John Oram's photos with the keyword: Volvo Olympian

In open storage, to the south east of Heathrow airport, is an enticing selection of buses including no fewer than five Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympians. They are (from camera) P611SAT, R284LGH (not visible), R345LGH, R395LGH and R397LGH. Behind R397LGH is Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE T815CBW. There is a seventh vehicle in the right angle between R397LGH and the B10; it is an unidentified bus in a pink livery. Photograph by John Oram Photoshop (blur) by Gregory Halse TZ30_P1050610R_PS

In open storage, to the south east of Heathrow airport, is an enticing selection of buses including no fewer than five Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympians. They include P611SAT (right) and R284LGH (left). TZ30_P1050609CE

In open storage, to the south east of Heathrow airport, is an enticing selection of buses including no fewer than five Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympians. They are (from camera) P611SAT, R284LGH (yellow/cream, just visible (left)), R345LGH, R395LGH and R397LGH. To the right of R397LGH is Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE T815CBW. There is a seventh vehicle in the right angle between R397LGH and the B10; it is an unidentified bus in a pink livery. Photograph by John Oram Photoshop (blur) by Gregory Halse TZ30_P1050608CE_PS

I was sad to learn that the quirky and varied fleet of Southbourne based Emsworth & District was to cease operating which it finally did on 31 July 2018. By Sunday 26 August 2018, many vehicles had been disposed of but several were still to be seen at the rather spread out site at Clovelly Road. Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympian R622MNU retains the basic yellow of it previous operator, Haines (Eastville) , Bristol. 200_3_P1070492E

I was sad to learn that the quirky and varied fleet of Southbourne based Emsworth & District was to cease operating which it finally did on 31 July 2018. By Sunday 26 August 2018, many vehicles had been disposed of but several were still to be seen at the rather spread out site at Clovelly Road. Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympian R622MNU retains the basic yellow of it previous operator, Haines (Eastville) , Bristol. In this shot, it is being moved (reversed) north on Clovelly Road to make room in the main compound for YJ05PVX. 200_3_P1070491R

This is the final picture in a story I have told since 1 April 2017. Former Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ was donated by the operator to The Bus Project, Portsmouth which, with the aid of many donors and volunteers, converted it to a shelter with 12 beds for homeless people in the Portsmouth area. The Bus Project gave the completed vehicle to the Robert Dolling Project to be used as a static shelter at St Agatha's Church, Portsmouth. It is shown there a few days after its weekend journey to its new home and, appropriately, on a very cold day when, perhaps, our concern for the homeless is at its greatest. 200_3_P1040008

Nearing the end of its months long journey from Stagecoach retiree to homeless shelter, Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian R752DRJ was displayed today at Fratton Park for public viewing before it officially joins the Robert Dolling Project at St Agatha's Church, Portsmouth. As The Bus Project, Portsmouth reached its culmination, the vehicle was towed by Boarhunt Heavy Recovery's DAF M27JOB (left) to Anson Road. 200_3_P1030986CE

Nearing the end of its months long journey from Stagecoach retiree to homeless shelter, Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian R752DRJ was displayed today at Fratton Park for public viewing before it officially joins the Robert Dolling Project at St Agatha's Church, Portsmouth. As The Bus Project, Portsmouth reached its culmination, the vehicle was towed by Boarhunt Heavy Recovery's DAF M27JOB to Anson Road. 200_3_P1030989CE

Nearing the end of its months long journey from Stagecoach retiree to homeless shelter, Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian R752DRJ was displayed today at Fratton Park for public viewing before it officially joins the Robert Dolling Project at St Agatha's Church, Portsmouth. As The Bus Project, Portsmouth reached its culmination, the vehicle was towed by Boarhunt Heavy Recovery's DAF M27JOB, which is just visible in front of the bus, to Anson Road. 200_3_P1030992

As preparations for its new life neared completion, former Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ gained a nice new front display marking its recent acquisition by the very worthy Bus Project, Portsmouth. Evident on the upper deck were some of the mattresses which will help to make winter more bearable for some of the unfortunate homeless people of Portsmouth. There are various Bus Projects around the UK now, each a marvellous way of preserving a bus and helping to address the serious issue of homelessness in one of the world's richest nations. 200_3_P1030943C

Seven and a half months after my first photograph of this former Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ at ASDA Fareham, the converted bus is nearly ready to support homeless people in the Portsmouth area. Those months and weeks have seen a lot of hard work by a lot of people, widespread generosity and one unfortunate incident of mindless vandalism documented in my photograph of 4 August 2017. The rear window still needs to be repaired but the bus now carries supporter information on both sides and on the rear. It is due to be displayed publicly at Fratton Park on 26 November 2017 and then move to its new home at St Agatha's Church as part of their Robert Dolling Project. 200_3_P1030940R

Seven and a half months after my first photograph of this former Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ at ASDA Fareham, the converted bus is nearly ready to support homeless people in the Portsmouth area. Those months and weeks have seen a lot of hard work by a lot of people, widespread generosity and one unfortunate incident of mindless vandalism documented in my photograph of 4 August 2017. The rear window still needs to be repaired but the bus now carries supporter information on both sides and on the rear. It is due to be displayed publicly at Fratton Park on 26 November 2017 and then move to its new home at St Agatha's Church as part of their Robert Dolling Project. 200_3_P1030939

I first photographed the former Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ in Fareham on 1 April 2017. Since then, work has started to convert the vehicle to a mobile shelter and feeding station for the homeless in Portsmouth. Unfortunately, in early August, someone decided to smash the rear windscreen but this proved to be a temporary setback for the project. 200_3_P1020157

I first photographed the former Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ in Fareham on 1 April 2017. Since then, work has started to convert the vehicle to a mobile shelter and feeding station for the homeless in Portsmouth. Unfortunately, in early August, someone decided to smash the rear windscreen but this proved to be a temporary setback for the project. 200_3_P1020160E

Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian R634MNU of Williams Travel of Camborne at rest between local journeys in the car park of Morrisons, Penzance. 200_3_P1010965C

Sometimes the most pleasing photographs are those taken completely unplanned. Looking out from the forecourt of the filling station at ASDA Fareham, I was surprised to see Stagecoach Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 16752/R752DRJ tucked away on the north side of the car park. The front of the vehicle is looking a bit the worse for wear and I have no idea why it was there. However, the late afternoon light helped me produce a picture I am pleased with. Not really Gosport but Fareham. 200_2_P1150595

Xelabus Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympian 535/J19XEL in Market Parade, Havant adjacent Havant Park. The vehicle was between turns on Tesco Free Bus. 200_2_P1140021C

The ever-changing Xelabus fleet sees vehicle acquisition and disposal accompanied by fleet number changes and goodness knows how many moves of premium plates. For the time being L6XEL is on the company's no. 505, a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian, seen here in Pound Tree Road, Southampton. 200_2_P1110552C