Memories of a Norfolk seaside childhood and a miscellany of photos of the many vehicle types that operated for the erstwhile Great Yarmouth Corporation Transport
By Patrick Burnside
A brief intro....
I lived in Great Yarmouth from March 1967 until May 1977 at Number 3, Eagleton Villas, Bath Hill Terrace (adjacent to the erstwhile Styles Secondary Modern School) .... now known as Eagleton House Convalescent/Retirement Home.
I attended St George's Infants and Nelson Junior schools on St Peters Road in the late 1960s, later St Mary's RC school on Albion Road, then moving on to the former Technical High/Oriel Grammar on Oriel Avenue, Gorleston, before finally finishing my schooldays at the now sadly demolished North Drive High School which was situated right on the seafront, on the corner of North Drive and Albemarle Road and backing on to the Wellesley recreation ground (the long time home of Great Yarmouth FC!).
I have had a lifelong interest in public motor transport, especially, the red and cream vehicles of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company and the blue and cream buses of Great Yarmouth Corporation Transport.
Here you will find a varied selection of photographs I have acquired of the many types of 'blue buses' which operated for 'the Corporation' from its early beginnings in the 1920s until it's sad demise in the late 1980s, as a consequence of the Thatcher Government's controversial bus deregulation rules.
I would also like to include a variety of pictures of former Wellington Road based Eastern Counties Omnibus Company vehicles on this page when time permits.
I left the town in the Spring of 1977, moving to Southend-on-Sea, Essex in search of work upon leaving school. I ended up joining the Civil Service as a Clerical Officer with HM Customs & Excise, but my interest always lay in road passenger transport. I returned to East Anglia, settling in Norwich some three years later, continuing my career with the Customs Service. When 'the Customs' were forced to merge with the Inland Revenue in 2005, I found myself transferred to 'Revenue' duties as more and more Customs work was 'centralised' away from Norfolk. With very little job satisfaction remaining, I finally succumbed to the ever growing temptation to work with buses and joined the First Eastern Counties Bus Company as a driver in Norwich in August 2010.
I have many childhood and teenage years memories of Great Yarmouth .... the packed sea front in summer with all it's many amusement arcades and attractions .... the equally packed Regent Road ..... remember Doughty's Sports and Spalls Gifts? ..... the Vettesse's Ice Cream Parlours? .... (I met the youngest three of the seven Vettesse sons in my last school - one (Louis) was in my class!) .... the many high street shops (sadly many now long forgotten - Arnolds, Downsway, Greggs Grocers, Liptons, Matthes Bakers, the pet shop in the Royal Arcade, Jarrolds, Fine Fare self service foodstore, Wolsey & Wolsey's record store on King Street, also Skippings Haberdashers and the York Hardware Stores .... the old sweet shop (Scotters, I think it was called) on St Peters Road, with its original Victorian glass display cases and well worn brass scales, whose doorbell would ring loudly when entering, rousing the elderly shopkeeper from his back room to serve me with my favourite Maynards wine and salad gums, Tom Green's hat shop on the corner of Regent Road and King Street (opposite the Royal Arcade), the Bloater Depot at the top of Regent Road (it's former manager, Geoff Cuthbert later took on a secondhand furniture shop on King Street, (Anyone know what happened to the famous bloater fish sign that hung above the shop for so many years?) .... the large market with its famous 'Nichols noted' chip stall (I went to school with one of the Nichols' daughters - I think her name was Karen) .... the lively Easter funfair on the market place .... the theatres and cinemas .... (remember Engelbert Humperdinck at the ABC Regent in '67 and Sid James providing 'Britains loudest laugh' at the Windmill?) .... pictures at the Regent (Manager there was a Mr Brown) and the Empire (Manager there was the late John Carrier) .... the Oasis Hotel with its iconic observation tower and the ice rink of course, which sadly closed at the end of the '67 season (my mother was the instructress there) .... being a 'barrow boy' for a couple of years (barrow