Park Royal bodied A.E.C. Regent JX 7048 looks very smart in the livery of Beckett of Bucknall. During its time with this Staffordshire independent, it was refurbished with various parts (including the radiator) from an ex-London Transport STL. It later spent from 1957 to 1959 as Fleet No. 1 with Provincial Traction Company Ltd. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
No 2 (BUS 107) seen here with its previous owner Procter's of Hanley in Staffordshire. Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection
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
Glasgow 572 (BUS 138) seen at Carlton Place terminus c.1950. Despite spending 1955 – 57 as Provincial 16 ( before becoming one of the Hoeford fire victims ), no views of this bus in Gosport & Fareham livery have been found yet. Photo : Roy Marshall
Southampton 151 (FCR 452) which became No 11 in the Provincial fleet. Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection
Seen here in Burgess Road on route 15, Southampton 140 FCR 441 (Provincial 16). Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection
Inside Portswood garage, Southampton 141 FCR 442 (Provincial 19). Photo: Paul Redmond
The Provincial bus that never was, Southampton 142 (FCR 443). Provincial fleet number 39 was allocated to this bus but it never entered service due to a cracked chassis. Photo: Paul Redmond
Southampton 144 (FCR 445) later to become Provincial 40, seen here at the old floating bridge terminus. Photo: Douglas Parker
FCR 446, No 145 in the Southampton fleet, was destined to become Provincial 41. Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection
In this atmospheric photo, Southampton 139 (FCR 440) is on route 12 to the docks via Portswood and St Marys. It was No 48 in the Provincial fleet. Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection
110 (FCR 200) seen here on route 6 followed by a Park Royal bodied Leyland Titan. This bus was No 64 with Provincial. Photo: Paul Redmond
Southampton 111 (FCR 201) is travelling along Above Bar, on route 11 Bassett Green, one the posh areas of the City. This bus became No 65 with Provincial. Photo: Paul Redmond
This 1932 photo shows JO 5404 at Weymann’s prior to entering service with City of Oxford. This bus was one of six AEC Regents purchased by Provincial from COMS in 1940, becoming no. 20 in the Gosport & Fareham fleet. Although withdrawn in 1948, the chassis was stored and various parts were subsequently used in the 1956 construction of coach 69 ( PCG 436). Photo : Martin Shaw collection
A rare late 1930s view of Tynemouth & District No. 95 ( FT 4222 ) with its original Weymann body. Re-bodied in 1949, it was acquired by Provincial in 1957 as one of the fire replacement vehicles and given fleet number 39. Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection
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
New to Red & White in 1942, this Guy Arab had its original Duple body replaced in 1950 by BBW (Brislington). Seen here in Westgate Street, Gloucester in 1961, EWO 467 subsequently became Provincial 77 in 1965 where it was used mostly on the Foster Wheeler contract to Fawley. Photo: Colin Routh
This early post-war photograph shows EDG 975 with its Northern Counties Utility body, carrying its original Red & White fleet number 783. In 1952, this bus was given a new BBW lowbridge body and was purchased by Provincial in 1966 in whose fleet it became no 31. Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection
Ex Red & White EDG 976 (to become Provincial 78) seen here with its original Duple utility body. Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection
Hants & Dorset 2302 (HOR 590E), a 1967 Roe-bodied example, 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
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
A rare early 1920s view, taken on Worthing Sea Front, of Leyland G7 CD 7145 with its original Harrington body. Re-bodied by Tilling as a double decker in 1929, it was acquired by Provincial in 1934 becoming fleet no 21. Photo : Alan Lambert 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
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 Hoeford shortly after its arrival from Rennies of Dunfermline in 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
This splendid photo of Tynemouth & District 95 (FT 4222) gives a good idea of just how advanced the Weymann body was, stylistically, for 1938 – it was a good few years before front entrance double-deckers became fashionable. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
Whether the front entrance layout proved counter-productive or maybe the Weymann bodies had developed structural faults is not known, but in 1949, this batch was re-bodied by Pickering as illustrated by this mid-1950s view. FT 4222 later became Provincial 39. Photo: Roy Marshall
In 1951, the front end of HHA 84 was extensively rebuilt by Hooten, as can be seen here. Regretfully, the built-up nearside wing, a characteristic of so many Midland Red vehicles, was removed shortly after acquisition by Provincial. Photo: PM Photography
HHA 84 is seen here in its original condition, before the rebuild by Hooten. Photo: Stephen Didymus collection
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 McGregor collection
UY 3186 with its original owner, Owen’s of Abberley. This view is thought to date from about 1936 shortly after being rebodied by Grose. Photo from the Roger Warwick collection
64 (ETV 778) whilst with Nottingham City Transport during World War 2, note the white painted mudguards used to aid visibility during the blackout. Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection