Thursday 9 March was the final day of Ensignbus operation of local services in the Thurrock area and its dealership activities under the Newman family ownership before it passed into the ownership of FirstGroup.
The employees of Ensignbus, which was formed in 1972, were not going to let the moment pass without surprising directors Peter, Ross and Steve Newman for their last day. The directors were collected from their homes by AEC Regent III RT8, built in 1940, MCW Metrobus Mk2 192 and gold-livered Wrighbus Gemini 2 130, before undertaking a small roadtrip, before all available staff congregated to clap when they arrived at the company’s Purfleet depot. In true Ensignbus tradition, there was a pizza buffet lunch prior to the final papers being signed at the end of trading.
First Bus says that it will be ‘business as usual’ for local bus services and the dealership.
