David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Friday 17 April 2026 (0844) - Coach Services Limited of Thetford YX14 RXK, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2014, is seen passing the Old Court House in Mildenhall. It was working the 0740 service 80 from Thetford to Mildenhall and, having called at Mildenhall College Academy, was on the final part of the trip which terminates at the bus station. The driver had already changed the destination display in readiness to work the 0850 service 80 back to Thetford.

Friday 17 April 2026 (0842) - Mil-Ken Travel BIG 9309 seen in North Terrace, Mildenhall when working the Suffolk County Council school contract ML413 from Lakenheath and Eriswell to Mildenhall College Academy/MCA. The Mil-Ken Travel fleet now includes quite a number of former Lochs and Glens Holidays Jonckheere bodied Volvo tri-axle coaches. This was new in March 2007 registered FJ07 AEE.

Friday 17 April 2026 (0842) - Mil-Ken Travel BIG 9309 seen in Mildenhall when working the Suffolk County Council school contract ML413 from Lakenheath and Eriswell to Mildenhall College Academy/MCA. The Mil-Ken Travel fleet now includes quite a number of former Lochs and Glens Holidays Jonckheere bodied Volvo tri-axle coaches. This was new in March 2007 registered FJ07 AEE.

Friday 17 April 2026 (0845) - Coach Services of Thetford SN63 NBB, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in September 2013, seen in Mildenhall when working the Suffolk County Council school contract ML411 to Mildenhall College Academy/MCA from Sedge Fen (0815), Burnt Fen (0821), Kenny Hill (0824), Beck Row (0828/0830).

Friday 17 April 2026 (0845) - Coach Services of Thetford SN63 NBB, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in September 2013, seen in Mildenhall when working the Suffolk County Council school contract ML411 to Mildenhall College Academy/MCA from Sedge Fen (0815), Burnt Fen (0821), Kenny Hill (0824), Beck Row (0828/0830).

Friday 31 May 1996 – The Smoke House Inn at Beck Row became quite a large establishment with additional hotel bedrooms provided in large ground floor extensions at the rear of the smaller original building. Through good marketing effort the establishment attracted many coach tour companies large and small as a base for East Anglian tours for quite some years. Most of these tours were of five day duration which arrived late afternoon on Mondays departing after breakfast on Fridays. On the other three days visits to popular East Anglian tourist spots like Cambridge, Constable Country, Norfolk Broads, Suffolk Villages etc were arranged. The three coaches visiting here were (left to right): Excelsior Holidays 508 (A9 EXC), a Plaxton Première 320 bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1995 Wallace Arnold J737 CWT, a Plaxton Première 350 bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1992 Owen’s Coaches of Knighton, Wales G137 TNU, a Duple (Hestair Duple) 425 that had been new in May 1990 to Goldline of Nottingham (Note the different heights of the two Plaxton Première models, the 320 and 350 representing the height in centimetres)

Saturday 9 October 1993 – Newmarket is Britain’s horse-racing capital and local travellers have to make allowances for delays during the early morning training periods when the movement of horses across main roads takes place. The gallops run up the slope in the background. The Suffolk County Council sponsored service 200 running approximately every 2 hours from Newmarket to Thetford via Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Brandon commenced operation on Monday 24 May 1993. It came about after National Express cut back journeys and local stops on their service 747 the previous Saturday 22 May 1993. Initially service 200 was operated by Cambus (and its associated Millerbus) and was advertised as a trial service operating for three months. Cambus/Millerbus ceased to be the operator after Saturday 4 September 1993 with the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company taking over on Monday 6 September. ECOC LL796 (OEX 796W) was seen in Bury Road, Newmarket arriving from Thetford. It is a Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R that was new as a National Express liveried coach in December 1980. In the split of ECOC LL796 passed to Ambassador Travel for continued use on National Express services between Norfolk and London. However, it later returned to ECOC and rather than carrying the mainly red bus livery now carried an attractive reversed cream based livery.

Wednesday 27 March 2013 (1640) – London United (RATP Group) Alexander Dennis (ADL) Trident/Enviro400 number ADE11 (YX12 FNS), new in July 2012 entering Nettleton Road, Hillingdon (Heathrow Airport) by the bus only access from Bath Road.

