1980s/1990s A11 Barton Mills/Red Lodge

Sunday 22 July 1984 – Red Lodge on the A11 road in Suffolk had a number of catering establishments frequented by coaches. This one (which I think included ‘Road House’ in its title) occupied the site where the Doctor’s Surgery was built in later years. Directly across the road was another popular café, the Suffolk Punch (later re-named Sanara Services). Having two such places across the road from each other created some hair raising moments as people ran across the road between the two. In this Sunday evening photograph there are four coaches taking a break including a Duple Dominant coach of London based Grey-Green Coaches probably heading back to the capital from the seaside.

Thursday 19 May 2011 – Spratts’ Coaches of Wreningham W27 GES, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Scania L94 new in April 2000, seen during a refreshment break at the Olde Bull Inn, Barton Mills. The business was closed down in late 2018/early 2019 having been based in the village of Wreningham approx. 4 miles south east of Wymondham.

Thursday 19 May 2011 – Spratts’ Coaches of Wrenningham W27 GES, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Scania L94 new in April 2000, seen during a refreshment break at the Olde Bull Inn, Barton Mills. The business was closed down in late 2018/early 2019 having been based in the village of Wreningham approx. 4 miles south east of Wymondham.

Saturday 19 September 1992 – Soul Brothers of Olney, Buckinghamshire 50 DBD, a Plaxton Paramount 3500, seen during a refreshment break at the Dog and Partridge, Barton Mills, Suffolk.

Saturday 19 September 1992 – Soul Brothers of Olney, Buckinghamshire 50 DBD, a Plaxton Paramount 3500, seen during a refreshment break at the Dog and Partridge, Barton Mills, Suffolk.

Saturday 19 September 1992 - Soul Bros of Olney, Northamptonshire 50 DBD seen during a refreshment and toilet break at the Dog & Partridge, Barton Mills. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Wallace Arnold Tours in March 1988 registered E313 UUB.

Saturday 3 July 1993 (0950) – Soul Brothers of Olney, Buckinghamshire VUD 483, a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied DAF, seen arriving for a toilet and refreshment break at Barton Mills picnic area when heading towards Norfolk.

Saturday 18 September 1995 (approx. 1200) – The Barton Mills picnic site on the A1065 has been a popular refreshment and toilet stop for coaches for many years. Coastal bound coaches from the London area and the East Midlands call there as do Norfolk based operators taking their passengers in the London direction. Representing one of the latter is this Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied DAF MB230 operated by Sander’s Coaches from North Norfolk. OGR 647 was new as E160 TVR to Bullock’s Coaches of Cheadle, Cheshire in August 1987.

Sunday 27 June 1993 – The perfect end to a perfect day at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. The passengers return to their coach after taking a refreshment break. Semmence Coaches of Wymondham Bova Futura A583 MEH was new in May 1984 (to L F Bowen?) as A866 XOP. Between times it carried registration A20 MPS (when operated by Stoddards Coaches of Cheadle, Staffordshire?). Wymondham would be reached in less than one hour so the passengers hadn’t long to go before reaching home.

Sunday 1 December 1996 - Simmonds Coaches of Letchworth N996 BWJ, a Van Hool Alizeé bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1996, seen during a refreshment break at the Barton Mills picnic area in Suffolk. A change of livery layout from the traditional orange stripes and the brown base.

Sunday 16 January 1994 – Simmonds Coaches of Letchworth F305 RMH, a Plaxton Paramount III 3200 bodied Volvo B10M new in 1988, seen on the A1065 alongside the Barton Mills picnic area in Suffolk. It had taken a break there and was returning to Fiveways roundabout to continue its journey on the A11. It was one of three coaches travelling in convoy.

Sunday 16 January 1994 – Three Plaxton Paramount bodied Volvo B10M coaches of Letchworth based Simmonds Coaches seen leaving the Barton Mills picnic area after taking a refreshment break. They were returning to Fiveways roundabout to continue their journey on the A11. Leading the pack was C117 EMG (a Plaxton Paramount II 3200 new 1986), followed by J61 NTM (a Plaxton Paramount III 3500 new 1991) and F305 RMH (a Plaxton Paramount III 3200 new 1988). All were bought new.

