David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Saturday 27 April 1996 - Neal’s Travel J832 RNK seen in High Street, Mildenhall as it set out for Newmarket on service 209 to Newmarket. New in April 1992 at the time when Reeve Burgess, the original builders of the Beaver model, was being integrated into Plaxton. This vehicle apparently carried body numbers of both concerns. Chassis was Mercedes-Benz Vario O 811D. Neal’s destination boards were usually abbreviated and the one carried here shows ‘209 NKT’. In the row of shops in the background are three businesses no longer trading. On the extreme left is Morley’s (crockery, jewellery, hobby supplies etc) on which there is a Savills estate agents sign. Ironically it was later to be occupied by a different estate agent, Elvin Estates. G C Carter (picture framing, artworks) later became The Spice Lounge Indian Restaurant. Just above the front of the bus only partially visible is the sign over the archway leading to the Cycle Centre (run by Alan Thompson I think). Premises now occupied by Spoilt Paws dog grooming business. Obscured by the vehicle is Martin’s Furniture Store, still in business today.

Monday 8 May 1995, the 50th Anniversary of VE Day - Neal’s Travel G806 HRN, a Reeve Burgess Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz 814D new September 1989, passing Barton Mills Village Hall when working the 1300 Suffolk County Council sponsored Ipswich to Ely service 156. This service was part of the ‘Sundaybus’ network which also operated on Holiday Mondays.

Thursday 10 August 1995 (0950) – The laying of a new gas pipeline along King Street in Mildenhall resulted in general upheaval with the buses unable to access the bus lay-by. As a result they were picking-up wherever they could – there was no formal alternative bus stop. This one is outside the gateway of Bussens and Parkin’s site across the street from the Museum. Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR249 (GRA 847V) is doing a good trade for a Thursday. It is an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new to Trent Motor Traction in April 1980 (fleet number 847).

Saturday 26 August 1995 - Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR281 (VAH 281X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new in October 1981, seen in High Street, Mildenhall when working the 1442 Newmarket-Thetford service 200. The tower of St. Mary’s Church was open to the public today and has a flag flying.

Friday 13 October 1995 – H Semmence and Company Limited of Wymondham RJI 5721 seen heading eastbound during roadworks on the A11 at Barton Mills. It is a Plaxton Paramount III 3200 bodied Dennis Javelin that had been new to Glennie Coaches, Newmill, Moray, Scotland in August 1988 registered F421 PSE.

Sunday 8 October 1995 (approx. 1430) – A Plaxton Première coach operated by Williamsons Holidays of Knockin Heath, Shrewsbury is seen heading westbound into the contra-flow for roadworks on the A11 at Barton Mills.

March 1995 – Stagecoach owned United Counties Omnibus Company operated a number of contracted routes for Cambridge Regional College one of which started from Mildenhall. Alexander RL bodied Leyland Olympian 711 (K711 ASC) had been new to Fife Scottish, also a Stagecoach subsidiary, in September 1992 and was seen in St. Andrew’s Street, Mildenhall just having departed King Street lay-by after setting down the last of the homeward bound students. This was the regular bus assigned to the contract. It was part of the Huntingdon garage allocation although parked overnight at the outstation site at Fiveways Filling Station, Barton Mills.

Friday 25 August 1989 (approx. 1050) – A busy time at King Street lay-by, Mildenhall. Ambassador Travel 818 (JVF 818V), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to Eastern Counties (LP818) in December 1979, working a National Express service 747 duplicate. Eastern Counties Omnibus Company TH919 (C919 BEX), a Robin Hood bodied Ford Transit new in March 1986, working the 1052 service College Heath Road ‘Mildenhall Mini-Line’ ML1 circular. Neal’s Travel E46 MMT, a Mercedes-Benz mini-bus, working the 1045 Friday only (MIldenhall market day) Suffolk County Council supported service 406 to Lackford.

Friday 4 November 1994 – Eastern Counties Omnibus Company MG72 (M372 XEX seen in Pott Hall Road, West Row when working the Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall circular service M8. In October 1988 ECOC began running a group of services in Mildenhall and to the adjacent villages six days a week under the ‘Mildenhall Mini Line’ brand. These ceased after a while but six years later were revived on Fridays only (Mildenhall market day) in competition with Neal’s Travel of Isleham which ran six days a week. The bus, a Mercedes-Benz 609D with Frank Guy body conversion new in September 1994, had this one passenger in addition to myself.

