https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/formula-1-british-grand-prix

Brent Ricketts

My bus for the day was an ex Gloucester Stagecoach West decker which was very nice to drive even though it was 10 years old and a bit bruised but nevertheless she did the job very well.  

At Silverstone itself I saw buses from Cambridge, Portsmouth, Surrey and Gloucestershire and we also carried over 40,000 people over the three days .  

James Allum

..... at Sixfields and got this picture of Stagecoach Barnsley MMC on the shuttles   https://www.ntfc.co.uk/

SIXFIELDS USED AS PARK & RIDE VENUE FOR BRITISH GRAND PRIX THIS WEEKEND

A busy weekend in store as Sixfields supports neighbours Silverstone host the British Grand Prix

Stevenage update

James Allum

A visit to the old bus station after work today and here’s the latest pictures. At this rate it will be gone by next week. 

Also attached a picture of the new Stevenage Interchange on July 1st.

An interesting development as new bus stations these days are few and far between. Ed.

I see that you have published some photos of the last day of the old bus station at Stevenage so here are some from day 3 of the new bus station on June 30th.

Stevenage Interchange

The most surprising thing is how bright the new concrete area appears, one wonders how long it will last like this ? Ed.

An Obituary - Martin Shaw

Martin Dudley Shaw 1940-2022

from Grahame Wareham

Firstly some sad news via Nick Taylor. Martin Shaw, who was one of the founder members of the Oxford Bus Preservation Syndicate and Oxford Bus Museum Trust, passed away a couple of days ago.
He had unfortunately been suffering with dementia and my last contact with him by telephone had been just over two years ago. He was living in Normandy, France and was being cared for by his sister Jane and her husband Walter.

Martin can be remembered as a bus historian who kept an up to date record of the City of Oxford fleet history, which I carried on from him since 1994, and also a comprehensive photographic record of the COMS fleet and the numerous independent operators in the local area. Martin also got involved with bus preservation in the late nineteen sixties when AEC Regal/Willowbrook single deck NJO703 was purchased by the embryonic Mid Oxon Bus Enthusiasts Club with a view of complete renovation which he tackled formidably and very thoroughly, setting a high standard benchmark for all future restorations that he was involved with, including his own ex. COMS Regent III, TWL928 and his two Bedford PCV vans, ex. COMS MJO187 and ex. Thames Valley/South Midland RWL71.

He also owned ex. Chiltern Queens Reliance EUD265K and ex. South Midland AEC Regal III/Duple coach OFC205, all of which were bequeathed to the Oxford Bus Museum.

Martin did not suffer fools easily and it took time for a 'newbie' like me to be accepted by him as a fellow enthusiast/restorer when I joined the group in 1970.

I suppose my mechanical ability and future employment with COMS helped and we ended up quite close preservation 'comrades' over the next thirty years until he moved to France, although we stayed in touch.
Martin originally worked for Halls Oxford & West Brewery, as a property surveyor and when Halls (Ind Coope) moved everything to Burton on Trent and then found further employment with Oxfordshire County Council as a Local Public Transport officer, compiling the Oxfordshire Bus Times publications and amendments. He also undertook some part time bus and coach driving for Black & White at Cheltenham, Worth's of Enstone and eventually Guide Friday where he ended up after he retired from Oxfordshire CC. When I first knew him he lived in Iffley Road and well remember some of the late evenings in his basement looking through numerous photographs. He later moved to Farmoor where he also looked after his father for a number of years. He was well known in the official bus circles such as the Omnibus Society and The PSV Circle.

My best memory of Martin was when I accompanied him to Ben Jordans, Coltishall near Norwich one day to purchase a Bristol K type chassis for spares for his ex. Thames Valley 616, Bristol L GJB254, which he also owned for a short period. Martin was supposed to be guiding the farm tractor driver out of the gate way and I was trying to steer the K type chassis and follow the tractor. After I had been towed completely though a hedge we discovered that the chassis was devoid of a nearside front road spring that made any form of guidance impossible, but Martin still allowed the farmer to drive-on despite my vociferous protests.
A ripped shirt and numerous cuts from the thorns was the outcome for me but that was about the only time I saw Martin laugh so much that he could barely drive his car ............in fact the low loader and K type chassis arrived back in Oxford before us!

That's the kind of memory that I wish to remember Martin with !

Jack Cooper

On Sunday, July 10th the Oxford Bus Museum will be holding a city bus day at the Museum. 

As the weather forecast is good I look forward to your pictures from this event. Ed.

Office of the Traffic Commissioner

Notices and Proceedings (East of England)

Publication Number: 2539 Publication Date: 06/07/2022

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1088445/np_2539_06_July_2022.pdf

Here you will find the changes for much of our area. Ed. 

      Coach visitors to Oxfordshire     

Gavin Francis

A nice Tourismo in St Giles on July 2nd. 

This Routemaster was pictured by Gavin in Wheatley on July 5th.

     Fleet News and developments   

Gavin Francis

..... in High Wycombe on June 29th.

     
     
There are now many buses bearing the latest livery. Ed. 

Gavin Francis

 
Both these coaches are now working from air-sym and are seen in London on July 5th. 

Gavin Francis

..... in High Wycombe on June 29th.

Gavin Francis

 
Recent sightings in London. 

Luke Marion - Interim Managing Director

StreetDeck Electroliner 3575 The registration sequence for the Electroliners will change after 3574, with 3575-80 being YUI 1545-50.

This is the demonstrator we have on loan from Wrights. It replaced the blue Electroliner demonstrator that was briefly seen on the 20, as that one was not really representative of the vehicles we might be looking to order. Translink have kindly made this one available to us to trial, which mechanically is closer to what we would be looking at, and today was the first day it has been used, following some issues with the mobile chargers.

We have a number of pictures of this bus from Gavin Francis

 
It is working 300 road at present as it maybe too high to be used for the 400. 

Gavin Francis

..... in High Wycombe on June 29th.

Gavin travelled to Wycombe using the link40 and was surprised by the cove advert on June 29th.