Justin Tomlinson MP & Paul Jenkins, Managing Director of Thamesdown Transport
Swindon’s bus company, Thamesdown Transport, is urging people to take a journey down memory lane and win free unlimited transport on its town services for a year.
Perhaps you found your soul mate as your eyes met across the aisle on the number 11, you took a telephone call on the number 17 that changed your life, or you just have happy memories of school journeys and frantically finishing your homework as the bus rounded that last corner. Whatever your memory, Thamesdown Transport wants to hear your ‘Bus Story’.
The best memory will win an annual Thamesdown travel pass – and the winner can choose to keep the prize for themselves or pass it on to a friend or family member who regularly uses the buses.
Paul Jenkins, managing director of Thamesdown Transport, commented: “Bus journeys can evoke some strong memories for all of us.
“My favourite bus memory is riding around a trading estate in Slough in the ‘80s on an open-top bus with Russell Grant and a choir. He was being filmed for breakfast TV and they were looking for a ‘different’ location – they certainly got that.
“I would encourage people to tell us their favourite memory and be in for a chance to win a year’s free travel.”
Stories can be emailed to busmemories@voxonline.co.ukor posted to Bus Memories, Vox PR, 3 Little London Court, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 3HY. The closing date for entries is 12pm on Friday 17 December.
Additional memories
Dave King, editor of the Swindon Advertiser
“My personal bus memory is riding one of the old London Transport double decker buses from the family home in Northolt, Middlesex. I can still remember the pitch of the bell, the throaty sound of the diesel engine and the sound of the conductor's ticket machine making a whirring noise as it dispensed the paper ticket. Ah, those were the days!”
Justin Tomlinson, Conservative MP for Swindon North
“One of my earliest memories was climbing right to the front on the top deck of a double decker bus in Birmingham with my late Grandma on route to the Birmingham Science Museum. The view was amazing, and I was convinced sat in that lofty position I was able to actually drive the bus – a proud moment indeed!”
Rod Bluh, Leader of Swindon Borough Council
“I have very happy memories of a bus journey from my Grandma’s house in Horndean near Portsmouth, to Southsea, a journey of about an hour. I used to regularly make this trip during the school summer holidays for quite a few years.
“In particular, I would always trying to sit upstairs on the double decker at the very front - didn’t we all - and the most memorable part of the journey was coming over a large hill into Southsea, where the view was amazing and never failed to thrill.”
Robert Buckland, Conservative MP for Swindon South
“My favourite bus memories have to relate to my childhood, and in particular to journeys with my grandmother on the bus from my home town of Llanelli to nearby Swansea or Carmarthen during the school holidays.
“They were usually frequent stop services, which meant a longer journey but also more of a chance to see the world about me, albeit only a few miles from my home. Buses were always important in my family; my grandfather had been a manager at the South Wales Transport bus depot in Swansea from the 1930s through to the 1960s.”