Deepdene Boy

Finney made Camms look like a professional operator.

Finney's used two ex NCT Regent Vs, the second one was 273 shown at the top of this page on 77s (probably the only time ever a Regent V was used on these services). His two other vehicles were ex London Transport AEC Swifts, I think one of them was LT fleetnumber SMS399.

402 always had a reputation has a flyer, right from when she was allocated to Trent Bridge when new in 1964. If she was accidentally swapped with a Bulwell failure on 43s, Trent Bridge ensured she was swapped back again asap.

All discrimination, positive or negative is wrong. for instance, there should be no quotas in the workplace to say that there should be so many of a particular, gender, colour, creed, sexuality or disability. Saying that somebody with lesser skills, experience or qualifications shoukd be given a job just ensure quotas are met is WRONG!!!!

Whilst I may not agree and in some cases I would vehemently disagree with some peoples' opinions, I would back to the hilt their right to express them. (And then tell them they were wrong)

Derby Evening Telegraph published a Green 'Un for thefootball results.

Ian, an evovative post that brings back so many memories of childhood in Nottingham. It was the Football Post on Saturday nights that was pink.

Maid Marian Way was previously Granby Street. I remember when the AEC Renowns were at Bilborough depot in 72/73, and the city terminus for 16, 16a, 30, 32 , 62 and 74s was on Maid Marian Way, they showed Granby Street on the destination blind, as Maid Marian Way wasn't listed. Dad had to explain to the seven year old me where "Granby Street" was.

Dad, says you could take your time on the Bridgford routes, must have been a culture shock when they linked them with the Bulwell routes in the late 70s.

Ian, steady up, you'll be drinking Horlicks next.

As most of you know my Dad was a driver with NCT and the best lesson he ever gave me to do with driving is: "Assume everybody else on or adjacent to the road is an idiot."

Dad, thought they were fantastic, much better to drive than the NCT manual ones. He also preferred the handful of semi automatic Regent Vs that came from WBUDC.

Mick, yes they were. Only WBUDC, Wolverhampton Corporation and King Alfred Motor Services of Winchester purchased semi-automatic Renowns. Plus there was one of the two AEC Renown demonstrators that was built with a semi-automatic box

Ian, the two WBUDC AEC Renowns were lowheight, as nature intended, so they give the illusion of being longer past the rear axle. The NCT versions had a full height 14'6" body fitted onto these chassis which were designed for low height bodies. NCT were looking to obtain maximum headroom on both decks and acheived 6'1" on the lower deck and 5'10.5" on the upper deck. The extra height draws the eye away from the rear overhang, which was in fact the same on both the WBUDC and NCT examples. Also the emergency exit door is in the rear on the WBUDC examples allowing a full length window at the rear

TBI it is an AEC Swift behind the Regent V at Trent Bridge. However it is not one of the ex WBUDC East Lancs bodied examples. It is one of the Northern Counties bodied batch 707-712 (PTO 707-712G). The give away is the large white painted front bumper bar that is just visible. The ex WBUDC examples did not have this feature.

Two of my favourite films, one from the fifties Hell Drivers, starring a pre-007 Sean Connery, and from the seventies, Sam Peckinpah's Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, starring Kris Kristofferson, James Colburn and also featuring Bob Dylan.

Modern mini buses were often referred to as bread vans. This one looks more like an ice-cream van. Too small for an SB probably a J2 or an OLAZ

Mick, used to use Strensham services regularly when taking my daughter back and forth to Hartpury College. The "proper" Cornish pasties, sold in a kiosk just outside of the main entrance (Southbound) are "to die for". Some of the best food I have ever encountered at a motorway service station.

Ian, Wallace Driving School's AEC Regent III is ex City of Oxford Motor Services.

Sunday's child

I spoke with a former mining engineer 5 or 6 years ago, and he said that with modern mining technology and technology available to ensure cleaner and more efficient burning of the coal available, Britain could be energy self sufficient for 300 years. Pity there isn't the political will to grab the bull by the horns and go for it, rather then letting ill informed rent a mob environmentalists getting their own way.

Jill, the Lambley side were all Tomlinson

Lambley, my uncle traced Mum's side of the family right back to 1649 in Lambley.

Oz, I'll have that as one of my Desert Island Discs. Ian those three AEC Swifts NAL543-545F only lasted with West Bridgford for a matter of months before the September 1968 takeover by NCT. Indeed they were the last buses knew to WBUDC.

Waxing lyrical? Is that a singing beautician?