The small Stratford Blue BET fleet was eventually swallowed by its much larger
neighbour, Midland Red resulting in some unusual vehicles acquiring that company's
red livery. The Stratford Blue fleetname was revived as a marketing exercise
in NBC days, but disappeared again under Stagecoach stripes when its part of
Midland Red was sold as Midland Red South. Retrenchment eventually led to
Stagecoach pulling out of Stratford and Julian Peddle saved the local
independent that had stepped in and used the SB name. When Warwickshire
Council awarded key contracts to other operators, including its Citaro operations,
the viability of the Peddle Stratford Blue operation was undermined and shut down.
Former Chesterfield Leyland National 2 34 (OWB34X), which passed to Stagecoach
East Midlands with that city fleet, is seen at Julian Peddle's MK Metro Milton
Keynes depot, not long after the Stratford Blue failure where the bus had been
operating, still in Stagecoach colours.
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The latest incarnation of Stratford Blue came via Ensignbus' City Sightseeing
taking over Guide Friday. Ensignbus took over Julian Peddle's Stratford
premises to compete with Guide Friday on their Stratford home turf. City
Sightseeing acquired all Guide Friday operations - including their MetroRider
operated Stratford town service. Ensignbus' livery linked well the Stratford
Blue fleetname. This East Lancs Leyland Tiger, once Green Line
ECW bodied TL39, was rebodied as a 51 seat bus as Midland Red North 1719. As
Stratford Blue 739 it won the prize for the best in service Elizabethan singledeck
pre 2000 at EFE SHOWBUS International 2002.
Former London RML2565 (JJD565D) is now part of Ensignbus' Stratford Blue operations.
RML2565 is seen at EFE SHOWBUS International 2005.