National Travel South East LWC 981J - 2025hrs Sudbury to Brixham 010777
In this view we see National Travel South East former Eastern National Plaxton bodied Bristol RELH6G LWC 981J about to depart from the Sudbury terminus with the above service 114 journey on Friday 1st July 1977. This vehicle was allocated to Kelvedon, but outstationed at the ENOC depot situated on the High Street in Halstead mainly for use on day excursion work. As I lived in the town I rode up to Sudbury on the vehicle positioning journey with driver Ron Norman. The other driver at this time was Harry Fairy, but back in pre NTSE days the relatively small Halstead depot had provided a disproportionate number of drivers for the ENOC extended tours programme. This either meant that there was a lot of overtime for the bus crews during the peak summer period or the need to cover shifts with staff from other depots or seasonal employees. Names of Halstead based tour drivers that I recall from those far off days are Dennis Cole, Les Staines, Billy Ruggles, Mervyn Whittaker and Ernie Peckham
Over the first weekend in July 1977 I made a marathon trip to South Devon, travelling both ways overnight on National Express service 114 between Halstead and Brixham, with a full day of bus travel on the Saturday. Apart from just two that escaped the attentions of my camera, I managed to get photos of all the other vehicles that I rode on.
National Travel South East LWC 981J - 2025hrs Sudbury to Brixham 010777
In this view we see National Travel South East former Eastern National Plaxton bodied Bristol RELH6G LWC 981J about to depart from the Sudbury terminus with the above service 114 journey on Friday 1st July 1977. This vehicle was allocated to Kelvedon, but outstationed at the ENOC depot situated on the High Street in Halstead mainly for use on day excursion work. As I lived in the town I rode up to Sudbury on the vehicle positioning journey with driver Ron Norman. The other driver at this time was Harry Fairy, but back in pre NTSE days the relatively small Halstead depot had provided a disproportionate number of drivers for the ENOC extended tours programme. This either meant that there was a lot of overtime for the bus crews during the peak summer period or the need to cover shifts with staff from other depots or seasonal employees. Names of Halstead based tour drivers that I recall from those far off days are Dennis Cole, Les Staines, Billy Ruggles, Mervyn Whittaker and Ernie Peckham
Over the first weekend in July 1977 I made a marathon trip to South Devon, travelling both ways overnight on National Express service 114 between Halstead and Brixham, with a full day of bus travel on the Saturday. Apart from just two that escaped the attentions of my camera, I managed to get photos of all the other vehicles that I rode on.