Having decided post Second World War to standardise on double deck vehicles, the Undertaking found it still needed a vehicle to carry small parties on private hire work and to be able to assist at times of peak loadings. The resultant purchase was fleet number 11, delivered in 1950 and the only bus delivered in that year.

Delivered in the Corporation's colours of blue and primrose with pale cream roof, she looked extremely smart with her graceful curves, neat aluminium-framed louvres over the windows and highly polished traditional radiator. She was, in later years, painted in cream with blue sweeping sashes each side to match the new fleet livery but never quite look as good. Number 11 was always considered to be special. She was renumbered in 1970 to fleet number 93 in order to make way for the fleet of new Leyland "Atlanteans" then ordered for delivery (but delayed until 1972). Many staff still referred to her as "No. 11".

She was never worked very hard and when retired into preservation in 1978 was still quite sprightly. The new owner decided to restore parts of the bodywork which had deteriorated with age and paint her back into her original colours and she subsequently attended rallies quite frequently.

In 1992 her owner wanted to move abroad and offered Eastbourne Buses (successor to Eastbourne Corporation Transport) the vehicle back. The Company readily agreed to purchase her in order to ensure she came to no harm. In order that she could earn her keep she was brought up, once again, to full PSV standards and passed the "ministry exam" at the first attempt! She needed some further restoration and this was sympathetically done.

Now numbered 11 again in our fleet, she occasionally does specialist private hire work such as for weddings and has even been inside the gates of Buckingham Palace on behalf of "Children in Need" and met their patron The Princess Royal. She very occasionally does relief service work too.

With the Centenary of the Undertaking/Company in 2003, the "Grande Dame" will no doubt take pride of place.