Friends of the East Kent (FotEK) http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/ 6 rows en-gb 60 East Kent Bristol VRT/6LXB Willowbrook 0977 (RVB977S) "Pride of Thanet" http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/c1707522.html Open topped by East Kent back in 1981 after a low bridge accident at Chestfield in 1980, she replaced the open top PFN AEC Regents on the Thanet 69 Coastal Service. Working with 3 open toppped ex M&D Atlanteans she survived in service until 1992 when replaced with ex Southdown convertable VR's from the UVW batch. She eventually found her was to Chepstow Classic Bus via Wall of Fallowfield and PVS of Carlton. She was bought last year by Paul Houselander and has now been fully restored as "Pride of Thanet". Thursday 4 June 2009: Open topped by East Kent back in 1981 after a low bridge accident at Chestfield in 1980, she replaced the open top PFN AEC Regents on the Thanet 69 Coastal Service. Working with 3 open toppped ex M&D Atlanteans she survived in service until 1992 when replaced with ex Southdown convertable VR's from the UVW batch. She eventually found her was to Chepstow Classic Bus via Wall of Fallowfield and PVS of Carlton. She was bought last year by Paul Houselander and has now been fully restored as "Pride of Thanet".

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]]> Thu Jun 4 2009 Thanet Open Top Service 69 Road Run http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/c1582716.html To celebrate the return to Kent of Bristol VRT/Willowbrook RVB977S better known as the 'Pride of Thanet', now owned by FotEK member Paul Houselander, a road run on her former route was organised. The vehicles met at the boating lake in Ramsgate where a great many photographers had gathered. They then ran on to Minnis Bay through Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate stopping en route for pictures. Returning from the Bay a stop was performed for breakfast at Westgate before heading to Westwood bus garage for more pictures and then on to Ramsgate. Sunday 21 September 2008: To celebrate the return to Kent of Bristol VRT/Willowbrook RVB977S better known as the 'Pride of Thanet', now owned by FotEK member Paul Houselander, a road run on her former route was organised. The vehicles met at the boating lake in Ramsgate where a great many photographers had gathered. They then ran on to Minnis Bay through Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate stopping en route for pictures. Returning from the Bay a stop was performed for breakfast at Westgate before heading to Westwood bus garage for more pictures and then on to Ramsgate.

The buses on the front at Minnis Bay. 7681 on the front at Minnis Bay. RFN953G at Palm Bay. The full line up at Westwood garage The full line up of the buses involved at Westwood. They are in age order with left to right. 1959, 1969, 1977, 1978 and 1981. Also all the company liveries are represented too. The rear of the VRT's. TFN980T and PFN674 at Ramsgate boating pool. 7681 and Willowbrook bodied VRT 7980 at Ramsgate boating lake. 0977 Pride of Thanet is seen on the front at Broadstairs with Park Royal Fleetline RFN953G. Maurice Bean's Willowbrook bodied 7980 heads a line up at Broadstairs. East Kent returnsto Margate clock tower for the day! PFN on Margate seafront

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]]> Sun Sep 21 2008 Last Car From Russell Street. http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/c1554397.html FotEK member and webmaster Jake Bamford who drives for Buzzlines Coaches had reason to take his usual vehicle - Transbus Dart SLF GX05AVV to the main depot at Lympne. Returning through Dover he called in on the former East Kent garage at Russell Street, due for demolition very soon. This may have been the last bus from Russell Street however the following weekend Jake, who also owns ex East Kent Bristol VRT SKL681X (7681), returned with 7681. Although she was a Thanet car she may well have visited Dover on service. She may well prove to be the last true 'car' to leave Russell Street. Friday 1 August 2008: FotEK member and webmaster Jake Bamford who drives for Buzzlines Coaches had reason to take his usual vehicle - Transbus Dart SLF GX05AVV to the main depot at Lympne. Returning through Dover he called in on the former East Kent garage at Russell Street, due for demolition very soon. This may have been the last bus from Russell Street however the following weekend Jake, who also owns ex East Kent Bristol VRT SKL681X (7681), returned with 7681. Although she was a Thanet car she may well have visited Dover on service. She may well prove to be the last true 'car' to leave Russell Street.

The doors to the garage were rarely shut during the daytime. GX05 outside the former Dover Garage. View into the garage. The pits area is to the right where the green shutter doors are. General view of Dover garage with GX05AVV on the forcourt. 7681 at Russell Street with blinds set for 588 service to Ramsgate. Thanet car 7681 outside Dover garage with the castle in the background. Where are all the other buses?

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]]> Fri Aug 1 2008 Picture of the month achive. http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/c1520976.html On our main website we have a picture of the month on the title page, here you can see them all. Sunday 1 June 2008: On our main website we have a picture of the month on the title page, here you can see them all.

