Bus Names

Have you ever spotted the name plaques on the front of our buses and wondered who they are? Many of our buses are named after family, long-serving employees, historical figures or deserving local people.

Norman John Sanders (SC23 NJS)
Norman Sanders founded Sanders Coaches Ltd in 1975 having bought the business of Bennet's Coaches in Holt. He grew the company alongside his wife Gladys by purchasing other small independent coach operators in the area. Norman's team of drivers always commented on how much time he had for them, even just for a chat at the depot gate. Norman and Gladys then passed the business to their sons Charles and Paul.

Gladys Anne Sanders (NS17 GAS)
Gladys was Norman Sanders wife, instrumental in the success of the company's coach holiday programme and running the administration side of the business in the early days. 

Charles Edward Sanders (CE24 SAN)
One of our company directors, Charles Sanders has driven the business forward to how we know it today. Charles has been instrumental in ensuring communities in North Norfolk have access to an extensive local bus network and has been a voice of bus operators serving rural communities. His son Martin joined the company in 2023 leading our finance and business functions.

Paul Francis Sanders (PF24 SAN)
One of our company directors, Paul Sanders leads our engineering department. He has intricate knowledge of his former fleet and shares this passion through showing his vintage Bedford VAL coach at local rallies. His son Daniel is also involved in the company as Engineering Manager.

Jacob (DLZ 822), Harvey (HV20 HRV), Oliver (OC21 SAN), Lily (LL71 SHA), Edward (ED22 WRD), Phoebe (PC23 SAN), Evie (EC23 SHA) and Mabel (MA75 BEL)
All of the above are the grandchildren of Charles with Jacob, Harvey and Phoebe being Martin's children. 

Jack (DLZ 844), Shelby Anne (SA71 SAN), Erin Daisy (ED23 SAN) and April Dawn (AD26SAN)
The above are the grandchildren of Paul with Jack and Shelby being Daniel's children. 

Summer (WSV 503), Scarlett (354 TRT), Halle (YVJ 677) 
Here come the girls!  Summer, Scarlett and Halle are the nieces of Charles and cousins to Martin (albeit roughly 20 years younger than Martin!).

Oscar (6542 FN), Ruby (537 FN), Alfie (536 FN), Amelia (538 FN) and Rory (NW24SAN)
Oscar, Rory, Ruby, Alfie and Amelia are the great grandchildren of Norman and Gladys, grandchildren to Valerie Ann Ridley and grand-nieces and nephews to Paul and Charles.

Helen Marjorie Sanders (HM24 SAN)
Helen is Charles and Paul's younger sister. She too is involved in the family business, having once played a large part in our former coach holiday operation and looking after the travel shops. She is a well known face on our driving team and a much loved member of the team at our North Walsham depot.

Valerie Anne Ridley (VA24 VAR)
Valerie is Charles and Paul's older sister, Norman and Gladys' oldest child. 

Ken Sanders (KF74 SAN)
"Uncle Ken" assisted Norman in the early days of Sanders Coaches in 1975 by loaning him money for working capital to ensure the staff wages could be paid. Ken was always fun to be around and there was never a dull moment when in his company.

Charlie Pittuck (W30 SCL)
The first employee of Sanders Coaches Ltd, Paul and Charles' grandfather. Charlie was our seat upholsterer, repairing and re-covering the seats of the many Bedford coaches which were a staple in the fleet during the 1970s and 1980s.

Annie Elizabeth (AV72 VKT)
Annie was founder Norman's mother. 

Nanny Pam (PD24 NAN)
The infamous Nanny Pam. Paul's mother in law and Daniel's Nan, Nanny Pam is always about and has been known to bake delicious treats for the staff! 

Marjorie Olvie Thompson (YX63 LJA) and Gerald Henry Thompson (LX63 LJC) 
Gladys' sister Marjorie and  her husband Gerald's names can be found on this pair of Ex Nottingham City transport buses often found running the number 9 service between Sheringham and Fakenham. 