made from an old door mounted on an old pram frame and wheels! I don't think this would be possible nowadays with modern buggies!) .... the many, many guest houses and hotels (every other house served as a guest house during the heady summer months!) ..... the two piers along the 'golden mile' with their landmark theatres ..... the fishermen's jetty .... the Biergarten and Winter Gardens (performers here stayed at our house in the late '60s through to the mid '70s) ..... the ever exciting 'Pleasure Beach' with it's wonderful and unique landmark 125ft tall double ferris wheel (see Yarmouth from the air!), golden gallopers, jets, waltzer, satellite, ghost train, fun house, helter skelter and of course the giant slide and ancient roller coaster! 'Free rides' night just before Easter opening was a highlight of a Yarmouth child's year! .... the Blackfriars Road area before the 1970's redevelopment (I think they called it the 'twilight area'....I know it was often known locally as the 'bombed buildings'!) Does anyone remember the old tobacconist's shop that used to be nestled next to one of the town walls towers on Blackfriars Road, a few yards down from the Blackfriars recreation ground close to Alma Street I wonder? (I witnessed its demolition in the early '70s and remember the demolition crew finding boxes of old cigarettes in an upstairs storeroom!) .... the old landmark power station at South Denes .... the splendid old 'Methodist Temple' on Priory Plain (I sadly watched this magnifcent structure demolished to make way for the new relief road) ..... and of course, the former Eastern Counties Bus Depot on the corner of Wellington Road and St Peter's Road, built in 1936, where I spent many a happy hour during the years 1973 to 1976 enthusiastically clutching my 'wanderbus' ticket! This was sadly demolished in the mid 1990s to make way for a residential development. The 'Corporation' blue bus depot, dating from the 'twenties was on Caister Road at the top of Lawn Avenue and fortunately still survives as the present day 'First Eastern Counties' garage). So many wonderful memories.........I could go on and on! .... but I won't! I'll leave you to savour the following fascinating photo selection of Yarmouth's transport history and look forward to your comments and memories on this wonderful website....
No 50 outside Caister Road depot
No 13 (EX 5262) seen on Hall Quay by the Star Hotel
No 20 (EX 5282) at the Regal bus stand
No 47 (EX 7547) in the High Street, Gorleston?
No 48 (EX 7548) outside the 'Joyland', Marine Parade
No 47 (EX 7547) on Marine Parade
No 17 (EX 5264) - Wartime Guy Arab II at Shrublands?
No 13 (EX 5262) - Wartime Guy Arab II with a subsequent owner
No 14 (EX 5261) - Wartime Guy Arab II approaching the Regal bus stand
No ? (EX 4707) at the racecourse, Freemantle Road
No ? (AEX 33?) - emerging from The Conge into the market place, Futters furniture shop in the background.
No 52 (EX 5932) approaching the Regal bus stand
No 53 (EX 5933) & No 13 (EX 5262) inside the Caister Road depot
No 54 (EX 5934), No 20 (EX 5282) & No 53 (EX 5933) inside Caister Road depot
No 30 (EX 9830) in the Market Place by the Hospital School
No 43 (CEX 43) in the Market Place by the Hospital School
No 29 (EX 9829) in Hall Quay by the Star Hotel
No 30 (EX 9830) in Hall Quay by the Star Hotel
No 39 (BEX 239) at the 'Joyland', Marine Parade
No 36 (BEX 236) in the Market Place by the Hospital School
No 20 - (EX 5282) - Wartime Guy Arab II approaching the Regal bus stand
No 48 (EX 7548) on Marine Parade
No 28 (EX 9828) resting at the Regal bus stand
No 90 (CEX 490) outside Caister Road depot
No 43 (CEX 43) on Fullers Hill (note the old Methodist Temple in the background (right)
No 54 (EX 5934) Location?
No 14 (FEX 109) passing along Alexandra Road with St George's Park on the right and the Nurses Home on the left
No 23 (FEX 123) followed by an Atlantean on Deneside
No 40 (GEX 740F) outside Caister Road depot
No 25 (PVG 25W) leaving Market Gates bus station (note the famous 'bloater' hanging outside the Bloater Shop at the top of Regent Road)
No 73 (PEX 173K) at Market Gates bus station
No 40 (GEX 740F) outside the Hospital School, Market Place
No 41 (GEX 741F) pausing along the busy Regent Road
No 42 (GEX 742F) resting at the Regal bus stand
No 39 (RVF 39R) passing along Hall Quay with the town hall in the background
No 30 (CVF 30T) approaching Admiralty Road?
