HOMAGE TO THE SWIFTS

Today's recall goes back to the 1970's again and is a homage to the AEC Swift which here in Ipswich wasn't particularly well loved, the first batch of Ipswich AEC Swifts were 77-82 JRT 77-82K and were Willowbrook bodied, many tended to be in the depot rather than be on the road, 82 is of course is now preserved by the ITM and is still as tricky as ever! The second batch were the East Lancs bodied 89-93 DDX 89-93L these survived until 1985, whilst the earlier 77-82 survived until 1983, replaced by the first Dennis Falcon's 100-05 YDX 100-05Y. Meanwhile seen around 1974 and on hire to Eastern Counties during there shortage of buses is Great Yarmouth Corporation Transport Willowbrook bodied 65 LEX 865H part of a batch 10 58-67 in 1970, followed by another 11 68-78 PEX 168-78K in 1972, then Great Yarmouth switched to local ECW bodies with 79-90 WEX 679-90M in 1973, illustrated by 82 WEX 682M below, Yarmouth also purchased two more ECW bodied Swifts when Lowestoft finished in 1977 NRT 564/65L and we mustn't forget that some of the 58-67 batch have spent some time on loan to IBT during their bus shortage of 1985, Yarmouth's last batch of Swift's 79-90 lasted into First Bus days.