Felix Coaches Query

Felix Coaches EX6644 - a Crossley SD42/7 with Yeates C35F bodywork
Photo copyright Mick Turpin

Regular readers of the blog will recall my article about the restoration of a coach previously owned by Great Yarmouth operator Felix Coaches in the 1950s

Following the article I have subsequently received a couple of responses on the subject.

The first is from the founder's great grandson, James Hazell, who, on seeing the photo, remarked 'What an absolute joy to see this coach returned to its former Felix glory'

The second response was in an email from Colin Royds:-

'I have just been on a web site about Felix coaches in Great Yarmouth. Does anybody remember the small wood hut at the side of the Aquarium theatre on the prom. Myself & my future wife had a holiday in Great Yarmouth in about 1964 and the man in the wood hut was called Bob Jex. He said we would remember his name as it was the reg. letters of Great Yarmouth. We went on so many day trips with them in the holiday that he bought my girl a box of chocolates. They did a trip on one night in the week that was a music night in a pub with a live duo dressed in pullovers with a felix cat on it. does any body know the name of the pub?

Regards

Colin'

I do just about remember the said wooden hut beside the Aquarium Theatre (now the Hollywood Cinema). As for Mr Jex's reference to the vehicle registrations, if my memory serves me right, I believe Felix (or was it Seagull Coaches using the Felix name) had two Bedford VAL14s whose registrations were JEX3 and JEX5. 

Indeed EX were the registration letters for Great Yarmouth and I understand Seagull Coaches had an arrangement with the then Great Yarmouth County Borough Council to match its fleet numbers with the registration numbers

As for the identity of the pub Colin refers to I am not sure where it was. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who could provide the answer so I could pass the information onto Colin

Venue Identified!

I have subsequently been contacted by David Burdett and Mick Capon who have both identified the venue as being The Eels Foot in Ormesby, just north of Great Yarmouth

Mick's reply can viewed by clicking the Comments tab below whilst David emailed me to say:-

Relating to your question about coach trips from Great Yarmouth which ended in a pub night, might I suggest that The Eels Foot at Ormesby could possibly have been the one referred to. I seem to recall that this was mentioned to me by drivers from Cromer in the 70s, although at the time which you state, I would only have been quite a youngster!!
Regards
David Burdett.

My thanks to both David and Mick for their replies

Latest AnglianBus Repaints

Two of the AnglianBus Metrobus exiles have received AnglianBus yellow and blue livery; YN03WRF and YN03WRP

When Tim Miller looked in at Car & Commercials yard in Beccles yesterday morning the former had left and the second was waiting collection

Tim sends these photos of YN03WRP freshly out-shopped and as you will see it

retains its two door configuration.

Although it has still to receive its fleetnames and other graphics the vehicle looks very smart

Another unidentified Scania was also hiding at the rear of the site.

It had received extensive front end damage and was thought to have been a write off.

Could it have been 

the former Metrobus 445 YN05HFE which was written off in the accident at North Cove recently?

My appreciation goes to Tim for his report and the photographs

Lowestoft Interloper

Lowestoft's main pedestrianised shopping area witnessed the appearance of a double deck bus yesterday.

Neil Chilvers photographed former London Transport MCW Metrobus BYX295V outside Beales

The bus was new to London Transport in June 1980 carrying fleet number M295

Affectionately known as Harold The Bus, the

vehicle is on a 2,000 mile tour raising money for PWSA (Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness).

It started its trek in Brighton on the 15th of September

For further information about the charity visit the PWSA website

The bus will also be in Great Yarmouth Market Place today and Saturday

My thanks to Neil for the report and photos

Ambassador New Reg?

Contributor Zac Nelson photographed this white coach whilst it was awaiting passengers opposite East Norfolk Sixth Form College yesterday

The Dennis Javelin/ Plaxton Premier was displaying a K262FUV registration plate and thought it may be one of the Ambassador fleet

I was unsure as to whether it was a re-registration or an acquisition by Ambassador

However, Zac, Grahame Bessey and Andrew Smith were amongst those identifying it as being owned by Wymondham-based Semmence, a sister company of Ambassador

My thanks to Zac for the photo and to all those responding to the request to identify the owners in the previous posting.

Good to know you are all out there and reading the blog!

Multi-Coloured Bus Spot

32107 LT02ZCX on the Pink Line

The newly named First Norwich bus network began operating in the city on Sunday last with buses being colour coded to 'simplify' the Norwich bus network for passengers

Grahame Bessey visited the 'fine city' yesterday to witness the first weekday operation of the network; despite the threat of heavy rain throughout the day!

33113 LT02NVX on Red Line working

In addition to the numerous pictures, Grahame sends me an extensive report highlighting the buses on their respective branded routes

Red Line
32104  33113  33146  33158  33234 33235  33242  33244

Yellow Line
33056  33149

Orange Line

32101  33150  33160  33162  33169

Purple Line

33003  33152  33163  33166  53118 53119  53120  66328  66330

66347 MV02VDA on Turquoise Line

Turquoise Line
32112  66347

Green Line
66301  66326  66334  66335  66337 66341  66342  66344  66345

Blue Line
36166  36167  36168  36169  36170 36174  36175  36176  36177  36179

Pink Line
32102  32107  33055  33246  33247

White spare 33058 LN51GJK

White (Spare)
33058  33154  33156  33170  33171 33236  33237  33238  33239  33245 36172  36173  36180  53122  53123 53124  66324  66325  66329  66332 66336  66339  66957  66959  69011

He reports that all Norwich vehicles are now branded except for Dart 43483 R683DPW which is expected to move to Essex shortly.

My appreciation goes to Grahame for his thorough and detailed report and for the many pictures he provided

It's a pity I couldn't use them all!

Seeing Red

Zac Nelson reports the use of an AnglianBus former Metrobus Scania on the 731 route

He captured red liveried YN03WRG awaiting students outside Gorleston's Sixth Form College in the rain yesterday

The Rackheath based bus still retains its 537 Metrobus fleet number and was about to return to Norwich despite Special Service appearing on the destination screen!

My thanks to Zac for the photo and information

Carnival Queen

Following yesterday's report regarding the last workings of First's Routemasters on the 3/3A route in Great Yarmouth, Syd Eade has sent a photo of RML 2623 NML623E being readied for the Lowestoft Carnival on Sunday

She is pictured in Lowestoft Bus Station with the London 2012 Olympics banner fitted. Unfortunately heavy rain during the carnival meant no photos!

Regular contributors James Race and Syd then returned the RML to Great Yarmouth at teatime and then continued to Norwich returning the errant Green Line 66346 MV02VCZ to Norwich's Vulcan Road depot for service on Monday morning

My thanks to Syd for the photo and report