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This vehicle was indeed on temporary hire from BASE, now been returned. Filled a gap but certainly not a good vehicle to operate

Might I ask why Bova Futura coach SF09 JWE was "not a good vehicle to operate"?

With help from Igogeneral I have updated the Kev's fleet on the main site

details are here

fleetlist (wmbusphotos.com)

Thanks so much for the revised Kev's fleet list. I was particularly pleased to see the inclusion of the two very rare Tata Hispano Intea coaches PO12 EOK and PO62 HNH - photo of PO62 HNH attached.
In May I saw a Bova Futura coach SF09 JWE operating one of Kev's school services in Redditch. I notice this vehicle hasn't been included in the revised fleet list and I wonder if it was just on loan temporarily from BASE. Has anyone else seen this vehicle?You cannot view this attachment.

I notice in the latest "Fleet Changes" that 30897 has been withdrawn. I think this was the last Dennis Dart at Redditch and I think it had been the last one for over two years. Should we be celebrating the end of an era?

30507 (BX58 AON) Plaxton Centro was operating on Evesham Road in Redditch this morning. Not sure which route it was on because the destination display wasn't working and, what I think was supposed to be an A4 sheet of paper showing the destination, was curled up on the dashboard.

I thought some of the posts from "DJ" and "Andy41" over the last 2/3 days were a bit too sarcastic for this site where, on the whole, we respect one another's views even if we don't always agree with them.

32125 (YJ59 BDU) VDL SB200/Wright ex Claribels was operating in new Diamond livery on Evesham Road in Redditch on Thursday.

Well done to Diamond who are currently dropping editions of a current Kidderminster Bus Guide through postboxes.
 in the town. It's highly informative with a clear map, all timetables and local fare details.

A great initiative which will hopefully result in increased patronage and attract plenty of new users. V vastly different from many operators these days who say it's all on the Internet which is no good for getting new passengers on board.

A Redditch version came through our letter box today - an excellent publication - thank you Diamond.

Kevs all back to normal from tomorrow, Wednesday 6 April hopefully

I can't really begin to understand what an horrendous challenge it must have been to get to the stage where you are "back to normal". So, congratulations igogeneral for such a wonderful achievement and I'm sure readers will want to wish you all the very best for the future.

This morning I saw PO12 EOK MAN/Tata Hispano Intea on a school run in Redditch. I've seen similar vehicle PO62 HNH doing school runs in Redditch for the last year or so but I wonder if PO12 EOK is a new addition.
If so, it means Kev's own 25% of all the Tata Hispano Intea's imported to the UK (there were only 8!!).

Interesting - BD15 BDE is a black Skoda car according to the DVLA website. Perhaps you could be referring to BJ15 BDE which is indeed a Tourismo in Leger livery although this vehicle is shown as SORN on the DVLA site today.

So, given that 'mikestone' has provided the evidence that Hardings went into voluntary liquidation on 21 January 2021, would anyone like to speculate why 20 coaches, none of them more than 8 years old, were still in the yard at Droitwich when I visited on 4 November 2021?

 I have read that Hardings went in voluntary liquidation in January 2021.
The government's Vehicle Operator Licensing website shows that the 'Licence Status' is "Valid" with a 'Continuation date' of 31 October 2021.
When I visited the yard on 4 November 2021 there were 20 coaches parked up, the oldest one from 2013. All of the coaches looked in superb condition - I can provide a list if required. Seven of the coaches were in Leger Silver Service livery. All of these coaches were SORN when I checked on 14 August 2021 but I haven't checked them since that date, although I suspect they are all still SORN.
Are Hardings waiting for a better time to sell these vehicles or a better time to start a new business with these coaches I wonder?

I see Mercedes Sprinter 45s 20987 and 20988 have been transferred from Stanwell to Redditch.
Does anyone know how they are being used?

I saw Dennis Dart 30897 (AE06 ZBR) resplendent in the new Diamond livery today (formerly Central Buses livery). Such a shame that, after so many months, the destination display is still only half-illuminated.

The S85 from Redditch to Studley High School has, I think, been taken over by Johnsons from Dudley's.
Just after 8am this morning the Johnsons bus, showing S85 on the destination panel, was heading north along Evesham Road into Redditch. It then did a reverse turn into Jubilee Avenue and headed south along Evesham Road for a short distance before turning into Yvonne Road, heading presumably for the starting point in Windmill Drive where it should have been at 7.40am.
Hopefully a bit of route learning will get things on track for tomorrow.