4515 Wrightbus Wright Renown

Affectionately known as ‘Dafty’ was the final vehicle in a batch of 15, 5-speed ZF Ecomat geared, 9.6L DH10A engine Volvo B10BLE Wright Renowns ordered by Arriva in 1999.

Delivered in Arriva’s ‘Cotswold Stone’ livery, the vehicle spent most of its working life based in the Northeast operating routes around Newcastle and Northumbria. In late 2012 Dafty was repainted into the new ‘Interurban’ livery, with a refurbished interior and roller blinds replaced with Hanover LED destination displays.

Along with the rest of the Arriva Northeast B10BLEs, Dafty was withdrawn in 2016 and sold to Morton’s of Reading. Before entering service, the vehicle was refurbished once again, gaining new LED headlights, Wi-Fi, USB charging, a new livery, and a new registration (R27 RED).

In 2021 Morton’s sold Dafty to Blackpool Coach Hire where it was used on long distance school services and private hire work.

Entering preservation in 2024 when Blackpool Coach Hire ceased operation, Dafty is believed to be the only surviving Arriva Volvo B10BLE. Re-registered once again as ‘B10 WBP’, Dafty was used as our show bus in the first iteration of our livery. Dafty has since been returned to as close to original condition as possible and has recently been repainted back into the ‘Cotswold Stone’ livery, as well as regaining its original registration of ‘V515 DFT’.