AN ICONIC bus has come full circle after returning to the pub which sponsored its World tour.

The bus returned to The Elms pub, in Leigh, on Tuesday - 50 years after its tour around the world, which the pub sponsored.

The tour took the seven “Essex Boys” around America, India, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

The beloved bus had been restored by the Lincolnshire veteran vehicle society over the past few years, after being vandalised in Southend.

Ron Sverdloff, 76, and Ken Wilkinson, 75, from Southend, who were part of the two year tour, told the Echo that the bus received a huge cheer when it pulled into the pub car park.

Mr Sverdloff, who was the chief navigator throughout the tour, said: “It went down really well.

“The euphoria was amazing. It was similar to how we felt when we finished the tour in August 1969.

“We never thought the bus would come back to the Elms.”

Both recounted tales of their tour, with the pair speaking of stories during their time in Australia.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Our mechanic, Tony, was able to fix a car which had broken down in front of us.

“The driver was beside himself.

“He demanded that he paid us. We refused but at the next service station he paid for our petrol, beers, and showers.

“He even met us in Perth and his family put on a spread for us. It was superb.

“Everyone’s support along the route was amazing.”

Mr Sverdloff also told of how the bus crew saved a man from dehydration in the Australian outback.

He said: “It was their rainy season. The lorry was bogged down.

“The driver had no clean water. He was drinking the dirty water which had collected on the roads.

“We had been sponsored by Schweppes in Australia so we were able to give him crates of lemonade and ginger beer.

“I don’t know what he must have thought when he saw a bus with Schweppes on the front of it coming towards him!”

To find out more, visit http://essexbusboys.com/.