Hold Tight! The story of a sixteen year journey.
If you enjoyed the story,
why not visit my
Bus Museum
A bus conductor's
collection.
 
 
 
A bus conductor's memories
Beginnings
Chapter 1
Beginnings
 
Learning
Chapter 2
Learning
 
Getting Away
Chapter 3
Getting Away
 
Winchester
Chapter 4
Winchester
Freedom
Chapter 5
Freedom
 
Southampton
Chapter 6
Southampton
 
City Transport
Chapter 7
City Transport
 
Links
Related
Links
 
In September 1967, at the age of 18, I found myself desperately looking for work for the second time that year and for the fourth time since leaving school in 1965.
With no qualifications and no career path, with parents who would not support me, I decided that I would try to get a job as a postman, at least temporarily.
In the event, I ended up in the bus station and without thinking I asked if they had any vacancies.
This random act would change my life completely.
This is the story of my journey, a journey which took me to new places and introduced me to new experiences. A journey which made me a very different person.
Like a lot of people, I went 'on the buses' while I sorted out a proper job. Like a lot of people, I stayed much longer than intended.
A busman's life wasn't all fun but there was something about the job which was different, something which made it almost addictive.
Above all, it allowed me to break free and grow. For this it became one of the most important periods of my life.
Click on a chapter above or on a page below to go there
Ch.1 - Beginnings
01 - Introduction
02 - Dedication
03 - No son of ours
04 - Wrong number
05 - All change
06 - Sign this, fill that
Ch. 2 - Learning
07 - First day
08 - Getting started
09 - On my own
10 - You with me?
11 - Perks of the job
12 - Winchester fleet
Ch. 3 - Getting Away
13 - Holiday time
14 - Train CB
15 - Luzern
16 - Four cantons
17 - Getting home
 
Ch. 4 - Winchester
18 - Fare game?
19 - Ten bob fiddler
20 - Back to front
21 - Fareham tales
22 - Baby blues
23 - Winter blues
24 - Double trouble
25 - Bus companies
26 - Get lost
27 - Time to move
Ch. 5 - Freedom
28 - A new start
29 - Bus station
30 - The NBC
31 - Renumbering
32 - Europe à la carte
33 - Favourite places
34 - Touring
 
Ch. 6 - Southampton
35 - Fans
36 - Smash hits
37 - New money
38 - Eastleigh
39 - Tight squeeze
40 - Romsey
41 - Hythe
42 - Holy city
43 - Docks tours
44 - Fawley & Calshot
45 - Kids and animals
46 - Hot stuff
47 - Police, stop
48 - Flic storys
49 - Specials
50 - Just sack me!
51 - Machine wars
52 - Not funny
53 - Borrowing
54 - Demon drink
55 - One for the road
56 - Disputes
 
Ch. 7 - City Transport
57 - A different world
58 - Portswood
59 - Decisions
60 - Home and away
61 - Shirley routes
62 - Football
63 - Emergencies
64 - Centenary
65 - Driving school
66 - End of the road
Links
A list of the links
in Hold Tight!
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright
© Bob Mockford
2005
This story is also available in pdf format for viewing or printing:
Click here to select a version with page numbering to match that shown in pdf viewers, to make navigation easier.
This version is designed for viewing in a browser or pdf reader.
Click here to select a version with page numbering suitable for a printed copy. The pages are sized for A5 paper.
The printed version is designed for pages to be printed back to back.
www.bob-mockford.co.uk - the home of
Bob Mockford Online
 
Home Top of the Page Page 1 >>