1989 - S.U.T. of Sheffield operated National Express services through Mildenhall for a time. SPY 372X was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard PSU5C/4R that had been new to Martindale Coaches of Ferryhill in March 1982. After sale by Martindales this coach was operated by different ATL Holdings group companies including Yelloway Motor Services of Rochdale. It had carried National Express livery but by now was painted in a light cream or off white colour. Liverpool bound on National Express service 350.

Tuesday 13 September 1988 (1255) - S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield operated the National Express service 351 through Mildenhall for a time. XWK 7X was a Plaxton Viewmaster bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Harry Shaw of Bedworth in June 1982. It was operating the 1010 National Express service 351 from Lowestoft to Manchester which, between Lowestoft and Cambridge, slotted into the schedule mainly covered by service 747.

Saturday 7 January 1989 (1255) - S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield operated the National Express service 351 through Mildenhall for a time. XWK 7X was a Plaxton Viewmaster bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Harry Shaw of Bedworth in June 1982. It was operating the 1010 National Express service 351 from Lowestoft to Manchester which, between Lowestoft and Cambridge, slotted into the schedule mainly covered by service 747.

Saturday 2 September 1989 – S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield was owned by ATL Holdings that also owned Carlton PSV the Neoplan distributor in the UK. As a result the company operated a number of Neoplan coaches on National Express work including D808 RKY a single deck N216H Jetliner model new in May 1987. It was seen in Drummer Street, Cambridge taking a break whilst operating the 1015 Great Yarmouth to Liverpool service 350.

Saturday 2 September 1989 – S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield was owned by ATL Holdings that also owned Carlton PSV the Neoplan distributor in the UK. As a result the company operated a number of Neoplan coaches on National Express work including D808 RKY a single deck N216H Jetliner model new in May 1987. It was seen in Drummer Street, Cambridge taking a break whilst operating the 1015 Great Yarmouth to Liverpool service 350.

Sunday 1 May 1988 (0855) – S.U.T. of Sheffield A305 XHE seen at King Street, Mildenhall on the first day of the Summer 1988 National Express schedules. This was the 0720 Norwich to Manchester service 352 due in Manchester at 1800. This coach was one of ten such vehicles (A305-314 XHE) received by National Travel (East) in late 1983 to operate a Club 18-30 Holiday contract and wore the Club 18-30 livery and fitted out with 7 reclining seats and 42 convertible sleeper type seats. New December 1983. The two different blossom colours of the background trees add a seasonal touch to the photograph.

Saturday 3 September 1988 (1615) – S.U.T. of Sheffield A305 XHE seen travelling through Red Lodge spot on time when working the 0855 Manchester to Lowestoft National Express service 351. This coach was one of ten such vehicles (A305-314 XHE) received by National Travel (East) in late 1983 to operate a Club 18-30 Holiday contract and wore the Club 18-30 livery and fitted out with 7 reclining seats and 42 convertible sleeper type seats. New December 1983.

Sunday 30 April 1989 (1250) - S.U.T. Limited of Sheffield operated the National Express service 351 through Mildenhall for a time. This was the first day of the summer schedules and what had been the 1010 service 351 from Lowestoft to Manchester became the 1015 Great Yarmouth to Liverpool service 350 reaching Liverpool at 2150. THL 285Y was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to National Travel (East) in March 1983. In January 1987 National Travel (East) was privatised and sold to ATL Holdings initially as N.T.E. Coaches Limited soon after renamed S.U.T. Limited. The businesses occupying premises in the background include (left) Ritz Video Rentals (taken over by Blockbuster during 1989) and (right) Panda Insurance Brokers - the building later became a tattoo parlour. The larger building between them was a Budgens store at this time which later became a Wilko store until late 2023. Then what?? For a short period prior to the opening of their purpose built store on Recreation Way Sainsbury's also occupied this building.

Saturday 11 February 1989 (1540) – S.U.T. of Sheffield A305 XHE seen at Drummer Street, Cambridge when working the 0855 Manchester to Lowestoft (due 1910) National Express service 351. This coach was one of ten such vehicles (A305-314 XHE) received by National Travel (East) in late 1983 to operate a Club 18-30 Holiday contract and wore the Club 18-30 livery and fitted out with 7 reclining seats and 42 convertible sleeper type seats. New December 1983.