Sovereign Bus and Coach

Thursday 10 May 2001 (approx 0800) - Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 153(?) (L153 BFV) seen near the Pig and Whistle pub when leaving the village of Aston near Stevenage working school service 889 to the Buntingford schools. Sworder’s Coaches had operated this contract for a number of years up to 2001. It was a Plaxton Premiere Interurban bodied Dennis Javelin that had been new to Stagecoach owned Ribble Motor Services in November 1993. The Interurban model was bought by the Stagecoach Group for operation on longer distance stage carriage services that had previously been operated with dual purpose vehicles. It featured coach seating but also had fitments relevant for bus service operation. Sovereign was part of the Blazefield Group and on 15 April 2001 Blazefield had acquired the East Lancashire services of Stagecoach which included the vehicles and garages at Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley and Clitheroe. A number of said vehicles were transferred south to Sovereign and they were placed in service operating in Stagecoach livery for a time before being repainted.

Monday 17 September 2001 (approx 0800) - Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 107 (M107 CCD) seen on the car park of the Rose and Crown pub in Aston working school service 889 to the Buntingford schools. Sworder’s Coaches had operated this contract for a number of years up to 2001. It was a Plaxton Interurban bodied Dennis Javelin that had been new to Stagecoach owned Sussex Coastline in January 1995. The Interurban was based on the Premiere model and was bought by the Stagecoach Group for operation on longer distance stage carriage services that had previously been operated with dual purpose vehicles. This has been a well-travelled vehicle and courtesy of ‘CWG43’ on another photo hosting website the details of subsequent operators and registration transfers are as follows: March 1996 moved to Devon General (Stagecoach Group) October 1996 moved to Red and White (Stagecoach Group) March 2001 moved to Burnley and Pendle (Stagecoach Group) In April 2001 Burnley and Pendle was acquired by Blazefield and so it entered Blazefield Group ownership August 2001 moved to Sovereign Bus and Coach (Blazefield Group) Mid 2004 sold to Rapson Coaches, Orkney (re-registered 520 PXR) Around May 2008 Rapson’s was acquired by Stagecoach so it thus returned to Stagecoach ownership In December 2009 (having reverted to M107 CCD) it was sold via Shropshire Bus and Coach to Windy Corner Coaches of Pencader (re-registered IIG 1495 (IIG = India India Golf rather than Eleven Golf) approx. September 2010). In January 2014 it was sold to Daughton Bus Hire of Lixnaw, County Kerry, Ireland becoming 95 KY 10023 then later sold to Limerick Coach Hire of Cappavilla in early 2015

Friday 3 July 1998 (approx. 1640) – A rooftop view of a Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited Wright Endurance bodied Volvo B10B lettered for the Stevenage-Hemel Hempstead service 300 as it departed Welwyn Garden City bus station. It would be one of the batch numbered 101-104 (M101-104 UKX) which were branded for the 300. A fifth bus numbered 105 (M105 UKX) as far as I know did not carry such branding.

Wednesday 20 October 1999 – Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 293 (G293 KWY) seen in Welwyn Garden City bus station between trips on service 734 to Hemel Hempstead. It is a Leyland Lynx that had recently been transferred from one of the Yorkshire based affiliates of the Blazefield Group. It had been new to Keighley and District in November 1989. A similar vehicle can be seen in the background which carries the earlier livery layout. I always thought the red coachline on the later style was a nice addition giving that little extra something. The black skirt was a nice feature also.

Saturday 3 May 2003 (approx 1050) - Sovereign Bus and Coach 106 (N106 GVS) seen turning from Russellcroft Road into Guessens Road, Welwyn Garden City on service 300. It is a Wright Endurance bodied Volvo B10B new in February 1996. This bus was modelled in the EFE model range.

Wednesday 14 June 2000 (approx. 0815) –Sovereign Bus and Coach Limited (Blazefield Group) 128 (W128 XRO), a Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE new in April 2000, seen in Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City when operating the 0715 service 734 from Hitchin to Hemel Hempstead.

Monday 3 February 2003 (approx. 0810) – Two Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLEs of Sovereign Bus and Coach Limited (Blazefield Group) pass in Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City operating the Hemel Hempstead to Hitchin services 300/301. On the left, heading towards Hitchin, is 137 (W137 XRO). On the right, heading towards Hemel Hempstead is 129 (W129 XRO). They were part of a batch of ten such buses delivered in April 2000.

Saturday 3 May 2003 (approx. 1415) - Sovereign Bus and Coach Limited (Blazefield Group) 139 (W139 XRO), a Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE new in April 2000, seen in Church Street, Welwyn when operating the 1243 service 301 from Hemel Hempstead to Hitchin.

