Mildenhall area coach operators

Saturday 30 May 1987 – I just happened to be stood on the island outside Buckingham Palace in London when BTX 718V operated by Steve MacKenzie of West Row, near Mildenhall drove by. It was new in November 1979 to Waddon of Caerphilly, South Wales. Steve was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver that set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985. He operated until 2015/2016.

Saturday 27 August 1988 – Dwarfed by a US Air Force C5 Galaxy aircraft on display at RAF Lakenheath was BTX 718V, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1114 operated by Steve MacKenzie of West Row, near Mildenhall. It was new in November 1979 to Waddon of Caerphilly, South Wales and was operating an on site shuttle for visitors to this air show. Steve was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver that set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985. He operated until 2015/2016 for most of the time owning just one coach employed on contracts for both Suffolk County Council and the United States Air Force schools. The U S schools started and finished earlier in the day than did the British schools so the two revenue sources fitted together quite well.

Friday 2 March 1990 – Steve MacKenzie of West Row BSS 438T seen in Barton Mills working a morning school contract. It was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Volvo B58 that had been new to Simpson’s Coaches of Rosehearty on the northern coast of Aberdeenshire in January 1979. According to a note I read on the internet, it was acquired to work between Scotland and Plymouth carrying mackerel fishermen. It was later sold to Trathen’s of Plymouth. It remained in the livery of Skill’s Coaches of Nottingham whose coaches carried the name “Skill’s scenicruisers” – the Skill’s name and the final ‘s’ had been removed to just leave the ‘scenicruiser’ name on the sides. Otherwise Steve applied his own lettering in an orange which blended well with the earlier graphics.

Friday 2 March 1990 – Steve MacKenzie of West Row BSS 438T seen at College Heath Middle School in Mildenhall loading homeward bound pupils. It was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Volvo B58 that had been new to Simpson’s Coaches of Rosehearty on the northern coast of Aberdeenshire in January 1979. According to a note I read on the internet, it was acquired to work between Scotland and Plymouth carrying mackerel fishermen. It was later sold to Trathen’s of Plymouth. It remained in the livery of Skill’s Coaches of Nottingham whose coaches carried the name “Skill’s scenicruisers” – the Skill’s name and the final ‘s’ had been removed to just leave the ‘scenicruiser’ name on the sides. Otherwise Steve applied his own lettering in an orange which blended well with the earlier graphics. Parked in front was JTM 115V, a Bedford YMT also with Plaxton Supreme bodywork, operated by Wright (Travel the Wright Way) of Brandon.

July 1990 – Steve MacKenzie of West Row was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver that set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985. He operated until 2015/2016 for most of the time owning just one coach employed on contracts for both Suffolk County Council and the United States Air Force schools. The U S schools started and finished earlier in the day than did the British schools so the two revenue sources fitted together quite well. In this view Steve is driving TYE 707S near the original Great Heath School in St. John’s Close, Mildenhall on contract number ML425. It is a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YMT that had been new to Grey-Green Coaches, London in August 1977. May have been on loan.

Sunday 27 December 1992 – Brothers Steve and Duncan MacKenzie based in West Row near Mildenhall, Suffolk each operated their own coach. Steve set up his own owner-driver business in the late 1980s normally operating just one coach. In the early 1990s Duncan, who I believe had at the time recently left the armed forces, also obtained a coach. (Possibly the two coaches were on the same operator’s licence in Steve’s name so I am treading carefully here in respect of true history!). Left is Duncan’s BEG 438T, a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YMT. It had been new in August 1978 to Fox of Hayes registered BUR 432T. Right is Steve’s BSS 438T, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Volvo B58 that had been new to Simpson’s Coaches of Rosehearty on the northern coast of Aberdeenshire in January 1979. According to a note I read on the internet, it was acquired to work between Scotland and Plymouth carrying mackerel fishermen. It was later sold to Trathen’s of Plymouth. It came from and remained in the livery of Skill’s Coaches of Nottingham. Rather a coincidence that both registrations were 438T!