No 39 (RVF 39R) passing along Hall Quay with the GPO in the background (left)
No 60 (LEX 860H) crossing the Haven Bridge en route to Gorleston
No 30 - (CVF 30T) approaching Priory Plain from Fullers Hill
No ? (E44 OAH) Minibus on Hall Quay with town hall in background
No 453 (P453 RPW) First Bus Dennis Dart passing along Fullers Hill
No 70 (PEX 170K) pauses to pick up a passenger in Gorleston High Street
No 74 (PEX 174K) resting outside the Caister Road depot with one of the Bristol/ECW VRTs
No 64 (LEX 864H) passing along Marine Parade near the Wellington Pier
No 452 (R452 RPW) First Bus Dennis Dart passing along Fullers Hill
No 19 (AEX 19B) the Rambouillet town twinning commemorative bus resting outside the Britannia Pier, Marine Parade with the Royal Aquarium in the background
No 88 (WEX 688M) location?
No 81 (AEX 81B) approaching the Regal bus stand
No 42 (GEX 742F) resting outside the Caister Road depot
No 15 (MTT 635) location?
No 89 (WEX 689M) passing along Hall Quay on the Cobholm service
No 39 (RVF 39R) at the racecourse, Jellicoe Road
No 31 (CVF 31T) Northgate Street, approaching the Caister Road depot
No 37 (RVF 37R) at Market Gates bus station
No ? (Reg No?) One of the Guy FCXs with United bodywork delivered between 1924 and 1930
No 2 (DEX 702) resting at the Hall Quay bus stop en route to Gorleston's Magdalen Estate
No 2 (DEX 702) passing along High Road, Gorleston on the 8 to Magdalen Estate
No 3 (DEX 703) waiting at the popular bus stop on Hall Quay
No 28 (EX 9828) stopping at the popular Hall Quay bus stop en route to Gorleston
No 14 (FEX 109) laying over at the Beevor Road terminus of Service 2 to the Fishwharf
No 3 (DEX 703) at rest in the Caister Road depot
No B1286 (LF 8066) one of the London General AEC B type buses which arrived in the town from 1920 to replace the trams
No 61 (EX 6561) at the Beach Coach Station surrounded by a myriad of summer holidaymakers
No ? (E41 OAH) seen here at Corton near Lowestoft?
No ? (E40 OAH) at rest on the Caister Road depot forecourt
No 41 (GEX 741F) undergoing maintenance in the Caister Road depot
A Bristol VRT and a couple of AEC Swifts out of service in the Caister Road depot
No 22 (FEX 122) converted to a towing vehicle, seen inside the Caister Road depot
No? (PEX ???K) resting at the Britannia Pier, Marine Parade
No 18 (AEX 18B) on the forecourt of Caister Road depot
No 32 (AEX 332) seen here outside the 'Joyland' on Marine Parade
No 31 (AEX 331) dropping off passengers outside the Hospital School in the Market Place
No 57 (EEX 857D) passing along Marine Parade near the Wellington Pier
No 58 (EEX 558D) A summer's day on the 'Golden Mile'
No 12 (FEX 112) on loan to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Ltd and pictured inside their former Wellington Road depot
No ? (EX 1116) one of the seven Guy BB saloons delivered to the Corporation in 1924 to replace electric trams. This early photo probably taken inside the Caister Road depot
No ? (EX 1147) one of the seven Guy BB saloons delivered to the Corporation in 1924 to replace electric trams. Location?
No ? (EX 1155) one of the seven Guy BB saloons delivered to the Corporation in 1924 to replace electric trams. Location?
No 14 (EX 2074) One of the Guy FCXs with United bodywork delivered between 1924 and 1930 to replace electric trams. Location - Marine Parade?
No ? (EX 2878) An AEC Regent I delivered to the Corporation in 1931. Location ?
No ? (EX 3693) One of a small batch of AEC Regal IVs which were delivered to the Corporation in the early 1930s. Location ?