Saturday 4 June 1994 (approx. 1530) – A wet afternoon for passengers returning back to Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Seamarks Coach and Travel operated a Summer Saturday holiday service from Leighton Buzzard (0715), Dunstable (0745), Luton (various pickups between 0755 and 0840), Round Green (0845), Stopsley (0850), Hitchin (0915), Letchworth (0930) and Baldock (0945) through to Norwich (1145), Caister (1215) and Great Yarmouth (1245). The afternoon return left Great Yarmouth at 1400 calling at Caister (1410) and Norwich (1430). The list of abbreviated arrival times was Baldock (1615), Luton points (between 1715 and 1730), Dunstable (1735) and Leighton Buzzard (1805). Kassbohrer-Setra S215HR number 199 (9569 KM), new in May 1984 as A531 STM, was seen during a toilet and refreshment break at Barton Mills picnic area around 1530.

Saturday 6 August 1994 (approx. 1530) – Seamarks Coach and Travel of Luton operated a Summer Saturday holiday service from Leighton Buzzard to Great Yarmouth. Two 1985 Plaxton Paramount bodied Volvo B10M coaches are seen during a toilet and refreshment break at Barton Mills picnic area. 208 (MJI 8662) was new as B544 BMH. Standing behind is 205 (B817 BPP) new as B541 BMH that had carried registration number 9683 ML in between. The service started from Leighton Buzzard at (0715) picking up at Dunstable (0745), Luton (various pickups between 0755 and 0840), Round Green (0845), Stopsley (0850), Hitchin (0915), Letchworth (0930) and Baldock (0945) running to Norwich (1145), Caister (1215) and Great Yarmouth (1245). The afternoon return left Great Yarmouth at 1400 calling at Caister (1410) and Norwich (1430). The list of abbreviated arrival times was Baldock (1615), Luton points (between 1715 and 1730), Dunstable (1735) and Leighton Buzzard (1805).

Saturday 7 August 1993 – Seamarks Coach and Travel of Luton 198 (Q684 LPP), a Kassbohrer-Setra S215HR new approx April 1984. A ‘Q’ registration prefix was applied to vehicles of ‘indeterminable age’ so its use on a coach was quite unusual. Seen during a toilet and refreshment break at Barton Mills picnic area when working their summer Saturday holiday service from Bedfordshire to the Norfolk Coast. The Seamarks service ran from Leighton Buzzard (0715), Dunstable (0745), Luton (various pickups between 0755 and 0840), Round Green (0845), Stopsley (0850), Hitchin (0915), Letchworth (0930) and Baldock (0945) through to Norwich (1145), Caister (1215) and Great Yarmouth (1245). The afternoon return left Great Yarmouth at 1400 calling at Caister (1410) and Norwich (1430). The list of abbreviated arrival times was Baldock (1615), Luton points (between 1715 and 1730), Dunstable (1735) and Leighton Buzzard (1805).

Saturday 13 July 1991 – London Buses Selkent Division Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TPL4 (G608 SGU) new in January 1990. It was seen at AJ’s Family Restaurant at Barton Mills, Suffolk when working a private hire trip to Norwich for St. Andrew’s Church at Catford. It was allocated to Catford garage.

Saturday 13 July 1991 – London Buses Selkent Division Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TPL4 (G608 SGU) new in January 1990. It was seen at AJ’s Family Restaurant at Barton Mills, Suffolk when working a private hire trip to Norwich for St. Andrew’s Church at Catford. It was allocated to Catford garage.

Saturday 13 July 1991 – London Buses Selkent Division Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TPL4 (G608 SGU) new in January 1990. It was seen at AJ’s Family Restaurant at Barton Mills, Suffolk when working a private hire trip to Norwich for St. Andrew’s Church at Catford. It was allocated to Catford garage.