Monday 26 February 2001 (approx. 1355) – Stagecoach Red and White 763 (M763 LAX) seen departing Cardiff bus station on service X38 to Bargoed. It is an Alexander PS bodied Volvo B10M-55 new in May 1995, a type operated by many Stagecoach Group subsidiaries in the 1990s. The Welsh flags fly on the building behind which carries Cardiff’s bi-lingual name.

Saturday 27 March 1993 (approx. 1229) – A springtime shot of Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR225 (BVG 225T) passing through Barton Mills when working the 1200 noon service 155 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and West Row. It is an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR that was new in October 1978. Part of the advertising posters surrounding the destination display had been lost.

Thursday 9 April 2026 (0803) – Nottinghamshire County Council bus stop flag near the Bird in Hand Inn at Blidworth. Service 141 is an hourly service sponsored by the County Council under the 'Nottsbus' identity which links Nottingham and Sutton-in-Ashfield I fear that incorrect details are shown on the flag here. Unfortunately, the Monday and Wednesday shopper’s service operated to Kirby-in-Ashfield by Ravenshead Community Transport is not displayed. Conversely, services 28/29 (Mansfield-Newark) and 28B (Mansfield-Eakring) don’t pass this way but turn off Mansfield Road at Dale Lane. .

Thursday 9 April 2026 (0800) – Nottinghamshire County Council bus stop by the Black Bull Inn at Blidworth. Service 141 is an hourly service sponsored by the County Council under the 'Nottsbus' identity (shown on the green sticker on the bus stop) which links Nottingham and Sutton-in-Ashfield Service 445B is a shopper’s service operated to Kirby-in-Ashfield on Mondays and Wednesdays by Ravenshead Community Transport .

Wednesday 8 April 2026 (0855) – Ravenshead Community Transport Mercedes-Benz Sprinter WN59 FYK, seen in Main Street, Blidworth, carries an array of advertisements for local businesses. This charity operates wheelchair accessible mini-coaches for the Ravenshead community. Regular services operate on different days of the week for shopping, healthcare visits etc.

Wednesday 8 April 2026 (0855) – Ravenshead Community Transport Mercedes-Benz Sprinter WN59 FYK, seen in Main Street, Blidworth, carries an array of advertisements for local businesses. This charity operates wheelchair accessible mini-coaches for the Ravenshead community. Regular services operate on different days of the week for shopping, healthcare visits etc.

Wednesday 8 April 2026 (0855) – Ravenshead Community Transport Mercedes-Benz Sprinter WN59 FYK, seen in Main Street, Blidworth, carries an array of advertisements for local businesses. This charity operates wheelchair accessible mini-coaches for the Ravenshead community. Regular services operate on different days of the week for shopping, healthcare visits etc.

Thursday 9 April 2026 (0759) – Stagecoach East Midlands 24195 (FX10 AEF) passing The Black Bull pub in Main Street, Blidworth when working the 0645 service 141 from Nottingham to Sutton-in-Ashfield. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro300 bodied MAN 18.240 that was new in March 2010. Having spent most of its life based in Hull it now works from Mansfield garage. In the 1920s Blidworth expanded as a coal mining community on lower ground. The original village stands on a hilltop where The Old School House, a private residence for many years, and the Parish Church, which dates from the 15th century are located. It is reputed to be the burial place of Will Scarlet, a prominent member of Robin Hood’s Merry Men.

Thursday 9 April 2026 (0759) – Stagecoach East Midlands 24195 (FX10 AEF) passing The Black Bull pub in Main Street, Blidworth when working the 0645 service 141 from Nottingham to Sutton-in-Ashfield. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro300 bodied MAN 18.240 that was new in March 2010. Having spent most of its life based in Hull it now works from Mansfield garage.

Wednesday 8 April 2026 (1115) – A quick shot from the passenger seat of my daughter’s car of Stagecoach East Midlands 36117 (FX10 AEZ) as it turned from the A60 (Nottingham Road) to join Sherwood Way East when working Mansfield town service 240 to Berry Hill. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro300 bodied Dart new in March 2010.