MAY 2008: This was our very first picture of the month. JULY 2008 :Back to the coaching heyday of East Kent this month with a 1951 Park Royal bodied Leyland Royal Tiger. This was spotted at the Kent County Show at Detling earlier this month. Some of you may remember these coaches were used on the early Skyways Service from Lympne Airfield in April 1954. JANUARY 2009: This beautiful Dennis Lancet coach was seen at last years Kent County Show SEPTEMBER 2008: On 24th August to celebrate the return of open top Willowbrook bodied Bristol VRT RVB977S former 0977- named ' Pride of Thanet', a group of us got together to recreate the service 69 Thanet open top route. The weather left a lot to be desired- not really open top weather- but spirits were high. The run started at Ramsgate passed through Broadstairs, Margate, Westgate and the posher parts of Birchington's seafront before reaching Minnis Bay. We then returned to Westgate for lunch before a photo run around Margate and the run back to Ramsgate. DECEMBER 2008: In a tradition that goes back many years and in a livery that has been seen on Guy Arab's, Regents and Nationals, Stagecoach East Kent's Volvo Olympian 16283 (P283VPN) is seen advertising the Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund at the launch of the bus in the bus station in the city. NOVEMBER 2008: Work continues on rebuilding AEC Swift/Marshall VJG187J which suffered a major engine failure nearly 2 years ago. Here the two bods who are working on her, Carl Underwood and Barrie Burlingham, take a quick break to admire their handywork. Hopefully these two master fitters will have her running again within the next few weeks. The next problem will be to clear out the inside of 187 which has been used as a storeroom for the last few months! OCTOBER 2008: Rather a sad one this month. Willowbrook bodied Bristol VRT TFN989T (7989) dumped in a Barnsley scrapyard in August 2008. Not only is it a proper East Kent bus but the Willowbrooks are rather rare now-not that they were in great number to start with! Maybe this should act as a reminder to those of us who preserve vehicles - this is why we do it. To stop important vehicles being lost forever. It's not all doom and gloom though, fortunatly 7989 has been able to provide some spares for another restored Willowbrook VR. JUNE 2008: Not too far back this month. Back to 1994 in fact with Bristol VRT / Willowbrook RVB974S (7974) seen at Ramsgate Harbour. Alas she is just a memory having been scrapped some years ago now, however a sister bus is preserved with FotEK member Maurice Bean whilst RVB977S better known as 'The Pride of Thanet' open top bus has just been acquired by Paul Houselander for preservation and should be back home from the West Country soon. Some of you may remember 'The Pride of Thanet' was created when Thanet Driver Ryan Asprey took a short cut under Chesterfield railway bridge, thus creating one of the best open top buses East Kent had operated at that time! APRIL 2009: With the shares in our Leyland National 1178 (EFN178L) taking off I decided that this classic shot of an unknown National at Ramsgate Harbour would make a good picture of the month! AUGUST 2008: Good news indeed that our former Ashford car, AEC Regent AFN780B passed her MOT! However it didn't all go to plan, returning back from the test centre at Hersden via Canterbury 780B's clutch decided to give up the ghost. In Sturry, in the rush hour. She was patched up and brought back to Sandwich where the problem, a broken hose, will be fixed. We hope to have her on the road again soon. JUNE 2009: On 24th May Manston Airfield at Thanet held a Spitfire Flypast Day at the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum on the site. There were stalls and various vintage vehicles including these two from the FotEK collection, AEC Bridgemaster YJG807 and Bristol VRT SKL681X. Both prooved very popular with the 'little uns' as well as the 'big uns' too! For more pictures and information go to http://jakesbuses.weebly.com/7681-visits-manston-airports-spitfire-flypast-day-24th-may-2009.html. There can't be too many places where you and se the products of AEC, Bristol and Boeing together so here's the buses with a 747 in the background. MAY 2009: The Destination blind says it all! Our AEC Swift VJG197J is now back on the road following an engine rebuild by Barrie and Carl at Sandwich depot- well done lads! Thanks to Carl Underwood for the picture.

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]]> Sun Jun 1 2008 East Kent Leyland National EFN178L 1178 http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/c1516941.html Donated to FotEK by Carl Underwood last year who carried out the fanastic restoration on 1178. She was used for a while as a mobility bus in the Nottingham area and had an extra door fitted amidships with a wheelchair lift. The lift has been removed though the door remains although when time permits this to will be replaced by a standard National window bay. Inside her vynal seats have been replaced with blue moqette which certainly gives your bum a bit more grip! We are currently selling shares in this bus! Visit http://friendsoftheeastkent.weebly.com for more information. Sunday 25 May 2008: Donated to FotEK by Carl Underwood last year who carried out the fanastic restoration on 1178. She was used for a while as a mobility bus in the Nottingham area and had an extra door fitted amidships with a wheelchair lift. The lift has been removed though the door remains although when time permits this to will be replaced by a standard National window bay. Inside her vynal seats have been replaced with blue moqette which certainly gives your bum a bit more grip! We are currently selling shares in this bus! Visit http://friendsoftheeastkent.weebly.com for more information.

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]]> Sun May 25 2008 East Kent AEC Regent V / Park Royal AFN780B http://fotek.fotoblog.co.uk/c1516914.html 780B has been off the road for sometime now whilst some minor mechanical work was undertaken and a repaint of the bodywork was done. The majority of this work has been done now- mostly by members Carl and Tim with some help from Barry and Tony. We hope to get 780B MOT'd soon and back on the road. Sunday 25 May 2008: 780B has been off the road for sometime now whilst some minor mechanical work was undertaken and a repaint of the bodywork was done. The majority of this work has been done now- mostly by members Carl and Tim with some help from Barry and Tony. We hope to get 780B MOT'd soon and back on the road.

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