1980s/1990s A11 Barton Mills/Red Lodge

Sunday 22 May 1994 – Leaside Buses (a London Buses operating unit) L354 (VLT 32) was the last numerically of a batch of 40 Alexander R type bodied Leyland Olympians which were new in 1994. L351-354 featured higher backed coach style seating and were additionally used for private hire and excursion work. L354, delivered as J354 BSH, was re-registered in January 1994 to VLT 32, a registration number taken from Routemaster RM32. It was seen here on the A1065 at Barton Mills having just left the lay-by adjacent to Walker’s Snack Bar returning to Fiveways roundabout working an excursion to Great Yarmouth.

Sunday 17 October 1993 – The building in the background is the Bull Inn at Barton Mills in Suffolk and the coach was parked on what was their car park, now occupied by the houses of Chestnut Close. Dewhirst Coaches of Bradford H749 VUA, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new in February 1991, was carrying a party of Leeds United supporters en route to a match in Ipswich. (The result was a 0-0 draw).

Saturday 1 June 1991 – Eastons Coaches of Brandiston, Norfolk Bova Futura A585 GPE had stopped for morning coffee at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on a tour to the Isle of Wight. It had been new to Seamarks of Luton in March 1984.

Saturday 1 June 1991 – Eastons Coaches Bova Futura A585 GPE had stopped for morning coffee at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on a tour to the Isle of Wight. It had been new to Seamarks of Luton in March 1984.

Saturday 1 June 1991 – Eastons Coaches Bova Futura A585 GPE had stopped for morning coffee at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on a tour to the Isle of Wight. It had been new to Seamarks of Luton in March 1984.

A Saturday in July 1991 – Dolphin Travel of Norwich KAC 1, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M, seen during a refreshment stop at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. The business is owned by the Cooke family and the coach registration number carries the initials of Kenneth Arthur Cooke, a company director.

Sunday 27 June 1993 – The perfect end to a perfect day as two Norfolk based coaches take a break at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on their way home. Nearest the camera is Eniway Coaches of Dereham JBZ 4909, a Plaxton Paramount II 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger. I believe this coach was new to Hills of Tredegar in March 1983 registered RNY 309Y. Subsequently operated by Independent Coachways of Horsforth (as VFN 53) from whom Eniway acquired the coach in 1991 when it carried registration JUB 675Y. In the background is Semmence Coaches of Wymondham A583 MEH, a Bova Futura that was new as A866 XOP to Arnold’s Coaches of Tamworth in May 1984, a company later acquired by the Bowen Group. After service with Bowen it passed to Stoddard’s of Cheadle, Staffordshire where it carried registration A20 MPS. Both Dereham and Wymondham would be reached in less than one hour so the passengers hadn’t long to go before reaching home. The Dog and Partridge closed many years ago and became a private residence.

Saturday 19 August 1995 – The Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills has been a regular place for coaches taking a refreshment break when travelling along the A11. Two of the four coaches in this view are operated by Davian Coaches of Edmonton, North London. Left is A61 SEV, a Berkhof Espirit bodied DAF SB2300 new in February 1984. Right is D29 CRC, a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Scania K112CRS (with the low driving position) new to Bonas Coaches of Coventry in November 1996.

Saturday 19 August 1995 – The passengers travelling on two coaches operated by Davian Coaches from Edmonton, North London alight for a refreshment and toilet break at the Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills. Left is D29 CRC, a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Scania K112CRS (with the low driving position) new to Bonas Coaches of Coventry in November 1996. Right is A61 SEV, a Berkhof Espirit bodied DAF SB2300 new in February 1984.

Saturday 19 August 1995 – The Picnic Area on the A1065 close to Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills has been a regular place for coaches taking a refreshment break when travelling along the A11. Two of the four coaches in this view are operated by Davian Coaches of Edmonton, North London. D29 CRC was leading (a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Scania K112CRS (with the low driving position) new to Bonas Coaches of Coventry in November 1996) with A61 SEV following (a Berkhof Espirit bodied DAF SB2300 new in February 1984). MIW 3853, a Duple Caribbean bodied DAF, didn’t carry any identification. I have seen reference that it had been new in February 1984 to Whippet Coaches as A806 REW and that it was later operated by Richard Taylor Travel of St. Ippolytts near Hitchin, Britannia of Hitchin and D&G Coaches of Stevenage. The coach right behind it was actually operated by D&G so I suspect MIW 3853 could have been also.

Saturday 6 August 1994 – Sampson Coaches of Hoddesdon was owned by County Bus and Coach Company, the former London Country (North East). BTF10 (B110 KPF), a Berkhof Everest bodied Leyland Tiger new in November 1984 as a service coach for the London Country Bus Services Green Line network, was seen at Barton Mills Picnic Area on the A1065 when taking the Crystals Marching Band to Pleasurewood Hills for the day. What appears to be a depiction of the biblical character Samson is used as a logo alongside the fleetname although the latter has the spelling Sampson with a ‘p’ included.

Saturday 6 August 1994 – Sampson Coaches of Hoddesdon was owned by County Bus and Coach Company, the former London Country (North East). BTF10 (B110 KPF) was seen at Barton Mills Picnic Area on the A1065 when taking the Crystals Marching Band to Pleasurewood Hills for the day. A Berkhof Everest bodied Leyland Tiger new in November 1984 as a service coach for the London Country Bus Services Green Line network.

Saturday 6 August 1994 – Sampson Coaches of Hoddesdon was owned by County Bus and Coach Company, the former London Country (North East). BAZ 7384 was seen at Barton Mills Picnic Area on the A1065. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger which featured the low driving position which when combined with the 3500 high model gave a very large expanse of glass. It was new in August 1985 as fleet number STL10 in the London Country Bus Services fleet registered C210 PPE.

Saturday 6 August 1994 – Country Lion (Northampton) Limited A9 CLN seen at Barton Mills Picnic Area on the A1065 during a refreshment stop. An Ikarus Blue Danube bodied Volvo B10M which I believe previously carried registration number H42 WVV new September 1990. The coach in the background is Taylors of Mepershall TSU 477.

Saturday 6 August 1994 – Country Lion (Northampton) Limited A9 CLN seen at Barton Mills Picnic Area on the A1065 during a refreshment stop. An Ikarus Blue Danube bodied Volvo B10M which I believe previously carried registration number H42 WVV new September 1990.

Sunday 16 January 1994 – An anonymous Reeve Burgess Harrier bodied Leyland Swift heading westbound on the A11 between Barton Mills and Red Lodge. G829 UMU was new to Nene College, Peterborough in November 1989.

Friday 26 May 1995 – An anonymous UVG Unistar bodied Dennis Javelin registered M576 OKM heading westbound on the A11 near Red Lodge. I suspect it was a Ministry of Defence vehicle. In later times of heightened security personnel were carried in vehicles that looked every part a civilian vehicle with a civilian registration number. Different non-military looking colour schemes were also used to make the vehicles less obvious when out and about.

Sunday 16 May 1994 – Two anonymous Reeve Burgess Harrier bodied coaches heading eastbound away from Fiveways, Barton Mills. They could be local authority or Ministry of Defence owned.