There doesn’t seem to be much sunshine but the loading is good on August 28th, 1978 as open top Southend PD3 313, PHJ952, passes the boating lake just east of Southend Pier, en route to Thames Drive.
The conductor – the late Andy Meadows, a well known local enthusiast who sadly died prematurely at Christmas 2003 – will shortly instruct the passengers to remain seated before giving the driver the starting signal to allow the bus to proceed under the low Pier Bridge (and will signal again as an “all clear” once the bus has passed safely under the bridge). For a top deck view going under that low bridge, click here.

Photo taken by Richard Delahoy, Monday 28 August 1978, Southend Seafront