Whilst grateful for recent comments about - or links which involve buses, I have to confess to being somewhat of a fraud for adopting Omnibusologist as my username on the internet; because, although interested in buses (see left) and have made a living driving them - it would be wrong to assume that I'm an avid enthusiast or (as they are known in the industry) a bus-nut.
How I came to choose the username, by the way, is quite interesting and is explained on my Home page; and how I came to become a bus driver is equally - if not more - interesting...............
How I came to choose the username, by the way, is quite interesting and is explained on my Home page; and how I came to become a bus driver is equally - if not more - interesting...............
It happened a couple of years after I completed my National Service and at a time when being self-employed seemed attractive; so, having been quite well-qualified in the army, I reckoned that becoming a driving instructor might be a sensible option. However, after a few rejections, one of the driving school proprietors - as a gentle put-down, in my opinion - suggested that, had I possessed some sort of a civilian qualification (such as a HGV drivers license) he might have offered me a position.
In the event, a local bus company was looking for drivers and offering Public Service Vehicle driving instruction at no expense to the trainees. So, taking advantage of the situation - and in a Leyland double-decker bus (see model right) - I quite quickly became the proud holder of a PSV license and was offered a job by the company.
Nowadays, drivers who have been trained at the expense of the bus operators are required to remain with the company for a certain length of time and if they leave within that period, they must repay the instruction costs. In 1961, however, that was not the case; so, after six months - or so - I returned to the aforementioned driving school proprietor, proudly showed him my PSV licence, and invited him to employ me; which he did!
I remained a driving instructor for seven years and have since tried my hand at various occupations before (having had the good sense to keep renewing my license) returning to public transport in 1989 and, after retiring, continued to be involved with buses in a part-time capacity.
Nowadays, drivers who have been trained at the expense of the bus operators are required to remain with the company for a certain length of time and if they leave within that period, they must repay the instruction costs. In 1961, however, that was not the case; so, after six months - or so - I returned to the aforementioned driving school proprietor, proudly showed him my PSV licence, and invited him to employ me; which he did!
I remained a driving instructor for seven years and have since tried my hand at various occupations before (having had the good sense to keep renewing my license) returning to public transport in 1989 and, after retiring, continued to be involved with buses in a part-time capacity.