No 22 (EX 5284) is a wartime Guy Arab II seen here inside the Caister Road depot
No 52 (EX 5932) seen here loading in the Market Place en route to Newtown
No 69? (EX 6569) seen here resting on Alexandra Road by St George's Park
No 11 (FEX 111) approaching the Regal bus stand
No 11 (FEX 111) at the Regal bus stand followed by one of the Leyland PD2s
No 12 (FEX 112) about to take on a good load of passengers at the Regal bus stand
No 4 (DEX 704) taking on passengers for Caister in the Market Place
No ? (LEX ???) at the Regal bus stand
No 24 (PVG 24W) at the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston
No ? (WEX ????) outside the Caister Road depot
No ? (RVF ????) approaching Market Gates bus station
No 12 (FEX 112) posing for the camera outside the Caister Road depot
No 41 (GEX 741F) one of the four rare Marshall bodied Leyland Atlantean saloons emerging from the Caister Road depot
No 89 (WEX 689M) pausing in the Market Place outside the Hospital School
No 31 (CVF 31T) passing through Castle Meadow, Norwich (possibly on a Norwich Bus Rally road run
No 48 (EX 7548) in Gorleston
No 29 (EX 9829) on a busy summer day outside the Wellington Pier
No 49 (EX 7549) passing along Alexandra Road by St George's church
No 37 (BEX 237) passing along Alexandra Road en route to the railway station
No 86 (WEX 686M) captured in this sunny shot on Yarmouth Way with the tower of St George's church as a backdrop
No ? (NRT 564L) a former Waveney District Council AEC Swift, preparing to turn right into Northgate Street from Fuller's Hill whilst en route to Newtown
No 75 (PEX 175K) on a sunny Summer's day in Hall Quay
No 69 (PEX 169K) in the Market Place with the tower of St Nicholas parish church in the background
No 61 (LEX 861H) pictured on a glorious summer day passing along the 'golden mile'
No 40 (GEX 740F) a rare Marshall bodied single deck Leyland Atlantean (now in preservation) calls at the Britannia Pier bus stand heading for the ever popular 'Pleasure Beach' amusement park
No 84 (AEX 84B) at rest inside the Caister Road depot
No 19 (AEX 19B) the Rambouillet town twinning commemorative bus, calling at the popular Britannia Pier bus stand on a glorious Summer's day
No 82 (AEX 82B) poses for the camera outside the Wellington Pier possibly in the Summer of '67 (note the stars appearing at the Wellington Pier theatre)
No 24 (FEX 524) passing along Alexandra Road with the landmark St George's church on the right of the picture
No 34 (RVF 34R) passing throught the Market Place with the tower of St Nicholas parish church (the largest parish church in England!) visible to the left and the Hospital school on the right of the picture
No 35 (RVF 35R) passing along Yarmouth Way en route to Gorleston's Magdalen Estate, with the tower of St George's church as a backdrop
No 57 (EEX 857D) one of the 1966 Leyland Atlanteans which conveyed me to and from school during the early 1970s, seen here on Alexandra Road en route to Gorleston
No ? (CEX ???C) seen here passing the Methodist Central Hall on Alexandra Road en route to Caister-on-Sea
No 7 (CEX 107C) passing the Wellington Pier on a fine Summer's day en route to the Harbour's Mouth
No 8 (CEX 108C) seen here operating the 16 to Caister, Second Avenue on Fuller's Hill
No 54 (HEX 254) a Roe Bodied Daimler Fleetline passing the Methodist Central Hall en route to Caister, Tan Lane
No 52 (HEX 252) another of the Roe bodied Daimler Fleetlines passes along Fuller's Hill en route to Caister, Second Avenue
No 4 (DEX 704) passing along Hall Quay on the 8 to Magdalen Estate with the historic town hall in the background
No 3 (DEX 703) turns round at the Wellington Pier en route to Caister, Tan Lane (in the Summer of '67?)
No ? (EX 907?) passes along Alexandra Road en route to Gorleston
No 71 (EX 9071) heading along Hall Quay after returning from neighbouring Gorleston-on-Sea
Photograph of a Great Yarmouth Corporation bus parked on Beevor Road, Great Yarmouth. This is outside of Birds Eye Foods at the riverside end of Beevor Road before this section was fenced off and became part of the factory site. It would have been possibly in the late 1950's or early 1960's. Maybe some of the Birds Eye ladies will recognise themselves or their colleagues.
Courtesy of Bill Ditcham