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Following its acquisition by the National Bus Company in January 1970, amongst the first vehicles added to the Provincial fleet were two 1955 Bristol LS6Gs transferred from Midland General. Initially given fleet number 5, XNU 422 became no 35 in December 1970. Photo: Paul Chambers
970 CWL, photographed at Kingston Road in July 1961, was the odd one out in having a Weymann body – the others were Park Royal. It was numbered 67 during its three years with Provincial. Photo : Martin Shaw
Later to become Provincial 60, 972 CWL was one of six Park Royal-bodied AEC Regent Vs acquired in 1970. Rather appropriately, a Morris Oxford saloon can just be seen in the background. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
Photographed at West Bay, Bridport, Southern
National Bristol SU 318 EDV was purchased by Provincial in 1970 as a replacement
for the defective LS SNN 71. Photo: Colin Caddy
BMW 136C was one of three 1965 Wilts
& Dorset Bedford SB13s added to the Provincial fleet in 1971. Photo:
Stephen Didymus collection
Hants & Dorset RE 1628 (RLJ 347H) in Fareham Bus Station. This vehicle subsequently became Provincial 55 in 1983. Photo: Alistair Douglas
Seventeen Hants & Dorset Leyland Nationals were transferred to Provincial in 1983, including 3604 (CRU 146L), seen here in Radipole Spa, Weymouth, on 16 January 1977. Photo: Colin Caddy
Hants & Dorset 2302 (HOR 590E), a 1967 Roe-bodied Atlantean, is seen here at Poole in May 1979. This was just two months before its transfer to Bristol where it was converted to open top the following year. Now approaching its twentieth year as a preserved vehicle, ‘590’ spent 1987 – 1992 on loan to People’s Provincial. Photo : Policy Transport Photos
Bristol 8602 (HOR 590E) in August 1985.
It's adopted name 'Neptune's Chariot' can be seen just above the driver's cab
window.
Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
1983 also saw the arrival of 5 Leyland Nationals from the Midland Red fleet. PHA 490M was photographed in Leicester in 1977. Photo: Paul Chambers
NFX 130P, one of a pair of Daimler Fleetlines purchased from Bournemouth by People's Provincial in 1991. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
Wilts & Dorset Bedford VAM HAM 505E was briefly Provincial 63 during 1975/6. Photo: Solentslide
A small number of Hants & Dorset Bristol LHs were assigned to the Provincial fleet during the late 1970s, with REL 744H becoming Provincial 52. Photo: Policy Transport Photos
MCN 842L was one of 3 Leyland Nationals to make the long journey from the North East to Hoeford in 1983. When new it was a dual door vehicle, but was rebuilt to single door in late 1979. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
Southdown 19 (BCD 819L) en route for Worthing in the late 1970s. Acquired by People's Provincial in 1988 as fleet number 392, this bus still survives today (2010) with new owners in Folkestone. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
Seen here in Welwyn in November 1977, NPD 135L was another 1983 arrival, along with 9 of its sisters, from the London Country fleet. During its 11 years at Hoeford it carried 4 different fleet numbers: 104, 304, 81 and 381. Photo: M.Trew
A rare view of ex Southern Vectis Bedford YMT BDL 65T in service in Southampton during July 1991 as Solent Blue Line 304. This coach was normally used for driver training duties Photo: Malcolm Audsley
One of several Bristol VRs acquired by People's Provincial from Bristol OC in 1994, NTC 573R carried at least 7 different liveries with its original owner - including this one for a local computer firm. Photo: Peter Davey
Two for the price of one. Withdrawn Western National VRs UTO 836S and AFJ 752T at Plymouth depot awaiting collection by People's Provincial in the spring of 1993. Photo: Kevin Young
Originally new to East Kent, NFN 68M was one of 19 Leyland Nationals acquired by People's Provincial from National Welsh in late 1987. It is seen here at Abergavenny in September 1983. Photo: Paul Dudley
Photographed at Hoeford on 13 May 1988 is much travelled Alexander-bodied Atlantean WTN 658H. New to Tyneside PTE in 1970, it subsequently saw service with Rennies of Dunfermline; Moffat & Williamson, Gauldry and Waddon’s of Caerphilly. It was numbered 203 in the People’s Provincial fleet where it stayed until it was scrapped in 1993. Photo : Bob Gray
Not dissimilar in design to its Southampton cousins, Eastbourne 11 (KHC 811K) was one of three East Lancs – bodied Atlanteans purchased by People’s Provincial in February 1988. These vehicles looked stunning in the two-tone green and cream livery, but, sadly, they stayed at Hoeford for only 8 months before being sold to Citibus, Greater Manchester. Photo : Stephen Didymus collection
Photographed in Brighton, this 1964 Northern Counties-bodied Leyland PD3/4 was one of the first purchases made in 1987 by the then newly-formed People’s Provincial with whom it was numbered 201. Prior to acquisition, the original registration was surrendered in favour of AOR 158B. Photo : Stephen Didymus collection
The other 'Queen Mary' acquired by
Provincial in 1987 was Southdown 423, seen in its less attractive NBC livery at
a rather damp Rowlands Castle in September 1975. Photo: Fred York
Originally Southdown 37, this dual-door Leyland National came to People’s Provincial as a direct replacement for accident victim PCG 923M. This view was taken at the Cairneyhill depot of Rennie's of Dunfermline shortly before the long journey south in May 1988. Renumbered from 23 to 317 in 1996, it was subsequently sold for preservation and was one of the many vehicles on display at the Stagecoach Open Day at Farlington on 12 June 2005. Photo : Bob Gray
Seen here on 26 January 1964 when less than a year old, this Marshall-bodied Leyland Leopard was one of a pair purchased by Provincial in 1972. After three years as fleet no 29 (and briefly as 29B), it was transferred to Western National in 1975 Photo: Alan Lambert
TBK 197K was one of the Seddon-bodied Atlantean single deckers which were unique to Portsmouth Corporation. Along with sisters 196/9, this bus was later adapted for use on Portsmouth ferry port duties. Photo : Brian Botley
Photographed in Ipswich on 13 June 1970, en route for Wickham Market, is Eastern Counties LE 998 (PNN 774). This 1954 Bristol LS only spent a short time with Provincial in 1972-1973, during which time it was numbered 33. Photo: Geoff Mills
After thirteen years of airport duties, NLP 389V passed to Capital Citybus in Dagenham. Following a period in store, it was rebuilt to B49F and entered service as fleet no 750 in May 1996. Eventually, it passed to First Hampshire in 2000 and became the last National to be in service locally as 432/62436 in traditional ‘Provincial’ livery. Photo from the Gordon Mc Gregor collection
London Transport LS 299 (AYR 299T), one of 14 Leyland Nationals acquired by People's Provincial in the spring of 1991 for Portsmouth Area routes. This one carried fleet number 403 before being withdrawn in 1995. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
Hants & Dorset Bristol LH 3555 (GLJ
487N) was Provincial 50 for a short time in the early 1980s. It subsequently
spent many years on Malta as EBY 476.
Photo:
Stephen Didymus collection
United 707 (UGR 707R) one of five
Bristol VRs acquired in 1989, seen in Newcastle in April 1985. Photo:
Malcolm Audsley
HTX 729N with its original owner, Merthyr
Tydfil. This was one of a pair of Merthyr Leyland Nationals that came to
People's Provincial via Rennie's, Dunfermline, in 1988. Photo:
Stephen Didymus collection
Bristol 5109 (RHT 503S) with a nice
variation on the all-over advert theme. This VR became People's Provincial 216
in 1994. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
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