Hertfordshire 1998-2005

April 1998 (approx. 0805) – The Shires (LDT Limited) 3109 (L309 HPP) seen on the narrow road between Aston and Bragbury End when working the 0735 service 390 from Hertford to Stevenage. It is a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M which carries the ‘Hitchin and District’ branding and a colour scheme that was soon to disappear as the Arriva corporate livery was gradually introduced. The ‘Hitchin and District’ branding wasn’t quite appropriate for this service and normally buses with ‘Stevenage Line’ were usually seen on the route.

Tuesday 17 March 1998 (approx. 0804) – The Shires (LDT Limited) 3111 (L311 HPP) seen at the Rose and Crown in Aston when working the 0735 service 390 from Hertford to Stevenage. It was a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M which carried the ‘Stevenage Line’ branding and a colour scheme that was soon to disappear as the Arriva corporate livery was gradually introduced.

Tuesday 17 March 1998 (approx. 0805) – The Shires (LDT Limited) 3111 (L311 HPP) seen in the village of Aston when working the 0735 service 390 from Hertford to Stevenage. It was a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M which carried the ‘Stevenage Line’ branding and a colour scheme that was soon to disappear as the Arriva corporate livery was gradually introduced. Another aspect to disappear was Aston General Stores which closed and became a residential property.

Tuesday 10 March 1998 (approx. 0801) – The Shires (LDT Limited) 3112 (L312 HPP) seen in Watton-at-Stone when working the 0740 service 390 from Stevenage to Hertford. It was a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M which still carried the livery introduced by London Country (North West) in 1988. This livery and a yellow and blue scheme that replaced it, would disappear as the Arriva corporate livery was gradually introduced.

Friday 22 August 1998 – S M Travel Limited of Harlow F353 VRN, an Elme Orion bodied Leyland Swift new in June 1988 to Alpha of Brighton, seen at Burnham Green on a morning school run.

Friday 22 August 1998 – S M Travel Limited of Harlow F353 VRN, an Elme Orion bodied Leyland Swift new in June 1988 to Alpha of Brighton, seen at Burnham Green on a morning school run.

Tuesday 17 March 1998 (approx. 0800) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. B437 RJU was a Reeve Burgess bodied Dodge G13 new circa 1985 to the United States Air Force which was seen just after leaving the car park of the Rose and Crown pub in Aston working school service 889 to the Buntingford schools. The ‘Aston General Stores’ closed some time later to become a private residence.

March 1998 (approx. 0750) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. B437 RJU was a Reeve Burgess bodied Dodge G13 new circa 1985 to the United States Air Force which was seen splashing through the ford and general rainwater on Ford Lane as it headed to Aston to start work on school service 889 to the Buntingford schools.

March 1998 (approx. 0750) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. B437 RJU was a Reeve Burgess bodied Dodge G13 new circa 1985 to the United States Air Force which was seen on Ford Lane heading to Aston to start work on school service 889 to the Buntingford schools.

Monday 9 March 1998 (approx. 0800) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. Duple Dominant II Express bodied Volvo B58 JIL 9345 was seen leaving the Walkern premises running empty to its first pick-up for a school run to Buntingford. This was one of a pair of such vehicles in the Sworder’s fleet that had been new to Whippet Coaches in August 1979 although they had been acquired from cereal manufacturer Weetabix of Burton Latimer in 1993 who had used them for staff transport. JIL 9345 was new as CAV 620V and JIL 9346 as CAV 625V. When Sworder’s ceased bus operations, concentrating their activities on a vehicle salvage business near Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, the Walkern garage and yard became a housing development. The buildings in the photograph remain as residential homes and the road has become Glebe View.

Monday 30 March 1998 (approx. 0750) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. Duple Dominant II Express bodied Volvo B58 JIL 9346 was seen climbing towards Cumberlow Green running empty to its first pick-up on school contract E164. The narrow, winding road from the village of Cromer which crosses the River Beane can be seen beyond. At top right is Cromer Windmill, a preserved post type windmill said to date from the 1680s. This was one of a pair of such vehicles in the Sworder’s fleet that had been new to Whippet Coaches in August 1979 although they had been acquired from cereal manufacturer Weetabix of Burton Latimer in 1993 who had used them for staff transport. JIL 9345 was new as CAV 620V and JIL 9346 as CAV 625V. The bus type seats fitted to the vehicle can be seen in the morning sunlight.

Monday 30 March 1998 (approx. 0750) – C W Sworder and Sons Limited Duple Dominant II Express bodied Volvo B58 JIL 9346 had just climbed the hill to Cumberlow Green when running empty to its first pick-up on school contract E164. This was one of a pair of such vehicles in the Sworder’s fleet that had been acquired from cereal manufacturer Weetabix of Burton Latimer in 1993 where they had been used for staff transport. They had however been new to Whippet Coaches of Fenstanton in August 1979, JIL 9346 was new as CAV 625V and JIL 9345 new as CAV 620V. Sworder’s was based in Walkern and latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles.

Mid May 1998 (approx. 0815) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. C336 LBH had just had to squeeze by a lorry on Benington Road as it headed towards Walkern (between the Benington turn and the War Memorial) when operting the 0800 school service 889 from Aston to Buntingford Schools. It is a Wadham Stringer bodied Renault/Dodge that had been new to the Ministry of Defence (31 KC 64) circa 1985.

June 1998 - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. D164 OJN was seen passing the Moon and Stars pub in Rushden on the way to its first picking up point on the morning school contract E164. It was a Wadham Stringer bodied Leyland Cub that had been new to the London Borough of Redbridge in 1986. Sworders closed their bus operating business and moved to Molesworth, Cambridgeshire focusing on commercial salvage and vehicle sales. The company still trades in 2023 as indeed does the Moon and Stars.

Monday 9 March 1998 (approx. 0730) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. Wadham Stringer bodied Bedford VAS5 D331 HMF was seen leaving the Walkern premises running empty to its first pick-up for a school run to Buntingford. It was new to the London Borough of Enfield in 1987. When Sworder’s ceased bus operations, concentrating their activities on a vehicle salvage business near Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, the Walkern garage and yard became a housing development. The buildings in the photograph remain as residential homes and the road has become Glebe View.

Monday 9 March 1998 (approx. 0730) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. Duple Dominant bus bodied Bedford YMT XTW 856S was seen leaving the Walkern premises running empty to its first pick-up for a school run. It was new to Runwell Hospital, Wickford, Essex in January 1978. It had been acquired from Sampsons, Hoddesdon during 1993. When Sworder’s ceased bus operations, concentrating their activities on a vehicle salvage business near Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, the Walkern garage and yard became a housing development. The buildings in the photograph remain as residential homes and the road has become Glebe View.

Friday 19 May 1998 (approx. 1630) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. Duple Dominant bus bodied Bedford YMT XTW 856S was seen in Walkern heading back to the garage after completing a school run. It was new to Runwell Hospital, Wickford, Essex in January 1978. It had been acquired from Sampsons, Hoddesdon during 1993.

Friday 19 May 1998 (approx. 1630) - C W Sworder and Sons Limited latterly operated a fleet of mainly school and contract vehicles from its base in the Hertfordshire village of Walkern. Duple Dominant bus bodied Bedford YMT XTW 856S was seen about to enter the Walkern garage after completing a school run. It was new to Runwell Hospital, Wickford, Essex in January 1978. It had been acquired from Sampsons, Hoddesdon during 1993.