Wednesday 7 September 1994 – Brothers Steve and Duncan MacKenzie based in West Row near Mildenhall, Suffolk each operated their own coach. Steve set up his own owner-driver business in the late 1980s normally operating just one coach. In the early 1990s Duncan, who I believe had at the time recently left the armed forces, also obtained a coach. (Possibly the two coaches were on the same operator’s licence in Steve’s name so I am treading carefully here in respect of true history!). Duncan’s VFK 661X was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1114 new to Sealandair of West Bromwich in August 1981. In the background is Steve’s BSS 438T, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Volvo B58 that had been new to Simpson’s Coaches of Rosehearty.

Wednesday 7 September 1994 – Brothers Steve and Duncan MacKenzie based in West Row near Mildenhall, Suffolk each operated their own coach. Steve set up his own owner-driver business in the late 1980s normally operating just one coach. In the early 1990s Duncan, who I believe had at the time recently left the armed forces, also obtained a coach. (Possibly the two coaches were on the same operator’s licence in Steve’s name so I am treading carefully here in respect of true history!). Duncan’s VFK 661X was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1114 new to Sealandair of West Bromwich in August 1981. In the background is Steve’s BSS 438T, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Volvo B58 that had been new to Simpson’s Coaches of Rosehearty.

Saturday 20 May 1998 (0820) - Owner-driver Steve MacKenzie of West Row near Mildenhall B284 AMG seen travelling round Fiveways roundabout, Barton Mills. It was Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNV new in early 1985 to Arrowline of Hayes, Middlesex although it came from Veazey Coaches of Winwick, Cambridgeshire. Steve was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver who set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985.

Monday 29 November 1999 – Owner-driver Steve MacKenzie of West Row near Mildenhall changed his coach in early 1999. NIB 8762 was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new to Wallace Arnold in 1986 as C103 DWR seen here outside his home. Steve was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver who set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985.

Monday 29 November 1999 – Owner-driver Steve MacKenzie of West Row near Mildenhall changed his coach in early 1999. NIB 8762 was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new to Wallace Arnold in 1986 as C103 DWR seen here outside his home. Steve was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver who set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985.

Saturday 27 May 2006 - Steve MacKenzie of West Row was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver that set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985. He operated until 2015/2016 for most of the time owning just one coach employed on contracts for both Suffolk County Council and the United States Air Force schools. His final coach was J219 NNC, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M new to Shearings Holidays in February 1992, which was seen outside Steve’s home in West Row. Unlike most of Steve’s past vehicles this one never carried any identity.

Saturday 27 May 2006 - Steve MacKenzie of West Row was a former Morley’s Grey Coaches driver that set up his own business sometime after Morley’s ceased trading in 1985. He operated until 2015/2016 for most of the time owning just one coach employed on contracts for both Suffolk County Council and the United States Air Force schools. His final coach was J219 NNC, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M new to Shearings Holidays in February 1992, which was seen outside Steve’s home in West Row. Unlike most of Steve’s past vehicles this one never carried any identity.

Friday 23 March 1990 - DJ Coaches (Jeffrey) of Fordham, Cambridge DJ 6129 seen at the Fordham premises prepared ready for a run to London the following day. It was a Van Hool T815 new in August 1986 as D222 KVA.

Friday 23 March 1990 - DJ Coaches (Jeffrey) of Fordham, Cambridge DJ 6129 seen at the Fordham premises prepared ready for a run to London the following day. It was a Van Hool T815 new in August 1986 as D222 KVA.

Friday 23 March 1990 - DJ Coaches (Jeffrey) of Fordham, Cambridge 111 BVE seen at the Fordham premises. It was a Duple Super Vega bodied Bedford SB5 that had been new to Kenzie’s Coaches of Shepreth in August 1962.

Saturday 2 July 1988 – DJ Coaches (Jeffrey) of Fordham, Cambridge MJF 802P seen loading pupils at Mildenhall Upper School for the 1988 Camp Trip to Brockenhurst in the New Forest. My elder daughter was passing her suitcase into the coach. It was a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YRT that had been new to Wood of Wigston in March 1976.

Saturday 2 July 1988 – DJ Coaches (Jeffrey) of Fordham, Cambridge MJF 802P seen loading pupils at Mildenhall Upper School for the 1988 Camp Trip to Brockenhurst in the New Forest. It was a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YRT that had been new to Wood of Wigston in March 1976.