I know some ex Brentwood drivers, it was a nice little Depot. My father-in-law owned the off licence in the next street to the Depot in Waterloo Road. I too was a Union rep, Secretary, then Chairman at Basildon Depot. Not as easy as some may think but when you saved someone’s job, that was enough reward. Take care Andy.
By Andy Willingham (21/04/2020)
Good to hear from you Andy, us bus drivers have to stick together right. I had a family member work for Eastern National Brentwood depot, a driver and union rep, Peter Lycet.
By Mel lake (20/04/2020)
Yes I started there in1973 when we had green buses, still meet up with a lot of old drivers about every six months. I wasn’t on London Transport but use to drive up to Wood Green, Kings Cross, and Victoria on various routes.
By Andy Willingham (20/04/2020)
Good job Andy a long time, I did 12 years driving London buses, did you work for Eastern National?
By Mel lake (17/04/2020)
I retired two years ago after forty four year “on the Buses” I recall the 244/243 to Laindon Station, in particular I remember the Forecourt Cafe we frequented, Bus Crews would be shoulder to shoulder drinking copious amounts of tea followed by slices of toast. You could fill your double decker up with passengers at Laindon Station and would try to get all the fares in before everyone alighted at Basildon town centre.
By Andy Willingham (17/04/2020)
That is correct Paul, the x10 bus would run Express from Fortune of War to Romford Market.
By Mel Lake (31/03/2020)
Was it the X10 that I used to take to get to Romford town centre from the Fortune of War? It used to go most of the way along the Arterial Road in the outside lane and with only a couple of stops. Used to be well as far as I can recall.
By Paul Sargeant (30/03/2020)
I remember I drove a taxi for D C Jeakins around 1967. I drove a Ford Zephyr, a good old car.
By Mel lake (29/03/2020)
I used to catch the number 26 Eastern National bus from the bottom of King Edward Road and High Road, Laindon to Romford for work. Do they still run, does anyone know?
Editor: Eastern National Buses stopped operating around 1995.
By Mel Lake (27/02/2020)
Alan, Laurie is my cousin and lived next door to the Newman’s who I believe lived next door to you. My family (Raymond and Hazel) lived in the first court up, number 2, The Mead, next door to the Flashman’s, which was interesting! I was at the Tech 1951/56 and Yes the science block was still by the church.
By Barri Cuttler (26/11/2018)
Gerald, If your brother Robert Jones went to Chelmsford Tech from 1940 he was ahead of me and I would not have known him. I was there 1947-50. Your brother must have been there when errant bombs, presumably meant for Marconi just down the road, demolished part of the Tech. It must have been a surprise to show up that morning and discover the overnight disaster. I wonder, ongoing, how the Tech handled the same number of students with a large number of classrooms non existent. Perhaps that is when the so called Science Block, behind the cathedral, came to be used. It was still used for science when I was there.
By Alan Davies (20/11/2018)
My brother Robert (Bob) Jones (deceased Aug 2018) who lived in Langdon Hills travelled by bus to attend Chelmsford Tech from 1940 onwards. Just wondered if the name was familiar to you both.
By Gerald Jones (20/11/2018)
Barri, Are you part of the Cutler family that lived three or four up from the High Road on King Edward Road? Memory says it was odd numbers on the right so you might have number 7 or thereabouts. If so we were near neighbours as we were 2 King Edward Terrace. Did you not have a brother, Lawrence or Lawrie?
By Alan Davies (20/11/2018)
Hi Alan. The double deckers did indeed run through the High Road. I went to Chelmsford Tech (a complete waste of time) and we started off with the single deckers and later the doubles went through to Billericay and Chelmsford. I can remember sitting at the front upstairs one snowy morning and the bus sliding sideways down a hill. We used to have great elastic bands and paper pellet fights until the girls decided to join us and the fighting stopped and other activities took its place. Good memories.
By Barri Cuttler (19/11/2018)
I remember the double decker buses that went to Laindon train station. When I started work in London in 1972 I travelled on the 243 double decker bus from a bus stop in The Knares, Lee Chapel South to Laindon Station as there wasn’t a train station at Basildon at this time.
By Jill Elsom (08/11/2018)
Memory says that, at least into the mid 1950’s when I left, there were double decker Eastern National buses at the station. I do not remember them ever traveling through the High Road and suspect they were only used on the south bound routes to Tilbury etc. I assume the parking spaces for waiting buses were assigned. By whom, or on whose authority, I have no idea. The double deckers were always parked at the top of Station Approach on the left. The City buses seemed to have the prime parking spots at the bottom closest to the railway exit gate. At least that’s how I remember it.
By Alan Davies (21/06/2018)
I can only remember the single decker buses, local County buses and the larger Greenline; but then that would have been around the later 40’s. I did not leave Langdon Hills until 1962 but still have a blank memory of double-deckers. (It must be dementia creeping in – oh dear.)