Saturday 21 September 2002 – Sovereign Bus and Coach Company 142 (PN02 HVM) seen in Stevenage bus station. It carries cant rail lettering for local service SB1. The ‘SB1’ logo (in green) is the same style that was used when London Country Bus Services launched the ‘Superbus’ network in Stevenage in the 1970s. It is a Wright Endurance bodied Volvo B10B that had been new in June 2002 to Lancashire United which, like Sovereign, was part of the Blazefield Group.

Thursday 3 June 2004 - Sovereign Bus and Coach Limited (Blazefield) 172 (R372 TWR), a 1998 Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE, seen at Welwyn Garden City bus station when working the 300 service to Hemel Hempstead. The 300/301 services received the branding ‘Centraline’ which is carried by this bus that had been new in June 1998 to fellow Blazefield affiliate Harrogate and District.

Thursday 3 June 2004 - Sovereign Bus and Coach Limited (Blazefield) 172 (R372 TWR), a 1998 Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE, seen at Welwyn Garden City bus station when working the 300 service to Hemel Hempstead. The 300/301 services received the branding ‘Centraline’ which is carried by this bus that had been new in June 1998 to fellow Blazefield affiliate Harrogate and District.

Maundy Thursday 9 April 1998 (1709) – Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 501 (P501 VRO) seen in Welwyn Garden City bus station loading for the 1719 service 338 to St. Albans. It is a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new in June 1997. Sovereign also operated as the Welwyn Hatfield Line with buses wearing red rather than blue livery as exemplified by Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6LE 608 (R608 CNM) in the background. Sovereign was part of the Blazefield Group at the time.

Monday 18 June 2001 – Sovereign Bus and Coach (owned by the Blazefield Group) Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart 502 (S502 APP) seen in Welwyn Garden City bus station. It carries the livery and logo for what I seem to recall was the ‘Key Routes’ transport scheme (in Cambridgeshire??) and was new in December 1998.

Saturday 3 May 2003 (approx 1550) - Sovereign Bus and Coach 581 (X581 MBH) seen crossing Bessemer Road at Haldens roundabout in Welwyn Garden City when working the Haldens-Great Gannett town service 403. It was a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart (MPD Mini Pointer Dart) which, along with sister bus 579 (X579 MBH), were the most regular performers on the service. Both were new in November 2000. On 23 January 2005 Blazefield sold its Sovereign Bus and Coach services in the Welwyn Garden City area to Arriva the Shires which included town service 403. However, the two Darts were transferred to another Blazefield subsidiary, Keighley and District in Yorkshire.

Week commencing 3 November 2003 - Sovereign Bus and Coach 581 (X581 MBH) seen on Digswell Road near Pentley Park, Welwyn Garden City when working the Haldens-Great Gannett town service 403. It was a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart (MPD Mini Pointer Dart) which, along with sister bus 579 (X579 MBH), were the most regular performers on the service. Both were new in November 2000. On 23 January 2005 Blazefield sold its Sovereign Bus and Coach services in the Welwyn Garden City area to Arriva the Shires which included town service 403. However, the two Darts were transferred to another Blazefield subsidiary, Keighley and District in Yorkshire.

An evening in April 1998 – Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 601 (P601 RGS) seen turning for Benington from the Walkern to Watton-at-Stone road when working the Stevenage to Hertford service 384. It is a Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6RLE new in March 1997 which, according to PSV Circle News Sheets, was acquired specifically to work service 384 – a service which had its origins as a London Transport Country Area service. Sovereign was part of the Blazefield Group.

Mid May 1998 (approx. 0922) – Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 601 (P601 RGS) seen zipping along the Stevenage to Walkern road when working the 0905 service 384 from Stevenage to Hertford. It is a Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6RLE new in March 1997 which, according to PSV Circle News Sheets, was acquired specifically to work service 384 – a service which had its origins as a London Transport Country Area service. Sovereign was part of the Blazefield Group.

Mid May 1998 (approx. 0815) – Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Limited 601 (P601 RGS) had just had to squeeze by a lorry as it headed towards Walkern (between the Benington turn and the War Memorial) when working the 0718 Hertford to Stevenage service 384. It is a Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6RLE new in March 1997 which, according to PSV Circle News Sheets, was acquired specifically to work service 384 – a service which had its origins as a London Transport Country Area service. A school bus of C W Sworder Limited was following close behind and was squeezing through the same gap. Sovereign was part of the Blazefield Group at the time.