DSCF4447 Norfolk Green X249 VWR

Tuesday 4 February 2014 (1252) - Norfolk Green 611 (X249 VWR), seen in Market Street, Ely when working the 1255 departure of the Ely town circular branded ‘AbsolutELY’. New in December 2000 (as an Optare Demonstrator?). This well respected operator was taken over by Stagecoach on 17 December 2013. Rumours as I write, say that the Norfolk Green identity is to remain rather than the Stagecoach corporate identity being applied. I believe Stagecoach national fleet number 47881 would be assigned to this bus. Norfolk Green names its buses after local personalities - William‘Turkey’ Smart (1830-1919) was an agricultural labourer born in Welney who achieved local fame as a champion Fenland skater winning 13 contests in 1855 alone. His prize money for that months skating equated to two years wages at his regular job.