David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Saturday 2 August 1997 – FifeFirst (Lowland Scottish) 504 (P504 XSH), a Wright Axcess Ultralow bodied Scania L113CRL new in October 1996, seen in St. Andrew’s Square bus station, Edinburgh.

Saturday 2 August 1997 – FifeFirst (Lowland Scottish) 575 (P575 DMS), a Wright Axcess Ultralow bodied Scania L113CRL new to Midland Bluebird in October 1996, seen in York Place, Edinburgh turning towards St. Andrew’s Square bus station. In later years the cen

Sunday 26 September 1999 – Like the other big group bus operators First Bus usually put on a good display at Showbus with buses from different parts of the country. Many different colours before the introduction of their corporate livery.

May 1988 – Wessex of Bristol 292 (YSV 738), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in November 1981 registered SND 292X, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1440 National Express service 747 from Great Yarmouth to Oxford. Wessex worked the cross country National Express services to East Anglia for many years. Normally coaches in full National Express livery were employed although this coach wears fleet livery.

Sunday x March 1991 (1305) - Wessex of Bristol 153 (H195 BTC) seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1010 Cromer to Bristol National Express service 747. It was scheduled to arrive in Bristol at 2050 this evening. It is a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M new in January 1991. The Expressliner model was based on the Plaxton Paramount 3500.

Saturday 15 May 1993 (1830) - Wessex of Bristol 142 (H71 PWO) seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1030 Bristol to Cromer National Express service 747. It is a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M new to Bebb Travel, Llantwit Fadre in May 1991. The Expressliner model was based on the Plaxton Paramount 3500.

Sunday 12 June 1994 – A Van Hool Alizée speeding eastbound on the A11 at Chalk Hill, Barton Mills. I believe Glider was based in Brownhills in the West Midlands.

Sunday 27 June 1993 – Seen at speed on the A11 between Barton Mills and Red Lodge in the evening light at about 1815 presumably heading back to London after a day out. THR 752, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 II operated by A. Green (Coaches) Limited, Leytonstone, London E11.

Thursday 17 August 2000 – 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. A revised livery layout recently introduced by Guide Friday carried by CWG 763V which was operating the sightseeing tour in Cambridge. It is a Roe bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R which had been new to South Yorkshire PTE (1763) in December 1979.

Saturday 20 April 1985 (approx. 1340) - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 79 (LWL 743W) passing the Bull Inn on the A11 at Barton Mills. When the dual carriageway was built, which runs across the scene beyond the coach and in front of the large house now on the corner of the road to Tuddenham, this roadway became a local road into Barton Mills village which is still recognisable today. The entrance to the Bull Inn car park is on the left. The coach, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in January 1980, was working the 1110 Lowestoft-Bristol service 747, a cross-country service worked jointly by Percivals, Premier Travel and National Express. This was day 2 of a diagram that covered the 0615 Cambridge-Lowestoft (arriving 1000) followed by this run.

Good Friday 5 April 1985 (approx. 0925) - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 74 (XWL 539) passing the Dog & Partridge Inn at Barton Mills when working the 0845 Cambridge-Lowestoft service 747, a cross-country service between Bristol and Lowestoft worked jointly with Premier Travel and National Express. This was day 2 of a diagram that alternated with Premier Travel and covered the 0845 Cambridge-Lowestoft (1230) run returning as the 1310 Lowestoft-Oxford (1955) run. It is a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT that was new to Percivals in April 1980 registered CJO 322V. Nowadays vehicles that have carried a cherished re-registration will revert to the originally assigned number when the cherished registration is transferred. This wasn’t the case back then and this coach subsequently became GBW 96V. The Dog & Partridge closed and became a private residence which is still recognisable today as is the road alignment albeit with a few slight modifications. The road here became a local road after the A11 was upgraded to dual carriageway (off camera left). The wooden posts and chain spike fence (right) form the edge of what was The Bull Inn car park where the houses of Chestnut Close were later built.

Good Friday 5 April 1985 (approx. 0925) - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited 74 (XWL 539) near the Bull Inn at Barton Mills when working the 0845 Cambridge-Lowestoft service 747, a cross-country service between Bristol and Lowestoft worked jointly with Premier Travel and National Express. This was day 2 of a diagram that alternated with Premier Travel and covered the 0845 Cambridge-Lowestoft (1230) run returning as the 1310 Lowestoft-Oxford (1955) run. It is a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT that was new to Percivals in April 1980 registered CJO 322V. Nowadays vehicles that have carried a cherished re-registration will revert to the originally assigned number when the cherished registration is transferred. This wasn’t the case back then and this coach subsequently became GBW 96V. The road into Barton Mills village is on the left and the road to Tuddenham can be seen on the right. The Sherpa van is standing in the middle of the road which was a turning lane for traffic entering the village. This scene changed significantly when the A11 was upgraded to dual carriageway. Note the Royal Mail post box on the extreme left of the photo which still stands on the opposite side of the roadway from the front of the Bull Inn. Behind that is the outline of the first house in Old Mill Lane. What appears to be a Willhire truck stand between them. The office of Willhire Vehicle Rentals was located close by in The Old Maltings.

Sunday 17 August 1986 - Wessex of Bristol 295 (SND 295X), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in November 1981, seen on the A11 between Barton Mills and Red Lodge when working the 1315 National Express service 747 from Lowestoft to Gloucester.

Sunday 28 February 1988 – Wessex of Bristol 295 (SND 295X), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in November 1981, seen heading out of Mildenhall when working the 0905 National Express service 747 from Cambridge to Great Yarmouth.

Sunday 8 November 1987 - Lancaster City Transport was another unusual National Express contractor to serve Mildenhall. Duple Laser bodied Leyland Tiger TRTCL11/3RH 99 (B99 YRN), new in June 1985, was working the 0900 Great Yarmouth to Blackpool 351 service. LCT only did this working for a short time and the trip alternated with Easey Travel.

Wednesday 30 December 1987 – Lancaster City Transport 98 (D98 SCW) seen in High Street, Mildenhall when working the 0900 Great Yarmouth-Manchester-Blackpool National Express service 351. An Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Leopard was duplicating. LCT only did this working for a short time and the trip alternated with Easey Travel. It is a Duple 320 bodied Leyland TigerTRCTL11/3RH new in August 1986.

Wednesday 30 December 1987 – Lancaster City Transport 98 (D98 SCW) seen in High Street, Mildenhall when working the 0900 Great Yarmouth-Manchester-Blackpool National Express service 351. An Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Leopard was duplicating. LCT only did this working for a short time and the trip alternated with Easey Travel. It is a Duple 320 bodied Leyland TigerTRCTL11/3RH new in August 1986.

Wednesday 30 December 1987 – Lancaster City Transport 98 (D98 SCW) seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 0900 Great Yarmouth-Manchester-Blackpool National Express service 351. An Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Leopard was duplicating. LCT only did this working for a short time and the trip alternated with Easey Travel. It is a Duple 320 bodied Leyland TigerTRCTL11/3RH new in August 1986.