David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Friday 6 December 2024 (1014) – Simonds/Central Connect YX12 FPY, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D, seen in Stanton when working the 0915 service 73 from Bury St. Edmunds to Garboldisham. It had been new to M.W.Nicholl of Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire in July 2012. Later added to the fleet of Lancashire based Tyrers Coaches before being acquired by Galleon Travel which operated under the Trustybus and Central Connect names in the Hertfordshire area. In September 2023 the Central Connect network of Galleon Travel was acquired by Vectare Limited which has now applied the Central Connect name to the various bus operations it has since acquired. This includes the services of Simonds of Botesdale Limited purchased in April 2024.

Friday 6 December 2024 (1000) – In April 2024 the business of Simonds of Botesdale Limited was acquired by Vectare Limited which applied their Central Connect name to the services. SN11 BTU, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D, was seen in Stanton when working the 0930 service 70 from Bury St. Edmunds to Diss. It had been new to First Capital (DN33655) in June 2011 to work Transport for London (TfL) contracted services. It was later operated by the London Borough of Redbridge in whose livery style it remains.

Friday 6 December 2024 (1000) – In April 2024 the business of Simonds of Botesdale Limited was acquired by Vectare Limited which applied their Central Connect name to the services. SN11 BTU, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D, was seen in Stanton when working the 0930 service 70 from Bury St. Edmunds to Diss. It had been new to First Capital (DN33655) in June 2011 to work Transport for London (TfL) contracted services. It was later operated by the London Borough of Redbridge in whose livery style it remains. The bus timetable display carries information of the revisions to the former Simonds services 304, 337 and 338 implemented from 1st September 2024. The main services through Stanton are the Bury St. Edmunds to Diss service now numbered 70 and the Bury St. Edmunds to Garboldisham service now numbered 73. Father Christmas is making an early call at the cottage near the bus stop!

Friday 6 December 2024 (0953) – In April 2024 the business of Simonds of Botesdale Limited was acquired by Vectare Limited which applied their Central Connect name to the services. The bus timetable display in Stanton carries information about the revisions to the former Simonds services 304, 337 and 338 implemented from 1st September 2024. The main services through Stanton are the Bury St. Edmunds to Diss service now numbered 70 and the Bury St. Edmunds to Garboldisham service now numbered 73.

Friday 6 December 2024 (0953) – In April 2024 the business of Simonds of Botesdale Limited was acquired by Vectare Limited which applied their Central Connect name to the services. The bus timetable display in Stanton carries information about the revisions to the former Simonds services 304, 337 and 338 implemented from 1st September 2024. The main services through Stanton are the Bury St. Edmunds to Diss service now numbered 70 and the Bury St. Edmunds to Garboldisham service now numbered 73. Father Christmas is making an early call at the cottage near the bus stop!

Friday 6 December 2024 (1240) – Don’s Coaches of Great Dunmow YN08 MLJ seen at West Stow Country Park near Bury St. Edmunds. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N230UD that had been new to Nottingham City Transport (953) in July 2008.

Friday 6 December 2024 (1240) – Don’s Coaches of Great Dunmow YN08 MLJ seen at West Stow Country Park near Bury St. Edmunds. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N230UD that had been new to Nottingham City Transport (953) in July 2008.

Friday 6 December 2024 (1234) – New to F. Goldsmith (Sicklesmere) Limited in April 1982, WPV 333X, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YNT, stands in a field between Culford and West Stow near Bury St. Edmunds.

Thursday 31 May 2001 (approx. 1300) - Keighley & District Travel Limited, a Blazefield subsidiary, 567 (X567 YUG) seen at Skipton bus station. It is a Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE new in January 2001.

Thursday 31 May 2001 (approx. 1300) - Keighley & District Travel Limited, a Blazefield subsidiary, 646 (L646 OWY) seen at Skipton bus station. It is an Alexander Dash bodied Volvo B6 that had been new to related Harrogate and District in May 1994.

Thursday 31 May 2001 (approx. 1300) - Keighley & District Travel Limited, a Blazefield subsidiary, 101 (L652 MYG), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz 711D new in November 1993, seen in Skipton.

Saturday 27 May 2000 – Coaches parked at RAF Mildenhall attending the annual Air Fete G95 VFP, a Bova Futura FHD12-290 new to Priory Coaches of Gosport in October 1989 John Cresswell of Stowmarket trading as John’s Tours JIL 2573, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Scania K112 that had been new to Irving’s Coaches of Carlisle in January 1985 registered B215 JHH. The two light green (?) coaches carry lettering and colours for ‘Travel Rite’ are The Kings Ferry 5.53 (P894 FMO (a Berkhof Axial bodied Dennis Javelin new to Q Drive, Battersea in May 1997) and 4.58 (TJI 6923) (a Jonckeere Deauville bodied DAF SB3000 that had been new to Buddens, Romsey in 1988 registered F956 RNV). ‘Travel Rite’ was a budget travel brand operated by The Kings Ferry.