Cassian Christopher (CA25 SAN)
Cassian was one of the winners of our 2024 'name our bus' competition, which asked for nominations of inspirational and interesting people or community champions in our local area. Cassian's grandfather Christopher sadly passed away having suffered with leukaemia. He was a community man, serving on the parish council and always advocating for good causes in his local area. His grandson Cassian is a big fan of our our yellow buses, spotting them on his way to nursery near our depot. Cassian's family use the naming of the coach to raise awareness of stem cell donations in the UK, which are essential for combatting blood cancers. You can find out more about Cassian's story here.

Bev Coleman (W26 SCL)
Another winner of our 'name our bus' competition, Bev was one of two local Community First Responders who we received a nomination for. Bev moved to Sheringham in 2020 with her husband Richard, she wanted to contribute to the community so straight away signed up as a first responder. She mostly covers Sheringham and Cromer but is prepared to be called out outside her area, volunteering around 2000 hours on call each year.

Paul Wooster (W27 SCL)
Paul was a second Community First Responder nominated as part of our 'name our bus' competition, he has served as a first responder for over ten years and attended thousands of call outs. He is on call almost every day, attending call outs all over North Norfolk.

Tony Shipp (X40 BUS)
Tony Shipp received multiple nominations as part of our 'name our bus' competition, having dedicated 50 years to leading the internationally renowned Cromer Carnival. His contribution to the carnival has brought millions of people together over the last fifty years, putting the seaside town on the map and injecting unprecedented sums of money into local tourism. Tony's bus is a regular on our X44 service, passing through Cromer multiple times a day seven days a week.

Stephen Purkiss (BU74 YVC)
Stephen is a great friend to many of us at Sanders Coaches Ltd. He is an avid bus enthusiast with thousands of photographs of buses documenting North Norfolk's network from Eastern Counties through to the modern day. His intricate knowledge of local history and interesting stories makes him a fantastic gentleman to be around. Stephen has been a huge help to our business, providing imagery for our printed and online marketing. You can view his extensive photo album here. 

Timothy John Hignett (TJ24 TJH)
Tim was a local family man and businessman who ran an accountancy practice in Cromer for many years, the business continues to thrive with his children Emma and David at the helm. Tim sadly passed away in 2023 and a bus was named after him in his honour. His grandchildren Tobias, Oliver, Millie and Charlie all love to look for 'Grandads bus' when out and about in Sheringham. 

Ernie Howes (BV23 NNZ)
Ernie was a bus driver at our Fakenham outstation for many years. He regularly drove the local bus services in the town and was a well known character. Today, his name is proudly adorned on our bus that regularly works Fakenham town services 26, 27 and 28.

Ray Watts (W14 SCL)
Ray was one of our earlier employees and worked for the Company for a significant number of years being a loyal and very reliable employee.

Joe Cook (BV72 KKC)
"Cookie" drove buses in North Norfolk since the age of 18, initially for Eastern Counties before moving to Sanders Coaches Ltd. when Holt outstation closed. Joe worked for us until his mid-eighties, helping with morning runout each day. He was a cheeky character with plenty of jokes. Sadly, Joe passed away in Summer 2023.

Roger Parker (BV72 KKA)
Roger Parker was a very loyal, long service coach driver. He was a well respected member of the driving team who served with dedication to our customers.

Martin Wise (BV72 KKD)
Martin Wise was a fantastic, loyal employee of Sanders Coaches Ltd. who sadly passed away in 2022 following a long battle with cancer. He looked after our Operations team and was a great support to all of our drivers. His name is proudly displayed on one of our X55 buses.

Brian Billman (BV72 KKB)
Brian has lead our engineering department at North Walsham depot since the takeover of Crescent Coaches. He is a very skilled engineer with a traditional mindset. Brian retired in 2024 but continued as a school minibus driver with us.

