Southend Transport's first coaches were a pair of Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopards (201/2) bought in 1976; they were followed two years later by a similar pair (203/4) but with Duple Dominant II bodywork, all in a new two-tone blue livery. Part financed by the bus grant scheme, they had to be used 50% of their time on stage carriage work but in practice were restricted to some carefully selected workings in the early days, with a special rota of drivers.
As the coach fleet expanded rapidly from 1983 onwards, that was to change but here we see 201 to 204 lined up in number order, with proud drivers (l-r) Peter Cackett, Neil Innes, Dennis Carter and Roy Cole. Although Peter is in front of 201, 202 was in fact his regular coach.

Photo from the Peter Cackett collection, photographer unknown, taken Southend Transport depot