THE last day of services as an independent operator brought a familiary problem for the management of borough-based Ensign buses.

The company has been sold to the national First Vus company, which takes over the reins tomorrow (Friday, 10 March).

Ensign had to announce this morning that it was rerouting buses on the 33 route because of parents parking badly and blocking the roads as they dropped their children off at Chafford Hundred schools.

A Tweet from the company said: "Due to EVERY parent driving EVERY child to the Chafford schools and causing standstill traffic, we are currently unable to serve Lancaster Road / Mayflower Road in BOTH directions.

"Buses are being rerouted".

It would not have been the way the Newman family that have run the company for 50 years would have liked to be remembered, so Thurrock Nub News would like to point you in the direction of a heartfelt tribute to them and the company.

It's written on the Bus and Train User website published by Roger French.

He writes: "Today is a rather special occasion, being the very last day of an independently owned Ensignbus before midnight's takeover by First Bus

Peter Newman.

"The Newman family, that's Dad Peter and sons Steve and Ross, have been at the helm throughout the last five decades making the business and its values synonymous with their own.

"That's why it was always a pleasure to travel on the Ensignbus network of routes across Thurrock just as it was to meet up and chat with the family. "The former would always provide a quality operation with passenger considerations being top priority while the latter always demonstrated their only mission was to give passengers the best possible service."

You can read Roger's words and lengthy appraisal of Ensign's history via this link.

Ross thanked Mr French for his words of appreciation, saying: "There had to be a last day at some stage and we wanted it to be at a time of our choosing and with all three of us together. Doesn't make it any easier though ."