T A Potten, Whitstable 3020 HX

[Derek Jones]

A couple of smaller operators to conclude this evening's selection.

3020 HX belonged to T A Potten of Whitstable who had started trading in 12/1959 and the fleetname Pottens Car Hire survived until 1977 although latterly (from 1972) under the ownership of W G Scott.  This vehicle was a Ford Thames 570E with Plaxton C41F body and one of a batch of ten (3016-25 HX) new to Fountain of Twickenham in 1960.  It had run for Hinkley of Northfleet from 5/64, moving briefly to Essex with Broadway Coaches, Loughton in 2/67 but quickly returning south of the Thames to Ive, St Leonards, East Sussex then to Potten in 9/67, who kept it for just two years before it moved north to Taft, Nottingham in 9/69.  Somewhat surprisingly it returned for a third time to Kent where it is recorded with farmer S W Mount, Canterbury by 4/72, and withdrawn by 8/73 - Mount was another non-PSV operator to make use of former EK and M&D vehicles, respectively HJG 30 direct from East Kent from 1970 to 1974, and former M&D 411 FKL from Browne, Brabourne by 1977.

Derek J

[DerekJ]

This is another picture now dateable to 29 February 1968.

Derek J