This months bus of the month is provided by Pat Jennings.

My favourite Provincial bus was No.72 - HHA 84.

I should explain that at the time of the Hoeford fire in June 1957 I was a primary schoolboy living at Paulsgrove, and my visits to Fareham were not frequent and always accompanied by my parents. I had seen the report of the fire in the Portsmouth “Evening” News as it was then, but that was all. There were no ABC British Bus Fleet books at that time, and I certainly could not afford Buses Illustrated. However I did have a copy of ABC Midland Red from the mid fifties given to me by an aunt.

Visits to Fareham were always fascinating with the large variety of different Provi buses to see on the very frequent services to The Ferry. One visit I saw a new bus that was not only different, but I recognized the registration number. Here was a Provi. Bus which was pictured in my Midland Red book, but it was not exactly the same – it seemed to have been modernized. Every time I visited Fareham or Gosport after that I saw 72, and it fascinated and perplexed me. Years rolled by, enthusiast’s information became plentiful, I learned about the wartime fleet at Midland Red and their rebuilds by Hooten, and the history became known. One day in 1964 I visited Fareham on leave from work in London, and 72 had been rebodied, and the old body dumped on the cabbage patch - it was no longer different. I shall always remember my childhood puzzlement over 72