D
daimlerman
Guest
During the summer of '69 i started work as an Apprentice at Miller st bus garage. My heart sank when i was placed in the light car garage oiling Austin cambridges and ford Anglias..After a few weeks i asked the garage Superintendant, (Mr Connington i think), if i could work with the buses.
I clearly remember the old boys who did a pristine job in there: Namely, Reg lucas, Ron Griffiths, Norman Weston and a formidable Foreman, Reg Curry, also a lovely old service man, Arthur poppleton. At only 15yrs I knew everything about buses, (nothing in fact)! I learned some pretty tough disciplins in there and some of the practices and proceedures still hold true today, nearly 40 yrs on, Such as cleaning and looking after tools, thinking about safety and above all, LISTENING and WATCHING..
Many years have passed and after a couple of carreer changes, including the Police service (retired) and now working within the Department for Transport, i still retain some fond memories of Miller street and a couple of not so fond ones, Like the time Ron griffiths Slammed his fist down on my sarnies. I must have really peed him of at times but i would still like to thank him for his efforts in trying to instill some sort of interest in the job. Since then i have had many a young upstart under my wing and i have to say Ron, the smashing of sarnies always works,ha!
I can also remember working with Reg Lucas who said " hop in the cab son, select 1st, And DONT be soft with the gear pedal" well, i was and it kicked back trapping my little leg under the steering wheel...And Norman Weston? well, he taught me never to give up on a task.. "You will stand down the pit and thump those brake drums with a 4 stone dolly until they come off" goo-on son, goo-on, you can do it"...Groan.. Great days. I wonder if the modern apprentice is put through such torture. The probably do it with a lap-top computor now.
I sincerely hope those old boys are still alive and kicking.
I clearly remember the old boys who did a pristine job in there: Namely, Reg lucas, Ron Griffiths, Norman Weston and a formidable Foreman, Reg Curry, also a lovely old service man, Arthur poppleton. At only 15yrs I knew everything about buses, (nothing in fact)! I learned some pretty tough disciplins in there and some of the practices and proceedures still hold true today, nearly 40 yrs on, Such as cleaning and looking after tools, thinking about safety and above all, LISTENING and WATCHING..
Many years have passed and after a couple of carreer changes, including the Police service (retired) and now working within the Department for Transport, i still retain some fond memories of Miller street and a couple of not so fond ones, Like the time Ron griffiths Slammed his fist down on my sarnies. I must have really peed him of at times but i would still like to thank him for his efforts in trying to instill some sort of interest in the job. Since then i have had many a young upstart under my wing and i have to say Ron, the smashing of sarnies always works,ha!
I can also remember working with Reg Lucas who said " hop in the cab son, select 1st, And DONT be soft with the gear pedal" well, i was and it kicked back trapping my little leg under the steering wheel...And Norman Weston? well, he taught me never to give up on a task.. "You will stand down the pit and thump those brake drums with a 4 stone dolly until they come off" goo-on son, goo-on, you can do it"...Groan.. Great days. I wonder if the modern apprentice is put through such torture. The probably do it with a lap-top computor now.
I sincerely hope those old boys are still alive and kicking.