Post-NBC South Midland Rides Again in Oxford

 Having been sold off and severed from the clutches of the NBC most operators were quick to adopt or modify their liveries to exclaim that air of freedom and independence. Whereas City of Oxford was an exception and clung onto NBC poppy red for some time afterwards it's hived off country area now using the once familiar local coach title South Midland  initially adopted the dark red and cream too before going for something a lot more racy even 'jazzy'. Most of us bus enthusiasts of a certain age probably preferred  them like this.which showed sympathy for the rather elegant lines of the ECW body on this Bristol VR AUD464R 631. City of Oxford had been part of the huge private BET and as South Midland was part of the nationalised BTC it had come under the arm of Thames Valley in Reading but was based in Oxford.