Sulking AEC Reliance - Duple Continental 3001 UK at Wells' Yard in Maldon.
This c.1978 negative,never printed until now, gives a good indication of the abhorrence of
standardisation in the fleet of AH Wells of Hatfield Peverel. All vehicles were garaged here in Maldon,the former base of Hall's Coaches. Wells took over Hall in the late 1960s and several vehicles continued to run in Hall's colours of cream and light blue. I am not aware of any Continental tours operated by wells, but it looked good on the boot lid. 3001UK was new to Don Everall in Wolverhampton. Wells withdrew the vehicle by the following January probably for scrap - a two-owner coach. A sister vehicle, 3000UK was sold to Edwards of Joys Green, Lydbrook Glos.
In front of 3001 is FGJ301C a utilitarian Ford 570E with Duple 41 seat bodywork. Also in the picture is JDG821E a Plaxton bodied Bedford VAS1 ex-Davison of Longhope, Glos, and at the extreme right is HWC637H a Ford R192 also with Plaxton bodywork, bought new by Wells in 1970.
A second AEC was owned by Wells in the early 70s, VVC122, a Duple Britannia front entrance vehicle, which ended its life impaled on the parapet of the Blackwater Bridge at Langford after it slipped off the road in icy conditions. (a photo exists in the Essex Chronicle, early 1971 I think)
As modified here
Livery was generally white and red, though some ex-Halls vehicles remained in Cream and light blue, whilst some were in an off-white and yellow colour scheme,notably the Leyland Leopard- Duple Commander WUR and the Caetano bodied Ford R192. KVW103J.
THis location now looks like this, with a new housing estate where the coaches are standing
Sulking AEC Reliance - Duple Continental 3001 UK at Wells' Yard in Maldon.
This c.1978 negative,never printed until now, gives a good indication of the abhorrence of
standardisation in the fleet of AH Wells of Hatfield Peverel. All vehicles were garaged here in Maldon,the former base of Hall's Coaches. Wells took over Hall in the late 1960s and several vehicles continued to run in Hall's colours of cream and light blue. I am not aware of any Continental tours operated by wells, but it looked good on the boot lid. 3001UK was new to Don Everall in Wolverhampton. Wells withdrew the vehicle by the following January probably for scrap - a two-owner coach. A sister vehicle, 3000UK was sold to Edwards of Joys Green, Lydbrook Glos.
In front of 3001 is FGJ301C a utilitarian Ford 570E with Duple 41 seat bodywork. Also in the picture is JDG821E a Plaxton bodied Bedford VAS1 ex-Davison of Longhope, Glos, and at the extreme right is HWC637H a Ford R192 also with Plaxton bodywork, bought new by Wells in 1970.
A second AEC was owned by Wells in the early 70s, VVC122, a Duple Britannia front entrance vehicle, which ended its life impaled on the parapet of the Blackwater Bridge at Langford after it slipped off the road in icy conditions. (a photo exists in the Essex Chronicle, early 1971 I think)
As modified here
Livery was generally white and red, though some ex-Halls vehicles remained in Cream and light blue, whilst some were in an off-white and yellow colour scheme,notably the Leyland Leopard- Duple Commander WUR and the Caetano bodied Ford R192. KVW103J.
THis location now looks like this, with a new housing estate where the coaches are standing