Please find below my contribution to the Derbyshire Buses in the 1980s and 90s feature which as a fan of the Derbyshire Independent operator
I have found most interesting. These are taken from my own collection and feature Bulls Tours of Tideswell, Lathkill of Monyash, Harris of
Clay Cross, M Pearson of Whittington, Ambassador of Ilkeston, Bransons of Brampton, Kingsman of Matlock and Express Motors of Hulland.
1. 1988 My first bus ride was almost certainly on one of the buses owned by E Webster & Sons of Hognaston because I lived in the then rural
village of Kniveton until I was 10. Websters buses ran past the lane end and took us to Ashbourne with a timetable built around the needs
of a rural community. Latterly, I used to go to Ashbourne by myself every Saturday morning to see my grandmother. The bus would be a Bedford OB
or OWB with one of Mr Webster's daughters as the conductress. Nearly 40 years later I photographed this ex Alexander (Northern) Alexander bodied
Ford R series in Matlock in 1988.
2. 1988 Another picture taken in Matlock in 1988. Viking was a coach operator from Burton-on-Trent and the other two 'buses' belonged to
Hulleys (A66 BVO & E791 SKN).
3. 1991 By 1991 Websters had been taken over by Express Motors based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Again in Matlock another of the same batch
of buses on the same service to Ashbourne. Trent Leyland National 452 on the right.
4. 1991 Still in Matlock in 1991, Kingsman Travel Leyland National HPF 331N bound for Clay Cross. I have completely forgotten who
Kingsman Travel were.
5. 1991 East Midland Leyland National 611 in Buxton in 1991.
6. 1991 Trent 1613, a former Barton Plaxton bodied DAF in Bakewell on a southbound Trans Peak journey in 1991.
7. 1991 Ladyline YFC 14R a former Oxford South Midland Duple bodied Leopard in 1991. Again I have forgotten about Ladyline but they seem
to be doing good business.
Many of us know Transpire Events Officer and Stagecoach Yorkshire manager Shayne Howarth (left). Shayne has looked at the above picture and comments (22 December 2010):
There appears to be a very young (10 or 11 year old) Shayne Howarth stood with his back to the windscreen helping the passengers on board and checking tickets!
Well, well, well!! For Shaynes' next trip on 9 January 2011 look on the Transpire website
HERE.
8. 1991 Hulleys operated this former Barton Plaxton bodied Leopard in 1991. ONN 281M seen in Bakewell.
9. 1991 Former Trent 286, NCH 769M ECW bodied Bristol RE again in Bakewell in 1991.
10. 1992 In the early 90s there was intense competition in Derby between the Corporation and Camms of Nottingham. Corporation
Fleetline 311 is seen in the Cornmarket in 1992. I suspect this short working was a Camm spoiler. The Cornmarket was pedestrianised
in August 1992.
11. 1992 Camms had a very mixed fleet of second hand buses which all travelled over from Nottingham each day to compete head to head with
Derby Corporation between 1989 and 1993. CWG 707V is an Ex South Yorkshire Atlantean seen in Derby in 1992.
12. 1992 A couple of Trent Leyland Nationals on the Allestree service in Derby bus station in 1992.
13. 1992 Camms Bristol VR YB'S 683S in Derby bus station in 1992. Service 25 to Oakwood was in competition with Derby Corporation.
14. More competition with Camms.
15. More competition with Camms.
16. GM Buses Leyland National on tendered service 201 to Manchester.