The Kent & Sussex Rambler

Green Line-liveried 2912 (R456 SKX) was almost fully loaded on 20th July by the time we reached the venue of our first visit, to New Enterprise at Tonbridge. Much of the fleet now consists of vehicles cascaded from elsewhere in the Arriva Southern Counties group, and interest centred on the former London Metrobuses. Kent & Sussex Volvo 3611 on loan was the only obvious sign of the Arriva corporate identity.

	Two coaches in the latest coach livery at New Enterprise's depot W198 CDN & M51 AWW
	One of New Enterprise's fleet of Metrobuses GYE 586W

Wealden PSV's two sites in Five Oak Green contained vehicles ranging from long-withdrawn stock to Autocar's Scania double-decker OSJ 1X. Its sister, gold-liveried X8 HAM, was awaiting our arrival at Ham's Travel at Flimwell, along with three of the operator's ex-London Titans. On leaving Ham's premises, we also glimpsed Titan A962 SYE in orange livery and Renown Leyland-National PCD 80R in the nearby yard of Roffey/Sunline.

	A selection of vehicles in the yard of Wealden PSV
	Our tour coach R456 SKX at the Wealden yard
	Ham of Flimwell Titan KYV 432X
	Scania bus X8 HAM of Ham of Flimwell

Eastbourne Buses vehicles were seen on the former Stagecoach routes 52/53 south of Heathfield. The lunch stop in Eastbourne itself offered ex-Reading Optare Excels and ex-Epsom Buses Darts. A few residual Dennis Lances were still on hire from Stagecoach who, though no longer based in the town, maintains its own presence on coastal routes, plus 98 inland towards Hastings.

	Eastbourne 35 (S835 DPN), one of a number of buses seen in Eastbourne
	Eastbourne's two preserved buses posed for the photographers at the depot

Our first afternoon stop was at the modern Eastbourne Buses depot at Birch Road, where we were welcomed by Managing Director Mr Steve Barnett and Operations Manager Mr Adam Yates. Former Wilts & Dorset and originally Yorkshire Rider Roe-bodied Olympian UWW 6X, a hired Optare Delta and a further Stagecoach Lance were amongst the vehicles noted, but pride of place must go to the preserved AEC Regal III and Leyland PD2A which were posed for photographers. The latter (with Mr Barnett at the wheel) then took the party westwards to Brighton.

The multi-hued Brighton & Hove fleet now includes green and cream (reminding one of Southdown) and gold and black (for the Jubilee) constituents, and an open-top Dennis Trident on the Devil's Dyke service together with Guide Friday and Metrobus operations were also to be seen. Members then returned to Eastbourne aboard the PD2A, rejoined the coach and headed homeward.

	Brighton & Hove have vehicles in dedicated liveries for the principal routes, making Brighton a colourful place for buses. East Lancs Cityzen N752 OAP shows the green version...
	...whilst Plaxton President Y864 GCO shows the orange version, and is named King William IV
	Our visit was in the late afternoon so most of the excursion coaches which park up at the marina during the day came back into town to pick up their passengers and could be photographed at this roundabout at the end of the esplanade. This one was local but many were from further afield
	Eastbourne's DHC 782E was taken up to the terminus at Beachy Head where it was again posed for the photographers

Our thanks to all the operators visited, and particularly to the senior officials of Ham's Travel and Eastbourne Buses for welcoming us in person and in both cases supplying us with fleet lists; to the climate for being co-operative yet again, and to David Cobb for organising another very enjoyable tour.