The final service journey by Southend PD3 347 was on service 1 (the 1710 ex-CBS) to Rayleigh Station and back. At the conclusion of that run - the very last time a rear entrance decker would run in Southend (or so we all thought!), the crew and supporters lined up for posterity. Most of those pictured had driven the bus at some point during the last round trip, but there was only one conductor!
Reading from left to right, those pictured are (faces are a bit clearer on the higher resolution picture):
Derek Giles (Traffic Superintendent - "Mr Southend Transport" to most people), John Lidstone (now the Buses magazine Fleet News Editor), Vic Carr, John Cooper (then a traffic clerk), Martin Mowle, Peter Halls, Jack Wilkinson (both also traffic clerks) and the late Gareth Morgan (the real conductor).

Meanwhile, the very next day after the PD3 run saw a similar valedictory operation by Eastern National at Hadleigh.

Photo taken by Richard Delahoy, Friday 31 July 1981, Southend Central Bus Station