Saturday 27 May 2000 – The Kings Ferry 5.53 (P894 FMO), a Berkhof Axial bodied Dennis Javelin new to Q Drive, Battersea in May 1997, seen at RAF Mildenhall attending the annual Air Fete. ‘Travel Rite’ was a budget travel brand operated by The Kings Ferry.

Monday 6 August 2001 (approx. 1240) – Kingston’s Coaches (possibly of Bolton) M683 LRU, a Berkhof bodied Scania K113CRB new to Buddens of Romsey in March 1995, seen at Drummer Street, Cambridge when working the Southend-on-Sea to Liverpool National Express service 305. Running about 90 minutes late.

Easter Saturday 6 April 1985 (approx. 1445) – Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge Left is Percival Motors (Oxford) Limited 73 (786 AFC), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT new in January 1980 registered CJO 321V, working the 1110 Lowestoft-Bristol service 747, a cross-country service worked jointly with Premier Travel and National Express. This was day 2 of a diagram that covered the 0615 Cambridge-Lowestoft (1000) run followed by the 1110 Lowestoft-Bristol (2015) run. Right is Midland Red South 5 (BVP 787V), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to Midland Red (787) in July 1980, which had worked service 905 from Birmingham a service that had its origins as Premier Travel service 5. This was a period when some of the independent express coach service operators like Percivals, Premier Travel and Yelloway chose to become joint operators with National Express on what had once been their own services prior to de-regulation. They later became contractors to National Express before different circumstances saw them withdraw from such work.

Easter Saturday 6 April 1985 (approx. 1445) – Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge Left: Midland Red South 5 (BVP 787V), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to Midland Red (787) in July 1980, which had worked service 905 from Birmingham a service that had its origins as Premier Travel service 5. Right: Percival Motors (Oxford) Limited 73 (786 AFC), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT new in January 1980 registered CJO 321V, had just arrived when working the 1110 Lowestoft-Bristol service 747, a cross-country worked jointly with Premier Travel and National Express. This was day 2 of a diagram that covered the 0615 Cambridge-Lowestoft (1000) run followed by the 1110 Lowestoft-Bristol (2015) run. This was a period when some of the independent express coach service operators like Percivals, Premier Travel and Yelloway chose to become joint operators with National Express on what had once been their own services prior to de-regulation. They later became contractors to National Express before different circumstances saw them withdraw from such work.

Good Friday 5 April 1985 (approx. 1556) - Percivals Motors (Oxford) Limited Plaxton Supreme coach near the Bull Inn at Barton Mills. I believe it was number 73 (786 AFC) that was working the 0855 Bristol-Great Yarmouth service 747, a cross-country service worked jointly with Premier Travel and National Express. This duty covered the 0855 Bristol-Great Yarmouth (1735) and 1815 Great Yarmouth-Cambridge (2155) runs. This scene changed significantly when the A11 was upgraded to a dual carriageway. I took the photograph at what was the road into the village, the Tuddenham road is obscured by the coach. Note the road markings indicating the turning lanes to both these roads.

Friday 29 November 2024 (1214) – Thandi Coaches, Smethwick TH18 NDY, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new to Shearings Holidays (148) in June 2018 registered BU18 YTC, seen in busy Friday traffic on the A11 approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills. It was working the 0910 Megabus service M87 from Birmingham to Norwich (due 1315) via Coventry (1000), Cambridge (1135) and Norwich (University of East Anglia) (1305). The coach returned from Norwich to Birmingham as the 1425 service which, on paper, was shown as through working through to Bristol (2035). In reality it would seem the service was split at Birmingham because TH18 NDY often appeared on the 0910 Birmingham-Norwich and 1425 Norwich-Birmingham journeys on consecutive days, as it did on the three days of this weekend, confirming that the service hadn’t run through to Bristol. Prospect Coaches of Lye, Stourbridge had operated the service for a couple of years or so before I noted that Thandi appeared around September 2024. During this time coaches had run to/from Liverpool via Manchester rather than to Bristol. It had been announced that Megabus would withdraw most of its services in England and Wales after service on Wednesday 4 December 2024. Since service M87 had become Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only in the late summer that would have meant the final day of M87 operation would be Sunday 1 December 2024. After photographing the 0910 Birmingham-Norwich run on the three days of the ‘last weekend’ I discovered the service was being run for a while longer on a new timetable. (The Megabus website, which seemed haphazard at the time, suggested operation on just December 6,7,8,13,14,15 and 21 with no further dates – but who knows?)