Bus Talk - Issue 29 - August 2014

Issue 29 • August 2014

Stockwell Open Day special Stockwell driver and family enjoy day of fun – see pages 5 to 8

In this issue

Last chance to win fab Fiat car!

Page 9

Arulia Janakanishanthan with wife Prescale, left, and Croydon staff manager Joanne Keane.

Bus Awards joy for driver Arulia

T Cadets follow in footsteps of the fallen Page 11

Karl just keeps on collecting Page 12 2

he London Bus Awards took place on June 12 at the Riverbank Park Plaza, Vauxhall, hosted by Transport for London Managing Director, Surface Transport, Leon Daniels and London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark, Valerie Shawcross.

The event had a Year of the Bus theme which is not only about celebrating the past but also about recognising the massive contribution buses make to our city today and thanking everyone involved in making our bus network one of the best in the world.

Leon Daniels gave a heartfelt thank-you to staff, paying particular attention to those on

the frontline, drivers; who help a staggering 6.5 million people get to their destinations each workday.

For the second year in a row, Go-Ahead London won the award for outstanding newcomer with Arulia Janakanishanthan from Croydon taking the prize Commenting on his win, Arulia, who has worked as a driver for just under two years, said, “I am extremely pleased with this achievement. I really enjoy my job and I am grateful that my efforts have been noticed.

Thank you for the support and encouragement from the team at Croydon. I really appreciate it.”

‘Captain’ Rick reviews his troops lots of experience in GETTING to know all of the all different aspects of staff at Northumberland engineering, working on Park is one of new everything from small engineering manager Rick generators to tanks!”

Weller’s top priorities.

Over the past few weeks, Rick joined Go-Ahead Rick has been getting to London in September last know the systems in place year as an engineering at Northumberland Park training instructor before as well as the garage itself taking up his current and its contractors. position in June.

“I am really loving my Before joining the time here so far. We have company, he worked as been really busy, but I have engineering manager for London Gateway container New engineering thoroughly enjoyed getting port. He was also in the manager Rick Weller. my teeth into the job,” said Rick “Over the next army for 26 years, serving few weeks and months, I will be getting in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and rising to the rank of captain. to know my staff as well as focusing on building and strengthening the relationship “All in all, I have worked in engineering between operations and engineering.” for almost 30 years,” said Rick. “I have

Top-flight service

T

he Farnborough Airshow is an exciting, fun, colourful and informative event aimed at all of the family.

Go-Ahead London has provided transport to the bi-annual event for over 20 years and a wealth of planning and organising is required from our commercial team at head office which begins 18 months in advance to ensure that visitors get to the airshow comfortably and on time.

2014's event saw an increase in executive ticket sales and equally pleasing was the commendation received from one of our executive service customers who wrote in to thank Go-Ahead London for providing such a prompt and professional service; repeat business was also promised.

Over 70 duties were covered on public days with drivers from various garages including Putney, Merton, Croydon and Orpington. We also provided an executive coach service departing from Heathrow with vehicles hired from Volvo driven by staff on the commercial panel.

Staff working on this event find it interesting and even more so if they have

Go-Ahead London earns its wings as transport provider to airshow for over 20 years an interest in aircraft.

With buses and coaches departing from Heathrow and Gatwick Airports; as well as stops in Central London including King’s Cross, Marble Arch and Earls Court, drivers are faced with an array of customers and varying traffic conditions which are always handled professionally.

As with all major commercial events, there are times when quick thinking and teamwork plays a big part in keeping things running smoothly.

This was the case when 5,000 children were dropped off at Queens Parade, Farnborough at short notice.

Additional buses were required to deal with the crowds and this was arranged, implemented and dealt with swiftly.

Further problems arose when one of the car parks became waterlogged as a result of torrential rain. A diversion was

swiftly implemented by on-site managers Nigel Wood and Tony Bull.

Good communication and teamwork meant that diverting buses to a different section of the site caused no disruption or upset to our passengers.

Commercial Manager Colin Farrant said: “I was delighted to be part of one of the best Farnborough International Airshow operations we have been involved with; all of our staff performed brilliantly. I have spoken to the organisers who have expressed their thanks to GoAhead London and in particular those who formed part of our on-site team at Farnborough. It is always an extremely hectic week and we should all be proud of what was achieved.”

An increase in all sales – cash, credit card and pre-booked helped to make this event a resounding success.

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Tender Fast-acting Dave NEWS saves baby’s life from across the capital IN OUR regular column, we highlight recent announcements made by Transport for London. All are retentions unless stated otherwise.

