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This article covers the AEC Regents of mark's one and two delivered new or acquired second hand by Provincial during the period 1936-1957. The two largest groups of vehicles Provincial had during its independent days to 1969 were AEC Regents and Guy Arabs. The earliest Regents were delivered in 1936 and one of these (34 BOR 766) lasted until 1970. It is a fact that most of the Regents were long lived and some were rebuilt and others had parts of their bodies taken from then to repair their brethren. There are some fascinating stories connected to these vehicles and I will try to relate some of that here, but if anyone has more info I would like to hear from you.

The first batch of Regents were delivered new in 1936. They were registered BOR 766-9 and numbered 34-37. Some more facts are as follows: -

• They had Park Royal bodies as did most of the ones to follow
• They were transferred to Provincial Traction legal ownership in 1947
• In 1948 a new Reading H30/26R body was fitted to 36 and the same happened to 34 in 1955
• The roof and top deck of 44(DAA 846) was fitted to 35 in 1964 following an accident.
• Although the earliest Regents delivered, two of them (34,35) outlasted all those delivered later.

34 was scrapped in 1970, but 35 was sold to David Whitaker for preservation. 35 is still looking splendid today and still winning prizes.

36,37 were destroyed in the 1957 Garage fire in 1957 and the remains were sold to G Cohen (dealer) in September 1957 for scrap.

The longest surviving Regent 34 (BOR 766) is seen here in its latter days at Gosport Ferry. Thanks to Gerry Cork for the photograph. Click Here to go to Gerry's website

Now preserved since 1967, the always well turned out 35 BOR 767 owned by David Whitaker.

One of the 1957 fire victims 36 (BOR 768)  Photo: Alan Lambert

The Other fire victim 37 (BOR 769) seen here near the Fareham Viaduct en route to Gosport Ferry.   Photo: David Pennells

38-39 were delivered new in 1937, they were very similar to 34-37.

• They originally had Comet type engines but these were replaced at unknown dates
• 38 was transferred to Provincial Traction legal ownership in 1947

39 was also destroyed by the 1957 garage fire, it was sold to G Cohen (dealer) in September 1957.

38 to Fort Wallington for scrap in 1967

No 38 (CAA 700) at Gosport Ferry on route 7.  Photo: Ray Soper

40-41 were delivered new to Provincial in 1938.

• They originally had Comet type engines but these were replaced at unknown dates

40-41 were both sold to Morgan (dealer) at Waltham Chase in May 1965 for scrap.

No 40 (COU 130) in company with  Bedford OWB, new in 1944, at Gosport Ferry. I suspect the operator to be J Dyer who was taken over in 1953.   Photo: Alan B Cross

No 41 (COU 131) parked out of service at Hoeford.  Photo: Alistair Douglas

42 has an interesting history. Its chassis was loaned by AEC to Birmingham City Transport in 1937. It was fitted with a Short H27/21R body from BCT 483 of 1930, and registered DOB 483 with fleet number 483. The body was then removed in 1938 and the chassis returned to Southall. It was then purchased by Provincial and a Park Royal body fitted.

43-45 were delivered new to Provincial in 1939.

• The roof and top deck of 44(DAA 846) was fitted to 35 in 1964 following an accident.

43 was sold to Morgan (dealer), Waltham Chase, 09.08.66

44 was sold to Morgan (dealer), Waltham Chase, 23.10.65

45 was sold for scrap 09.09.66

43 (DAA 845) in Fareham West Street near the Railway Station.   Photo: Fred York

44 (DAA 846) seen here in Gosport. It was later to donate its roof and top deck to repair No 35 in 1964 following an accident. Photo: Alan Lambert

No 45 (DAA 847) seen here at the Ferry with a Hants & Dorset bus in the background.  Photo: Alan Lambert

48 again, at Gosport Ferry after the destination display has been rebuilt, giving a more modern look.  Photo: Ray Soper

No. 49 (KMD 306) in wartime livery at Gosport Ferry.  Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

50 was sold to Morgan (dealer) at Waltham Chase 09.08.66

51 was sold to Morgan (dealer) at Waltham Chase in May 1965 

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No 50 at Hoeford in the early 1960's just before its withdrawal.   Photo: Alistair Douglas

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No 51 seen here alongside one of the ex Oxford Regent's acquired in 1941 53 (JO 1628) at Gosport Ferry.  Photo: Roy Marshall

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10-13 FHO 602-605

10-13 were delivered new to Provincial in 1947 .

• They all initially had Reading H30/26R bodies.
• 13 was converted to open top in 1958 after colliding with Fareham railway arch. It was re-converted to closed top in 1960 by Reading's.
• 11 and 12 had their bodies replaced in 1961 and 1959. 11 received the Reading body from 14 (EOR 251) and 12 the body from 15 (EOR 282). These bodies were older than their originals. 14's dating from 1944 and 15's from 1943.

Fleet No.	Reg number	Chassis Type	Entered Service	Bodied by	Withdrawn
10	FHO 602	Regent II	1947	Reading	1969
11	FHO 603	Regent II	1947	Reading	1964
12	FHO 604	Regent II	1947	Reading	1965
13	FHO 605	Regent II	1947	Reading	1966

10 was sold to Fort Wallington Car Breakers (Fareham) for scrap in April 1969.

