On the Back of a Bus

[Chris]

Club members will by now be aware of the sad passing of Phil Cattermole, a long-term group contributor and 60-year Club member, at the end of April, with a short obituary appearing in the May Invicta. Noting what appears to be someone's speciality is always risky, but along with many coaches (including non-UK vehicles), I will always remember Phil for the attention he paid to photographing the backs of vehicles, especially when they carried rear adverts, much though he denied it was ever intentional. 

Almost by coincidence, a slew of rear adverts have been applied recently, including a bright orange example for the Ellenor Hospice on at least one Northfleet-based E200, and for another care provider on the back of Nu-Venture's DE497 (both of which I have seen, but not yet successfully photographed). 

Northfleet-based E200 4049 has (or so it seems to me!) recently gained this advert for Springwood Corner Care Home, as seen at the Gravesend Bus Hub whilst operating a 490 on 18th April. It is also one of a declining number of vehicles in the Kent fleets to retain Interurban livery. 

Chris

[JFO]

Some E200's are loosing their rear end adverts too and it was pointed out to me this week that Stagecoach Dover based E200's GN13EXO 36857 and GN13EYL 36876, have lost their respective rear end adds for East Kent College and a Dutch Theme Park.

[Chris]

Two further examples of recently applied rear adverts - and there are still more to be seen, with the application of adverts for KIMS to both Arriva and Nu-Venture vehicles.

The advert for the University of Kent is applied to the back of Scania YT24 BVA, where it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the otherwise anonywhite vehicle, also highlighting that the provision of the coach service booking/ticketing system is "powered by zeelo". Having caught my eye on the roundabout at the St George's Centre, I caught up with it at the usual stop at the far end of what I think is still called the "Universities at Medway" campus. 

The advert on DE497 was mentioned above, but I have since achieved the desired picture and it appears it wasn't a care provider but a fertility clinic! Seen in King Street, Maidstone on 11th June, arriving on the morning journey of the 29. 

Chris

[Chris]

Another duo of rear adverts currently in service in the Club area. 

Stagecoach's Hastings-based E200 36867 carries an advert for elephant Windows, as seen here arriving at Hastings Station whilst I was rail replacement spotting on 1st November. 

On the same day, Travelmasters' Gemini was seen wearing this rear-ad for EKC Sheppey Secondary, which replaced one half of the "troubled" Oasis Academy offerings from the start of the 2024/2025 academic year. Unfortunately, it seems as though the advert designer wasn't aware of the rear blind-box, which has rather diluted the effect of the logo! 

Chris

[Chris]

Gillingham-based StreetLite 4270 has received this rear-ad for the University of Greenwich in the last couple of weeks. Rather like the Travelmasters example in my previous message  (above, for those reading this in the web view), the designers don't seem to have taken into account the location of the rear blind display when working out where to put the graphic elements. 

Chris