MEMORIES OF THE SOUTHERN CIRCULAR

Image Copyright Ipswich Buses

Now who remembers the Southern Circular service run by IBT from 1982 but the finish date now that's where my memory begins to play funny tricks, someone out there will know won't you, from the age of 11 I would spend every Saturday and some school nights on the peak hour extension which took in RSJ Works off Nacton Road and then visiting Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate on the way back into the town now this was enjoyable if you got the right bus particularly any of the Leyland Atlanteans but not 41/43/44, or worse still any of the horrid remaining AEC Swifts although any ride on a Bristol RE I wouldn't mind so much. Starting in 1982 the journey took in most parts of Ipswich starting from outside Electric House taking in Colchester Road, to Ipswich Hospital, Foxhall Road, Felixstowe Road, Nacton Road then Orwell Bridge and Wherstead Road into Town with the 18 being the clockwise route and the 19 the anti clockwise route.

Stuart Ray captures Leyland Atlantean 5 HDX 908N on the Wherstead Road bridge on the anti clockwise 19.

While heading down Heath Road is Leyland Atlantean still in ICT livery after 11 years on the clockwise 18 during 1983.Copyright Stuart Ray

And I always appreciated a ride on the East Lancs Atlantean's this one is 40 RGV 40W heading again down Heath Road towards the Foxhall Road Roundabout, during 1983 copyright Stuart Ray.