January 2002
	A shortage of vehicles has resulted in Leyland Titan PD2 No. 82 being used on occasions recently and culminated in AEC Regal No. 11 being pressed into service in the morning peak on Tuesday 29th January on a Willingdon School journey.
	Optare Spectra number 77 (S877 BYJ) was being painted into Reading colours.
	Optare Excel 44 (R212 DKG) arrived from Reading on Wednesday 9th January.
	Dennis Javelins 23 (J223 FUF) and 27 (J127 LHC) were sold to Anglian Coaches, Beccles on Wednesday 23rd January.

February 2002

Optare Spectra number 77 (S877 BYJ) departed for Reading on Tuesday 5th February and Excel 45 (R213DKG) was received. Optare Spectra number 76 (S876 BYJ) left the Paintshop on Tuesday 12th and departed for Reading on Wednesday 13th February. All Spectras 76 to 81 are now with Reading Buses. Excels 46 (R214 DKG) and 47 (R215 DKG) were collected from Reading on Sunday 17th February completing the deal. Regrettably 46 caught fire due to an electrical fault in Redhill and had to be towed to Eastbourne. It has been towed to Optare at Rotherham for repair. Excel 43 (R211 DKG) has been repainted in an overall advert for Eastbourne Vauxhall, painted black with red vinyls. Click here to view Bus 43. Excel 45 (R213 DKG) was the first Excel to be outshopped in fleet livery. Click here to view Bus 45. Excel 47 (R214 DKG) was repainted into fleet livery.

March 2002
	Three DAF SB220s with Northern Counties bodywork arrived on Saturday 23rd March. They are registered P205 PWW - Number 25, P206 PWW - Number 26 and P210 PWW - Number 27. They were collected from Arriva Bus and Coach (Dealer) in Yorkshire.
	It was discovered that when Excel 47 was painted it mistakenly left the Paintshop as fleet number 46. This was quickly rectified.

April 2002
	Optare Spectra number 73 attended Cobham Bus Museum Open Day on Sunday 7th April. The trip was arranged for members of the East Sussex Omnibus Society. Optare Excel number 38 left the Paintshop in fleet livery on Thursday 11th April. Leyland Olympian UWW 16X - ex-Wilts & Dorset - is an addition to the fleet and was collected from a local dealer on Wednesday 17th April. Leyland Olympian UWW 6X - ex-Wilts & Dorset - is an addition to the fleet and was collected from a local dealer on Monday 22th April.
	To cope with a shortage of vehicles that occurred when we took over some local Stagecoach services, we hired some Stagecoach vehicles and these arrived over the weekend of Saturday 27th / Sunday 28th April. We started the new services on Sunday 28th April 2002 and as of Monday 29th April we had the following Stagecoach vehicles on hire. Fleet Number Registration Number Type Bodywork 201 L201 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 202 L202 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 203 L203 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 204 L204 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 207 L207 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 209 L209 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 210 L210 YAG Dennis Lance Plaxton Verde 493 N603 KFG Dennis Dart Alexander

May 2002
	On Wednesday 1st May, 493 - N603 KFG was returned to Stagecoach and replaced by 211 - L211 YAG another Plaxton Verde bodied Dennis Lance.
	On Tuesday 28th May, 204 - L204 YAG and 207 - L207 YAG were returned to Stagecoach.

June 2002
	On Wednesday 5th June, 210 - L210 YAG was returned to Stagecoach.
	A Dennis Dart with Plaxton MPD bodywork, SN51 UCE, arrived on Saturday 15th June. The vehicle was here for demonstration for one week and departed on Saturday 22nd. During its stay it was allocated fleet number 501 and appeared mainly on the Service 2, Town Centre - Harbour during the day and ventured onto the evening circular services. Its chassis number is SFD6B2CR31GW15958.

July 2002
	Optare Excel 46 returned from Optare at Rotherham on the 18th July 2002 after repairs following fire damage. As soon as 46 arrived it went into our Paintshop.
	On Tuesday 30th July, Dennis Lance 203 - L203 YAG was returned to Stagecoach.
	The first of six new low-floor DAF SB120's arrived on Tuesday 30th July. GX02 WXS fleet number 50, and GX02 WXU fleet number 52, were delivered to Birch Road. Click here to view Bus 50.

August 2002
	Bus 50 was first used on Services 10 and 16 on 5th August.
	Bus 25, still in dealer-supplied white, entered the Paintshop on Tuesday 6th August.
	On Wednesday 7th August, Dennis Lance 201 - L201 YAG was returned to Stagecoach.
	Bus 25 left the Paintshop in fleet livery on Friday 9th August.
	The new Wrights buses 53, GX02 WXV, and 54, GX02 WXW arrived on Tuesday 13th August.

October 2002

The entire fleet was re-numbered from Tuesday 1st October to aid identification of type. Low-floor single decks retained their existing number. High-floor single decks had a "1" prefixed to their fleet number, so Bus 16 became 116. High-floor double decks had a "2" prefixed, so Bus 59 became 259. Coaches were renumbered into the 900's, so Coach 101 became 901. During October demonstration LED Destination Blinds were fitted to two of our buses. Bus 40 was fitted with a Vultron Display unit and Bus 127 was fitted with a Hanover Display. Bus 272 was unfortunately involved in an accident with a car transporter in Tunbridge Wells in which two upper deck side windows were broken. While the vehicle was in the Workshop being repaired, roof protection bars across the front of the upper deck windows were fitted.

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