THE M & D AND EAST KENT BUS CLUB

The East Anglian - 16th August 2003

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Tour report by Colin Hicks. (first published in Invicta 614 September '03)

After collecting some 38 members from pick-up points in Maidstone, Chatham and Brentwood we travelled on to Colchester aboard an Arriva DAF/Plaxton coach in Green Line livery driven by club member Richard Lewis.  

Seen in Colchester were an ex-Armchair Olympian with Cedric of Wivenhoe and photographed were an ex-Dart, Paisley MAN/Marshall midibus of Chambers, Bures and one of their Scania/East Lancs double-deckers.  

After a slow journey to Ipswich because of road works, we had ample free time in the town to witness the bus movements of Beeston of Hadleigh, First, Ipswich and Galloway of Mendlesham using a recently-acquired Dennis Dart from Solent Blueline.  Transport to the museum was kindly provided and what a vehicle it was! - an immaculately turned-out Ipswich no: 63 AEC Regent V/Massey.  The museum contained many fascinating items of local interest and most had historical notes with them.  

We boarded our coach again to go to the Transport Museum at Carlton Colville, en route passing through pleasant Suffolk countryside.  On arrival we could see various trolleybuses from Blackpool, Derby , London and Switzerland !  A bonus here was a short trip on a preserved Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka/ECW, kindly provided by the members of the museum, down to Lowestoft sea front for a group photo.

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