Norfolk Green OY53 RFF on hire to Stephensons of Essex in Barton Mills - 6 Jun 2011 (DSCN5772)

Monday 6 June 2011 (1656) - Stephensons of Essex Limited took over the failed business of Burtons Coaches at the end of May 2011 just before Burtons was to commence operation of the Suffolk County Council sponsored Newmarket-Mildenhall services 400/401.

To assist with the need for extra vehicles for this additional work Stephensons loaned OY53 RFF from Norfolk Green (#122) which is an Optare/Irisbus Agora Line new in September 2003 to Norfolk County Services (#7136).

It was seen in Barton Mills working the 1615 service from Newmarket to Mildenhall. This was the first day of operation of the service by Stephensons, a service which had previously been worked by Mulleys Motorways until Saturday 4 June 2011.

Norfolk Green gave names to its buses and this one is named Tom Hickathrift, a character of Norfolk folklore of similar style to Jack the Giant Killer.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hickathrift

The bus is standing in front of the former Vicarage, a circa 1980 brick built residence standing behind a much older flint façade.