Bus Business One
The Last of the Lowestoft VR's
With Jonathan Whitlam
On 30th March 2002 First Eastern Counties said farewell to its remaining Bristol VR buses. This evocative and lively video follows the last six months of operation of these superb double-deckers in and around the East Anglian town of Lowestoft, once the home of prolific bodybuilders Eastern Coach Works.
The programme charts the development of the VR model with its original Eastern Coach Works body. We go right back to its origins with the Bristol K type body through to the Lodekka and finally the last of the series III VR’s with the aid of contemporary and old photographs and film. A preserved Series II is examined in detail and we meet several drivers of these great vehicles who have many fond memories to share. Examples of the last version of the VR, the Series III are filmed working in Lowestoft until the last day of operation. We then follow them to their final destinations. For some this means further service in other parts of the country while for others the scrapyard beckons.This professionally produced video is a unique and affectionate record of not only the VR chassis and its builders Bristol Commercial Vehicles but also to the erstwhile workforce of Eastern Coach Works of Lowestoft. For this town at least, the departure of the VR was the end of an era. This film pays tribute to the people, the town and of course to the buses themselves.
Duration : 63min
