The Eastern Bus Enthusiasts staged their Fenland Busfest at Whittlesey in May. The event, which last year celebrated its tenth anniversary, saw classic and contemporary busses converge on the town of Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire. This is not just a bus and coach rally though, members of the public are able to go for rides on most of the vehicles involved along set routes. Held on the same day as some other local events the set routes take in these events which included Ramsey Classic Car Show and Yaxley Festival. The routes also included country pubs and villages all ending up back at Whittlesey. Each vehicle was on a scheduled route at a scheduled time so if anyone wanted to ride on a specific bus they were able to.

One theme for the event was to commemorate the life of popular coach operator Cyril Kenzie who passed away in 2021. Five former Kenzies coaches were at the event the earliest being the 1951 Bedford OB leading up to the 2010 Vanhool-Volvo B12m in the livery of current operators Peelings. Taking advantage of the bus routes I parked at Ramsey Rural Museum and it was one of the ex-Kenzies coaches that I got travel to Whittlesey on. The 1977 Plaxton-Bedford, PEB2R, was making its first public appearance with new owner Geoff Cochrane driving. The coach is still as operated by Kenzies and even still has the plaque displayed inside the vehicle from when it appeared as new at the Silver Jubilee Brighton Coach Rally in 1977. On arrival 2R as it is known joined up with the other Kenzies coaches for a special road run in convoy to Peterborough and back to Whittlesey.

While not out on the routes the participating vehicles were parked up around the town centre for the public to get a closer look. There were all sorts of buses and coaches on display including examples of the famous London Routemaster double decker and its predecessors. Making its surprise debut at the event following a ten-year restoration was the 1982 Plaxton Bustler-Leyland Leopard in the livery of Hedingham & District and owned by Mark Judd. Another vehicle to make a surprise appearance was the current Stagecoach double decker that has been specially painted for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Fenland Busfest is set to return in 2023 on Sunday 21st May. For further information about Eastern Bus Enthusiasts, the vehicles they operate and the Fenland Busfest please visit easternbusgroup.co.uk or find them on Facebook.

Photo album –  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3155330858067718&type=3

Films from the event of the Platinum Jubilee double decker and from inside the Plaxton-Bedford PEG2R can also be found on out Facebook page;

https://www.facebook.com/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/videos/?ref=page_internal

Gary Malkin