The Golden Arrow

As temperatures soared towards “phew!” FFN 446, NKT 875 and MFN 946F edged into Gillingham Depot on 17th August to start the tour, having operated feeder services from Canterbury (via Charing), Hastings, and Ashford respectively. After a group photo by the local Press, yellow safety jackets were donned for the depot visit. Here National Greenway and ex-MOD Dodge trainers plus an Arriva Sussex Dennis Dominator provided interest but pride of place fell to three ex-London United DAFs in Arriva livery. A fourth, still in red, could be seen in the paintshop. Mercedes-Benz minibuses with red disposal stripes were also to be seen in the rear yard.

	FFN 446 parked with the other tour vehicles at Gillingham depot
	One of the recently repainted ex-London United DAFs 6203 inside Gillingham depot
	NKT 875, MFN 946F and FFN 446 lined up at Citibus's Sittingbourne garage
	NKT 875 in Court Street, Faversham

We moved on to Sittingbourne where a visit to Citibus revealed early Darts, Lynxes and a rather sorry-looking ex-Southdown Leyland-National. We continued to Faversham to join MFN 888, where the sight of four buses at once in Court Street bemused the local residents. The three ex-East Kent vehicles moved on to Canterbury with a brief photo stop in Boughton which surprised the driver of regular service 603 when he couldn’t see his stop for buses.

At Canterbury Park and Ride vehicles, City Sightseeing open toppers and a Poynter’s Lynx could be seen. MFN 888 left us here but FFN 399 and VJG 187J joined the fray. After lunch our party divided with many taking advantage of a trip to Folkestone on the Guy through the picturesque Elham Valley while others took the more direct route.

	MFN 888 with FFN 446 and MFN 946F behind
	Kent County Council Optare Solo Y32 HBT was one of the vehicles seen in Canterbury
	Stagecoach East Kent's Canterbury Park and Ride MAN X607 VDY
	Standard Stagecoach livery in both the new and old versions at Canterbury Bus station

In Folkestone the usual mix of buses could be seen and before long we were travelling to Ashford where NKT 875 rejoined the tour and AFN 778B met us for the next leg. Cobbs Wood was quiet but low floor Darts popped in for crew changes. The Regent, Beadle and PD2 then continued to Maidstone for our final visit of the day.

	preserved Guy FFN 399 used for the Canterbury-Folkestone leg
	Stagecoach Jubilee liveried R296 HCD was amongst the vehicles seen in Folkestone
	VJG 187J at Folkestone
	R819 HCD was amongst the vehicles noted at Stagecoach East Kent's Ashford garage

An emergency road closure in Maidstone caused a brief “how do we get there now?” stop, appropriately outside Knightrider House. At Armstrong Road double deckers and Green Line coaches were very much in evidence as well as National Greenway trainers, Lynxes and a New Enterprise Metrobus. Depot staff kindly opened the canteen for refreshments before members dispersed to their homes on the preserved vehicles.

Thanks as ever to David Cobb but especially this time to Phil Evans and Nicholas King for their considerable efforts in organising the day’s event. Thanks also to the owners, drivers and conductors of the buses involved that helped to make this an enjoyable, interesting and fitting celebration of the Club’s Golden Jubilee.