Page 54 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

My eyes were diverted for just a second or two and in that instant a double decker bus had
decided to stop directly in front!

Rapid stamping on my brakes
resulted in my truck dipping forwards
and the two steel support rods of the
auger ending poked through the
back of the double deck bus just
below the rotary sign that tells you
where it is going!
I did manage to stop before the rods
went in too far, that is into the seats!
As the truck rocked back on its
suspension, the two rods
reappeared and left two “staring
eyes” dead centre in the bus body
just a short distance below the rotary signboard.
The driver appeared and looked somewhat bewildered.
“Well I never did!” he exclaimed, “nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Perhaps his exact words were somewhat more colourful!
The auger did not seem to have sustained any damage and the bus driver was somewhat
amused.
There were two beautifully symmetrical holes close to where his vehicle number was
painted and nothing else to see.

AT THE BUS DEPOT
The bus depot was on route for both of us and we called in, complete with a bus loaded
with amused passengers. Together we confront his supervisor.

Disbelief and baffled would possibly describe his reaction.
I left my details and went on my way closely followed by the bus that decided to let me go
ahead this time!

The fact that I did know the local bus supervisor personally was a coincidence.
He and his good lady wife had been lodgers with my grandmother at 129 London Road (just
opposite the local bus depot) for several months just after they had been married in the 1960's and
Geoff was, in those early days a driver for the bus company.

I don’t think I ever heard anything else about this incident, perhaps it was too far fetched
for even a bus company management to believe?

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