By Gerald Jones (21/06/2018)
The 244 bus from Laindon Station to Basildon Town Centre. The fare 2 pence old money for me as a 8 year old in the late 1950s probably around £2 today.
By Paul Gibson (20/06/2018)
I can remember the buses like this at the station. So Lovely to see the photo, Thank you.
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I know some ex Brentwood drivers, it was a nice little Depot. My father-in-law owned the off licence in the next street to the Depot in Waterloo Road.
I too was a Union rep, Secretary, then Chairman at Basildon Depot. Not as easy as some may think but when you saved someone’s job, that was enough reward.
Take care Andy.
Good to hear from you Andy, us bus drivers have to stick together right. I had a family member work for Eastern National Brentwood depot, a driver and union rep, Peter Lycet.
Yes I started there in1973 when we had green buses, still meet up with a lot of old drivers about every six months.
I wasn’t on London Transport but use to drive up to Wood Green, Kings Cross, and Victoria on various routes.
Good job Andy a long time, I did 12 years driving London buses, did you work for Eastern National?
I retired two years ago after forty four year “on the Buses” I recall the 244/243 to Laindon Station, in particular I remember the Forecourt Cafe we frequented, Bus Crews would be shoulder to shoulder drinking copious amounts of tea followed by slices of toast. You could fill your double decker up with passengers at Laindon Station and would try to get all the fares in before everyone alighted at Basildon town centre.
That is correct Paul, the x10 bus would run Express from Fortune of War to Romford Market.
Was it the X10 that I used to take to get to Romford town centre from the Fortune of War? It used to go most of the way along the Arterial Road in the outside lane and with only a couple of stops. Used to be well as far as I can recall.
I remember I drove a taxi for D C Jeakins around 1967. I drove a Ford Zephyr, a good old car.
I used to catch the number 26 Eastern National bus from the bottom of King Edward Road and High Road, Laindon to Romford for work. Do they still run, does anyone know?
Editor: Eastern National Buses stopped operating around 1995.
Alan, Laurie is my cousin and lived next door to the Newman’s who I believe lived next door to you.
My family (Raymond and Hazel) lived in the first court up, number 2, The Mead, next door to the Flashman’s, which was interesting!
I was at the Tech 1951/56 and Yes the science block was still by the church.
Gerald, If your brother Robert Jones went to Chelmsford Tech from 1940 he was ahead of me and I would not have known him. I was there 1947-50. Your brother must have been there when errant bombs, presumably meant for Marconi just down the road, demolished part of the Tech. It must have been a surprise to show up that morning and discover the overnight disaster. I wonder, ongoing, how the Tech handled the same number of students with a large number of classrooms non existent. Perhaps that is when the so called Science Block, behind the cathedral, came to be used. It was still used for science when I was there.
My brother Robert (Bob) Jones (deceased Aug 2018) who lived in Langdon Hills travelled by bus to attend Chelmsford Tech from 1940 onwards. Just wondered if the name was familiar to you both.
Barri, Are you part of the Cutler family that lived three or four up from the High Road on King Edward Road? Memory says it was odd numbers on the right so you might have number 7 or thereabouts. If so we were near neighbours as we were 2 King Edward Terrace. Did you not have a brother, Lawrence or Lawrie?
Hi Alan. The double deckers did indeed run through the High Road. I went to Chelmsford Tech (a complete waste of time) and we started off with the single deckers and later the doubles went through to Billericay and Chelmsford.
I can remember sitting at the front upstairs one snowy morning and the bus sliding sideways down a hill.
We used to have great elastic bands and paper pellet fights until the girls decided to join us and the fighting stopped and other activities took its place.
Good memories.
I remember the double decker buses that went to Laindon train station. When I started work in London in 1972 I travelled on the 243 double decker bus from a bus stop in The Knares, Lee Chapel South to Laindon Station as there wasn’t a train station at Basildon at this time.
Memory says that, at least into the mid 1950’s when I left, there were double decker Eastern National buses at the station. I do not remember them ever traveling through the High Road and suspect they were only used on the south bound routes to Tilbury etc. I assume the parking spaces for waiting buses were assigned. By whom, or on whose authority, I have no idea. The double deckers were always parked at the top of Station Approach on the left. The City buses seemed to have the prime parking spots at the bottom closest to the railway exit gate. At least that’s how I remember it.
I can only remember the single decker buses, local County buses and the larger Greenline; but then that would have been around the later 40’s. I did not leave Langdon Hills until 1962 but still have a blank memory of double-deckers. (It must be dementia creeping in – oh dear.)
The 244 bus from Laindon Station to Basildon Town Centre. The fare 2 pence old money for me as a 8 year old in the late 1950s probably around £2 today.
I can remember the buses like this at the station. So Lovely to see the photo, Thank you.
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