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When I came home in 1950, after 18 months in the Army, I certainly didn't feel like returning to the mill so I looked around and saw that Darwen Transport was looking for staff as bus conductors. Well, it seemed all right as a stepping-stone until something better cropped up, and although it was unsociable hours, the uniform looked quite smart, so I applied for the job and was successful.
It wasn't unlike the Army, as the manager, a Mr. Beckett, (although I doubt if he did any war service himself,) certainly ruled his staff like an army. You had to be smart, wear a tie, wear a hat, and clean your shoes and so on. Well that was no problem to me, coming straight from the discipline of the forces.
Another reason for joining the buses was that I was allowed time off for my compulsory Territorial Army Service. Perhaps I'd better explain. Those men who only served in the forces for 18 months had a further 4 years TA service to do to complete their commitment. I wasn't aware of this when I joined in the first place otherwise I might not have been so hasty in joining
The TA service consisted of one weekly parade at Canterbury Street Barracks in Blackburn and two weeks full-time training which could be anywhere in the country.
The most memorable two weeks were when we were on manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain. I recall being the signaller during the daytime and a driver during the night. I remember one evening sleeping in the cab of this 5-ton Bedford truck and waking up suddenly to see lights going away from me and thinking I was being left behind.
I started the truck and set off, only to hear a loud shout. On braking suddenly, I felt a bump and looking down, found that I had run over the commanding officer's motorcycle. Those are moments one does not ever forget. Fortunately, the C.O. was very understanding.
Back to the buses again. One good thing about that job was that I was taught to drive, and actually passed my driving test on a Leyland double decker bus that had a crash gearbox. That was really driving, especially on the Tockholes route. Very narrow roads and very steep hills. It's not much different now, only the hills have been levelled out a bit.
It's surprising what things come back to you when you are jotting down memories. I remember one winter taking a full load of women (that's 65 including 8 standing) to Carus's Mill at Hoddlesden and it was very icy.
Well, the terminus was in Hoddlesden village near the memorial and that part of the road didn't have tarmac. It was constructed of old stone sets and was covered in black ice. As soon as the bus touched the sets it started turning rather quickly and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Fortunately, the bus stopped almost against the railings, and when I looked round, the eight previously standing passengers were in a heap on the floor of the bus showing their next week's washing. Luckily, no one was hurt and they all had a good laugh.
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