This month's picture has been chosen by David Whitaker. 

I think the main attraction of 48, and, to a lesser degree, 49, was the rounded profile of the front. Most of the others were perpendicular, though 52/53 were quite attractive but not quite as handsome as 48. I grew up seeing photos of early RTs and tinplate models of buses which always seemed to be AECs with a smooth, uninterrupted design. Number 48 had the best attributes in Provincial at the time. The radiator was truly attractive and continued the smooth design with no protrusion beyond the front dash panel. It also sported , if my memory does not deceive me, Weymann badges to prove that it was different and special. It was a total design rather than being a box with a different front or rear. It was also famous, according to A A Townsin, as being the test bed for an engine which was the precursor of the RT's 9.6 litre. It had a spectacular life with Provincial. I know of two particular incidents; one when it collided with a car which was crossing the road at the Broadway and turned it over and one when it went into a ditch at Bridgemary one snowy day and was lifted out lock, stock and barrel by the crane from a nearby Royal Naval establishment. Wally Corney's dad was the driver /operator of this mobile crane and I was the lucky one who took the photo as 48 left the ground completely and daylight showed beneath its wheels. It underwent a few Provincial modifications over the year but these did not alter the basic design. It was also comfortable to ride on. As it had been an AEC demonstrator  originally I have often wondered if a little extra effort had been put into it when it was built. Click on the picture for a larger image