In an effort to update the coach fleet, Southend bought a Duple bodied Tiger that was a stock build for Yeates, the dealer. Registered by Southend as A215PEV, it was built in 1982, older than its registration suggested. It already had bus style doors but Southend fitted a Bristol dome to provide destination gear. 215 was a beauty to drive (according to the photographer’s biased opinion) and is seen here outside London Road garage on March 3, 1985. It was later sold to Midland Red North and rebodied with an East Lancs bus body – shame!

Photo taken by Richard Delahoy, Sunday 3 March 1985, Southend London Road garage