Mik Godfrey (3990 ME)
Mik was a loyal and committed coach driver at Sanders Coaches. He served the company with an impeccable record for many years and was a well known and well respected driver to our customers.

Lauren Hemp (M20 FX0)
Named in recognition of our local Lioness, Lauren Hemp (No.11), part of the England Women's football team who lead the country to victory at the 2022 and 2025 UEFA Women's Championships. Lauren is an inspiration to many young girls and is a big supporter of local community football groups. Lauren's bus was unveiled in North Walsham Market Place in 2025 as part of her homecoming celebrations and carries her signature on the front!

Anna Sewell (M80 FX0)
Named after well known children's author, Anna Sewell, best known for "Black Beauty". Anna's life can be traced across our North Walsham area bus routes where this bus is regularly found. On 54, you will pass Anna Sewell's house in Old Catton, the Sewell Family Memorial Trough near Constitution Hill, the barn near Sewell Park Academy which was said to house the horse which inspired Black Beauty and her gravestone on the wall of the former Quaker Hall in Lammas. On X6, as you approach Great Yarmouth Town Centre, look out for Anna Sewell's Birthplace, the charming house on Church Plain.

Colin Seal (BU75WNH)
Colin Seal is a local artist based in Sheringham who contributes so much to the local community. Many of Colin's fantastic painted murals can be found in and around Sheringham, including Station Approach Bus Shelter, the museum and the sea wall. Interestingly, Colin spent part of his career signwriting buses in the United States of America - including painting buses at Disneyland!

Tornado (WX06 JYA)
A nod to its past, this bus carried the name Tornado when new to Thamesdown Transport (Swindon) in 2006. Having been purchased only as a temporary addition to the fleet whilst we waited for delivery of two brand new buses, she was so popular among the drivers that we decided to keep her in daily service. The 'Tornado' name plate is even replicated exactly as it was when new in 2006. Photo copyright Michael Wadman

Delia Smith (DS25 NCH) and Michael Wynn-Jones (NO25 MWJ)
New in 2025, our pair of Yutong GT12 executive coaches honour the huge contribution of Delia and Michael to Norwich City Football Club and recognise on our 50th Anniversary our long time sponsorship and support of Norwich City Football Club.

Athos (YN06 JWC), Aramis (YN06 JWF) and Porthos (YN06 JWP)
This trio of Scania double deckers were purchased in a trio from Reading Buses. It was only fitting that they gained the names of The Three Musketeers of the French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas.

Apollo (YN54 AFU), Neptune (YN54 AFV) and Oceanus (YN53 CFF)
Our three 2004 Scania double deckers carry three well known names from Greek classical mythology. The buses have been a staple on our X44 service for over ten years, but mostly spend their time on school duties nowadays.

Norfolk Adventurer (BV21 OOA), Norfolk Rambler (BV21 OOB), Norfolk Explorer (BV21 OOC), Norfolk Discover (BV21 OOD), Norfolk Wanderer (BV22 HBN), Norfolk Pathfinder (BV22 HBO), Norfolk Voyager (BP24 GWW) and Norfolk Roamer (BP24 GWX)
Our small, nimble, environmentally friendly Coasthopper buses have the proud job of showing visitors and tourists the beautiful North Norfolk Coast all year round on our CH1 and CH2 services. Each bus has a fitting name with a nod towards the fantastic adventures and explorations which can be made upon Coasthopper.

Norfolk Harnser (SW63 TAV), Norfolk Wherry (BV23 NUU) and Norfolk Broadsman (BV23 NUW)
This trio of buses are primarily used on our 6/6A/X6 services, which span the Norfolk Broads from Cromer right the way through to Great Yarmouth - passing many locations where the iconic Norfolk Wherry vessels would have once been commonplace.

Norwich Castle (SC25 NCH) and Norwich Cathedral (NC25 NCH) 
This duo of buses were purchased following the completion of our new depot in Norwich and were therefore chosen to adorn the names of these Norwich landmarks.