Setright bus tickets issued on Eastern Counties Omnibus Company MG72 (M372 XEX). The tickets have incorrect dates of issue. They show 5 November (a Saturday) but this was a Friday only service so the travel date was Friday 4 November 1991. Ticket 101 was for a journey on service M8 from Mildenhall to West Row and return and ticket 108 was or a journey on service 155 from Mildenhall to Barton Mills.

Monday 17 September 2012 (approx 1358) - Grant Palmer Limited, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, YX11 HPU, an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 bodied Dart new as demonstrator in August 2011. It was seen in the Bedfordshire village of Harrold having worked the 1330 service 25 from Bedford and ready to work 1405 service 25 back to Bedford.

Monday 17 September 2012 (approx 1358) - Grant Palmer Limited, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, YX11 HPU, an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 bodied Dart new as demonstrator in August 2011. It was seen in the Bedfordshire village of Harrold having worked the 1330 service 25 from Bedford and ready to work 1405 service 25 back to Bedford.

Monday 17 September 2012 (approx 1358) - Grant Palmer Limited, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, YX11 HPU, an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 bodied Dart new as demonstrator in August 2011. It was seen in the Bedfordshire village of Harrold having worked the 1330 service 25 from Bedford and ready to work 1405 service 25 back to Bedford. The bus carries lettering for the service and the logo of Bedford Borough Council (near the front wheel) which sponsors the service. Grant Palmer YX11 HPU in Harrold - 17 Sep 2012 (

Thursday 10 August 1995 (0950) – The laying of a new gas pipeline along King Street in Mildenhall resulted in general upheaval with the buses unable to access the bus lay-by. As a result they were picking-up wherever they could – there was no formal alternative bus stop. Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR249 (GRA 847V), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new to Trent Motor Traction in April 1980 (fleet number 847), was loading for Bury St. Edmunds outside the gateway of Bussens and Parkin’s site across the street from the Museum.

Monday 6 August 2001 (approx. 1230) - Guide Friday was famous for its open top bus sightseeing tours in many tourist locations. One of them was based in Cambridge where the company also introduced a regular service linking the city centre with the railway station. F60 RFS, seen in Emmanuel Street, is an MCW Metrorider that had been new to Fife Scottish as their number 60 in August 1988 which was being followed by Stagecoach Cambus 968 (K968 HUB) new in November 1992. in August 1989 time the rights to the MCW Metrorider had passed to Optare (as the MetroRider). Also in the picture is Stagecoach Cambus 578 (P578 EFL), a Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympian new in December 1996, in the red and cream Park and Ride livery.

Monday 6 August 2001 (approx. 1205) - Guide Friday was famous for its open top bus sightseeing tours in many tourist locations. One of them was based in Cambridge where the company also introduced a regular service linking the city centre with the railway station. F60 RFS is an MCW Metrorider that had been new to Fife Scottish as their number 60 in August 1988. It was seen in Drummer Street passing express service coaches. Express Travel L706 PHE was working National Express service 350 to Liverpool (0810 Clacton-on-Sea to Liverpool) and, in the background, a coach of Cambridge Coach Services. The rights to the MCW Metrorider passed to Optare (as the MetroRider) in August 1989.

Tuesday 15 June 1999 (approx. 1100) - Guide Friday became a countrywide sightseeing operation following its success with open top bus tours in Stratford-upon-Avon. The company employed secondhand buses most of which had been converted to open top. TYJ 14S, an East Lancashire bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R new to Brighton Corporation (14) in March 1978, was seen in Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. In the background is Stagecoach (Cambus) 316 (P316 EFL), an Alexander PS bodied Volvo B10M-55 new in November 1996, working the Cowley Road Park and Ride service. At the time that service was numbered 501. In years to come following Guide Friday selling out the Cambridge Sightseeing tour would be operated by Stagecoach Cambus under the City Sightseeing brand.

Sunday 28 May 1995 – For a number of years Cambus Limited worked the shuttle services as part of the Annual Air Fete held at RAF Mildenhall. Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR 729 (DNG 234T) is seen in Mill Street, Mildenhall working from Newmarket to RAF Mildenhall. It was new to the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in April 1979 (VR234).