Bringing back Eastern National!

After many years just as a memory - I was proud to bring back the name of Eastern National on a working bus here! Enjoy the first public moments of heritage Badgerline-style Eastern National livery on First Essex (Colchester) Volvo B7TL / Wright Gemini 37007 (WX55 VHR) on its stop-over at Hadleigh Depot before heading to North Essex. First, we see the bus reversing out from Marden Commercials' workshops, then into position in First Hadleigh Depot yard for official photos - then its very early morning departure back to its depot at Colchester (note the yellow 'E' on the rear, part of the livery and intended to be kept viewable). It was a great honour and pleasure to bring the name of EN back to the streets of Essex in 2020 with this bus, thanks to being commissioned by First East England Engineering Director Richard Gilmore, giving me the choice to do so, working with the skilled craftsmen at Marden Commercials of Benfleet. Unfortuntately the bus was damaged within days of being back in service (never repaired), its sealed rear advert frame - meant to stay so with Management permission to show the 'E' logo - was broken open by Colchester staff and an advert put inside it, covering this important aspect of the rear of the livery and, also within weeks, its blue-painted wheels were progressively swapped for standard untidy silver wheels. Due to this, I did not undertake the second heritage livery intended for Colchester, that being the original deregulation yellow with dark green rear. It's very disheartening when a great deal of effort on my part, and days of skilled effort by craftsmen is not respected. Nonetheless, I was proud of the end result and so were the people who created it - this video seen for the first time now, in 2026. With thanks to Gareth Norris for assistance with some livery details and also to First Essex Hadleigh Depot for kind help. Enjoy!