The Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group CIO 1188658

All about the group, founded in 2019.

The objective of the group is preserve and restore historic commercial vehicles for the advancement of historical, technical and general education, including artefacts, records of historical and general interest and educational value.

Our focus & vehicles represent the era around the 1990’s era of Eastern Counties including the de regulation period - Grampian takeover leading to the formation of First Bus.
We also have a large artefacts from this period including articles from Great Yarmouth Transport, Eastern Counties, First Eastern Counties, Flying Banana etc

Formed in November 2017 by Jamie Vendy & Kaylee McNamara with our first vehicle S574TPW, 1999 Scania L94UB Wright single decker. This was purchased from Connexions Buses this is our flagship vehicle of the group.

In May 2019 N619GAH, 1995 Mercedes-Benz minibus joined us by somewhat of surprise in May, after we had initially approached OR Jones in January and the sale didn’t happen as someone had beat us to it! However then the phones went off in early May & then 240 miles later without missing a beat it came home to our base in Cambridgeshire.

In July after months of planning P330RVG, 1997 Volvo B10M coach then joined us from LynxBus, this has been initially laid up. But was serving us as our stores for all our parts for all the group vehicles until late 2022.

With 3 vehicles being owned privately it was decided the group would be formed at this point it was decided by Jamie & Kaylee to form "The Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group".
During the winter of 2019/2020 it was decided to formally register the group as a charity with the Charity Commissioners for England & Wales.
This was granted in March 2020. (1188658) just prior to the pandemic. 

In early 2020 we also had LN274 YYE274T, a 1979 Leyland National single decker join us after some years laid up. This has was jointly purchased by Wesley Tierney and Ryan Charlton.
This has since passed in group ownership during Summer 2021.

In the summer of 2020, when you think everything would be quiet? Well we recovered for restoration ex First Eastern Counties (Blue Bus) 329 CVF29T, 1979 Bristol VR double decker.
New in 1979 to Great Yarmouth Transport this joins the group after being used as a summer house since 2003 in North Norfolk.

Moving into 2022 we had (705) S664SNG joined us after a few years stored in Surrey and has been placed into dry storage until further notice. This was then followed by something else in late 2022 when D70TLV numbered B798 joined the group as several years stored near Bedford.

In early 2023 we the group then acquired ex Great Yarmouth WEX685M which of course had a small spell with First Eastern Counties during 1996/7 but carried the Great Yarmouth Transport livery it wears today, but had the First emblem in the back window. 

During 2023 we teamed up with the founders of The BIG Bus Show and successfully executed the show in August, we c.200% increase on footfall visitors and c.250% increase in visiting vehicles to the Show at Stonham Barns, Suffolk near Stowmarket. We will be back in 2024 to run the show again.
Sunday 11 August 2024 is the date at Stonham Barns again!

The group is lead by husband & wife team Jamie & Kaylee Vendy but is supported by 3 trustees.

We also have a small number of people who support us through our membership program, who all get FREE entry to The BIG Bus Show at Stonham Barns!

We have few ways you can donate money to our group all funds raised goes towards the restoration of vehicles, one of which is via Paypal to give us a one off donation.