RH1 (C501DYM) was built in April 1986 and for the launch of the new Orpington bus network in Summer 1986.  RH1 "Kestrel" was one of 24 Iveco Daily 49-10 midibuses with Robin Hood bodies ordered for the new ROUNDABOUT network working out of Orpington (OB) garage.

RH1 at The Rose & Crown, Green Street Green on the first day of Roundabout (c) Unknown

RH1 parked at OB, Roundabout's depot in 1994 (c) Tom Gurney

In 1994, Roundabout was privatised and as part of the purchase of Selkent, RH1 found herself owned by Stagecoach, but still working at OB.  RH1 was one of three which carried coach seating.  It is believed RH1 was the first bus into service with Roundabout, and she was also the last bus into OB performing the last journey of Roundabout in the early hours of 2nd December 1995, when Roundabout closed its doors as a result of tender losses to Centrewest.

RH1 was stored at Catford garage initially pending sale by Stagecoach Selkent, and then sold for preservation to Austin Blackburn (former Roundabout Workshop Foreman) in early 1996.  In 1998, RH1 was on long term loan to Southlands Travel of Swanley and painted in their yellow/blue/white livery, used on their bus and private hire work.  Sadly, she suffered some vandalism and a change of owner saw her move to a new home.

In 2010, Tom Gurney (author of ROUNDABOUT: Orpington's little buses) contacted her owner to see how progress was going with the preservation of RH1. The bus was cleaned and washed down and the intention was to get the bus roadworthy in time for Tom's book launch in August 2010.  Sadly, this was not the case, but Tom still regularly visited to help.  Sadly, in March 2011, RH1 was yet subject to another spate of vandalism, this time the front windscreen.  It was then felt that the bus should be taken to a more secure and hidden location, and Tom Gurney bought RH1 in April 2011.

Restoration progress has proceeded well, and something of a small scale "Aldenham rebuild" is taking place.  The body panels have been lifted and new body frame constructed, the cab floor has been cut away and replaced with new welded flooring and wheelarches.  It is hoped RH1 will be able to go for MOT during 2012 - let's keep our fingers crossed!

RH1, shortly after acquisition (c) Tom Gurney

Restoration work is underway! (c) Tom Gurney