11 was sold to Morgan (dealer) at Waltham Chase in October 1965 for scrap.

12 was sold to Fort Wallington Car Breakers (Fareham) for scrap 21.02.67

13 was sold to Fort Wallington Car Breakers (Fareham) for scrap 21.02.67

No 10 (FHO 602) is seen passing the front of Fareham Bus Station in West Street.  Photo: Mike Fenton

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No 10 (FHO 602) is seen at Gosport Ferry alongside Guy Arab 21 (KOR 463)

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11 (FHO 603) with body from 14(EOR 251) in Gordon Road in the early 1960s.   Photo: Fred York

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No 12 (FHO 604) is seen leaving Gosport Ferry on the number 3 route to Fareham (West End). This picture shows why Health and Safety experts do not like open platform buses, can't see anything wrong with it myself !  By this stage it had been re-bodied with the body from No15 (EHO 282).   Photo: Richard Newman

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12 (FHO 604) with its original body at Gosport Ferry.  Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

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13 (FHO 605)before rebuild alongside ex Nottingham 63 (CTO 387) at the Ferry.   Photo: Roy Marshall

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No 13 (FHO 605) is seen in Fareham Road outside Hoeford. Note the more modern looking body fitted by Reading in 1960 after a brief period as an open topper.  Photo: Fred York

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1 JX 7048

1 (JX 7048) was new to Halifax, No 82 in 1939. It later passed to Potteries Motor Traction (PMT) in 1952, and to Beckett of Bucknall later in the same year. It had the radiator, bonnet and nearside front wing from London Transport STL 1599 fitted by Beckett.  

Fleet No.	Reg number	Chassis Type	Entered Service	Bodied by	Withdrawn
1	JX 7048	Regent I	1957	Park Royal	1959

No 1 (JX 7048) the ex Halifax Regent at Hoeford, note the London Transport front wing and bonnet fitted by Beckett of Bucknall.  Photo: Surfleet  

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2 BUS 107

2 (BUS 107) was new to Glasgow Corporation No 541 in 1938, and was bought by Procter of Hanley in May 1953.  

Fleet No.	Reg number	Chassis Type	Entered Service	Bodied by	Withdrawn
2	BUS 107	Regent I	1957	Weymann	1960

Ex Glasgow Regent 2 (BUS 107) in West Street, Fareham on the Fawley contract.  Photo: Fred York

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No 2 was owned by Provincial Traction, probably for use on the Fawley contract.  In this view it is seen inside Hoeford minus engine and radiator.  Photo: Douglas Parker

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16 BUS 138

16 was acquired from Miller, Cirencester but was originally Glasgow Corporation No 572 in 1938. Miller's bought it in 1951.

Fleet No.	Reg number	Chassis Type	Entered Service	Bodied by	Withdrawn
16	BUS 138	Regent I	1954	Weymann	1957

This bus was lost in the 1957 garage fire. Its remains were sold to G Cohen for scrap in September 1957.

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62-64 DAU 462, CTO 387, ETV 778

62-64 were acquired from Nottingham City Transport who bought them new in 1936/37/38.

Fleet No.	Reg number	Chassis Type	Entered Service	Bodied by	Withdrawn
62	DAU 462	Regent I	1954	Cravens	1961
63	CTO 387	Regent I	1954	Metro-Cammell	1961
64	ETV 778	Regent I	1956	Metro-Cammell	1961

62 -64 were sold to MTB (dealer) at Tadley near Basingstoke in January 1963

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62 (DAU 462) at Gosport Ferry   Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection

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An Earlier view of 62 showing the original destination box.  Photo: David J Pennells Collection

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Ex Nottingham No 63 (CTO 387). Note the high mounted route number box which Provincial chose not to use. The route number was carried under the nearside overhang  Photo: David J Pennells 

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The other Nottingham Regent. 64 (ETV 778) at Gregson Avenue shops.  Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection

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15 (EHO 282)

The long held beliefs about this vehicle :-

In 1943 Mr Orme-White carried out his first (of many) vehicle re-constructions. This involved an AEC Regal which he purchased from the War Department, original source unknown, it was registered DK 7791. Provincial re-conditioned the chassis and fitted a 7.7 litre AEC engine. Reading's of Portsmouth then bodied it with its first double deck offering which was to utility specification and painted wartime grey. It was also re-registered EHO 282 and numbered 15. In 1952 it was rebuilt again by Reading and withdrawn in 1959. Its body was donated to number 12 (FHO 604) on withdrawal and the chassis scrapped.  

UPDATE October 2006. Stewart Brett has been doing some research into this vehicle and discovered from AEC and Company records that the Regal double decker is in fact a Regent. It appears the company gave it a Regal number plucked out from thin air, and the same for the Mandator petrol tanker (see separate section). These two vehicles have always had two entries in a chassis list for the Regal. The PSV Circle are publishing a correct version of the Regal I's list shortly, with a new Regent list in the making as there have quite a few rebuilds with made up numbers for which they could have been mis-quoted as lorries. Stewart is now investigating who supplied two Regent chassis to Provincial - more details as I get them.

No 15 (EHO 282) is seen with its original body, Reading's first double deck offering.   Photo: Reading & Co

No 15 after its 1952 re-building. It was this body which was later donated to No 12 (FHO 604)

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