Fenland Busfest - 21 May 2023

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1106) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. N515 PYS is a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M. (N suffix registrations were issued to new vehicles between 1 August 1995 and 31 July 1996). Beautifully turned out in the livery of Robinsons Kimbolton Limited. I think the vehicle is now preserved and not owned by Robinsons (despite it looking very much like one of their own very active and immaculate fleet).

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1110) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. It is a pity that sound doesn’t come with this photograph so that the magnificent sound of this Leyland PD2/12 could be heard. Bodied by Metro-Cammell it was new to Portsmouth Corporation in April 1956 as a standard covered top bus. In April 1971 it was modified to become an open top bus. Now operated by Viscount Travel Limited of Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1110) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. It is a pity that sound doesn’t come with this photograph so that the magnificent sound of this Leyland PD2/12 could be heard. Bodied by Metro-Cammell it was new to Portsmouth Corporation in April 1956 as a standard covered top bus. In April 1971 it was modified to become an open top bus. Now operated by Viscount Travel Limited of Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1113) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Whippet Coaches WD451 (YT10 UWA), a Scania N230UD OmniCity that had been new to London United (SP165) in April 2010.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1130) – Dews Coaches of Somersham BU52 ELY seen at Whittlesey bus station during a run as part of the annual Fenland Busfest. The public may travel free of charge on the scheduled runs starting from the Market Place which are worked by old and new vehicles over the day. Returning runs set down at the bus station and then return to either Broad Street or Market Street where vehicles were displayed. New the previous month (in April 2023) this MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE now carries a cherished registration previously used on other vehicles for operation around the city of Ely. The characters have been displayed as BU5 2 ELY – bus to Ely. The destination display marks the 70th anniversary of the company formed in 1953.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1129) – Dews Coaches of Somersham BU52 ELY seen at Whittlesey bus station during a run as part of the annual Fenland Busfest. The public may travel free of charge on the scheduled runs starting from the Market Place which are worked by old and new vehicles over the day. Returning runs set down at the bus station and then return to either Broad Street or Market Street where vehicles were displayed. New the previous month (in April 2023) this MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE now carries a cherished registration previously used on other vehicles for operation around the city of Ely. The characters have been displayed as BU5 2 ELY – bus to Ely. The destination display marks the 70th anniversary of the company formed in 1953.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1130) – Dews Coaches of Somersham BU52 ELY seen at Whittlesey bus station during a run as part of the annual Fenland Busfest. The public may travel free of charge on the scheduled runs starting from the Market Place which are worked by old and new vehicles over the day. Returning runs set down at the bus station and then return to either Broad Street or Market Street where vehicles were displayed. New the previous month (in April 2023) this MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE now carries a cherished registration previously used on other vehicles for operation around the city of Ely. The characters have been displayed as BU5 2 ELY – bus to Ely. The destination display marks the 70th anniversary of the company formed in 1953.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1103) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Preserved former H C Chambers and Son of Bures, Suffolk G864 XDX, an Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian new to Chambers in November 1989. On right is A2B Travel Group AU53 HKD, a Transbus built Alexander style ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL new October 2003 to First Eastern Counties. The colour scheme and wording remain the Ipswich Reds network operated FEC.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1102) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Preserved former H C Chambers and Son of Bures, Suffolk G864 XDX, an Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian new to Chambers in November 1989.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1115) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Preserved former H C Chambers and Son of Bures, Suffolk G864 XDX, an Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian new to Chambers in November 1989.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1119) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Richmond’s of Barley H2 CBK seen arriving at the Market Place. It is a Van Hool Acron bodied Volvo B12BT that had been new to Kenzie’s Coaches of Shepreth in April 2008 registered YJ08 NSV.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1119) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Richmond’s of Barley H2 CBK seen arriving at the Market Place. It is a Van Hool Acron bodied Volvo B12BT that had been new to Kenzie’s Coaches of Shepreth in April 2008 registered YJ08 NSV.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1120) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Richmond’s of Barley H2 CBK seen at the Market Place. It is a Van Hool Acron bodied Volvo B12BT that had been new to Kenzie’s Coaches of Shepreth in April 2008 registered YJ08 NSV.

S Sunday 21 May 2023 (1057) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Richmond’s of Barley H2 CBK, a Van Hool Acron bodied Volvo B12BT that had been new to Kenzie’s Coaches of Shepreth in April 2008 registered YJ08 NSV. Two very well presented family run coach businesses represented here. Richmond’s acquired the vehicle when Richard Kenzie retired and closed their business in August 2019. At the time Richard’s father Cyril was 93 years old. The registration on the coach retains Cyril Kenzie’s initials.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1056) –The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. A general view of some exhibits near the corner of Market Street and Broad Street. (Right to left): Kenzie’s Coaches was a well respected business based at Shepreth, Cambridgeshire. The business closed in August 2019 when Cyril Kenzie, aged 93 at the time, and his son, who was in his 60s, decided to cease trading and take retirement. A number of former Kenzie’s vehicles attended the rally. C25 KAV, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M that was new in August 1995. Second from right is Richmond’s of Barley H2 CBK, a Van Hool Acron bodied Volvo B12BT that had been new to Kenzie’s in April 2008 registered YJ08 NSV. The registration contains Cyril Kenzie’s initials. Former Hedingham Omnibuses L103 (BAR 103X), a Plaxton Bustler bodied Leyland Leopard new in February 1982. Former United Counties Omnibus Company 654 (H654 VVV), an Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian new in October 1990. Stagecoach East 10857 (YX67 VDC), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D MMC new in September 2017, from the present day fleet operated in the Peterborough area.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1055) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Kenzie’s Coaches was a well respected business based at Shepreth, Cambridgeshire. The business closed in August 2019 when Cyril Kenzie, aged 93 at the time, and his son, who was in his 60s, decided to cease trading and take retirement. A number of former Kenzie’s vehicles attended the rally. D30 BEW is a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M that was new in April 1987.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1055) The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. Kenzie’s Coaches was a well respected business based at Shepreth, Cambridgeshire. The business closed in August 2019 when Cyril Kenzie, aged 93 at the time, and his son, who was in his 60s, decided to cease trading and take retirement. A number of former Kenzie’s vehicles attended the rally including PJE 999J, a Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Bedford YRQ new in 1971, which displayed a memorial to Cyril Kenzie in the front windscreen.

Sunday 21 May 2023 (1102) – The annual Fenland Busfest is held in the town centre of Whittlesey occupying Broad Street and Market Street with the rally control/bus ride departures centred on the Market Place. KV03 ZFE, a Caetano bodied Transbus Dart new in April 2003 to CT Plus (Hackney Community Transport) as their DCS1. It had been used on Transport for London contracted service 394 as shown on the destination display.