Abellio London n Route 407 (Sutton to Caterham), using new hybrid single and double-deck vehicles (13 PVR). Contract begins on November 1, 2014. n Route 350 (Heathrow Terminal 5 to Hayes and Harlington Station), using new hybrid double-deck vehicles (8 PVR). Contract begins on March 21, 2015.

Arriva London North n Route 102/N102 (Edmonton Green to Golders Green), using existing double-deck vehicles (23 PVR). Contract begins on November 8, 2014.

Metroline n Route 34 (Walthamstow Central Station to Barnet Church), won from Arriva London North. Contract begins on November 8, 2014, using double-deck buses (22 PVR). n Route 125 (Winchmore Hill to Finchley Central Station), won from Arriva London North. Contract begins on January 31, 2015, using double-deck vehicles (13 PVR). n Route 234 (Highgate Wood to Barnet).

Contract begins on January 31, 2015, using existing single-deck vehicles (9 PVR). n Route 282 (Ealing Hospital to Mount Vernon Hospital). Contract begins on March 7, 2015, using existing double-deck vehicles (16 PVR). n Route 482 (Heathrow Terminal 5 to Southall), won from London United. Contract begins on March 21, 2015, using existing double-deck vehicles (8 PVR).

Stagecoach n Route 323 (Canning Town to Mile End Station). Contract begins on January 10, 2015, using new and existing single-deck vehicles (4 PVR).

Tower Transit n Route 212 (Walthamstow, St James Street Station to Chingford), won from CT Plus. Contract begins on March 7, 2015, using new hybrid double-deck buses (10 PVR). n Route 444 (Turnpike Lane Station to Chingford), won from Arriva London North.

Contract begins on March 7, 2015, using new hybrid single-deck vehicles (10 PVR). n Route 488 (Bromley-by-Bow to Dalston Junction), won from Stagecoach. Contract begins on February 28, 2015, using new single-deck vehicles (10 PVR).

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The enormity of what Dave had done ERTON driver Dave Tanner may didn’t hit him until the paramedics arrived not consider himself a hero, but on the scene. there’s one family out there who “One of them told me if I hadn’t have would beg to differ after he saved their done what I had young son’s life. done the baby Dave was on his would have died, usual 200 route no two ways on June 10 and about it. was about to leave “The whole thing the bus stop at hadn’t phased Atkinson Close me until he said when a car pulled that. And when out in front of him.

I got home and I “A man got saw my little un, out and was it really hit me. screaming and I couldn’t sleep shouting and then that night for a woman got thinking – ‘what out of the back if?’” seat and said: Happily, thanks ‘My baby’s not to Dave, the little breathing.’” boy, 18-monthQuick-thinking old Ethan, is fine.

Dave, who was a And as well as the medic in the army, Merton driver Dave Tanner. family’s eternal immediately put gratitude, he also has the fulsome praise his life-saving skills into action. of his boss.

“I got out of my cab and got the baby “What Dave did was absolutely out of the car – he was was grey and phenomenal,” said Glenn Harper, assistant limp,” said Dave. “I tried doing a couple of operating manager at Merton. “He went back slaps, which didn’t work, so I turned way above and beyond the call of duty.” him over, put my fingers down his throat, But Dave said modestly: “A lot of people looked down and there was a little yellow have said I’m a hero. I was just in the right plastic brick stuck there. place at the right time, though every time “I pulled it out, gave him a couple of I go past where it happened I think – ‘you breaths and he started breathing. He was did well that day.’” fine after that and started crying.”

Winners and losers in latest tendering CONGRATULATIONS to Northumberland Park for winning two new routes in the latest round of Transport for London tendering.

Route 192 from Enfield Town to Tottenham will start operating from the garage on November 8 with a consignment of 14 new hybrid singledeck buses.

From March next year, the garage will also operate the 657 service, from Walthamstow, Crooked Billet to Woodford Wells.

In addition, Bexleyheath garage has won a contract for a short-term shuttle bus to

serve Manor Road in Slade Green while roadworks are taking place. This service began on June 16 and will run until August 30, using one single-deck bus.

Blue Triangle garage has been successful in retaining route 364, which runs between Ilford and Dagenham. The new contract starts from November 1, 2014, and will use the existing 13 singledeck buses. n During this tendering round, Merton’s 201 service, from Morden to Herne Hill, was unfortunately lost to Abellio London, which will take over its operation in October.

Stockwell bus garage Open Day June 21 2014

Celebrating Stockwell and Year of the Bus A

great family day out was had by all at the Open Day held at Stockwell bus garage on Saturday 21 June. An array of visitors showed up on the day with some travelling from as far afield as Manchester!

The interior, which is usually restricted to staff only, was opened up to the public. One little girl with her parents described the building as "amazing", "huge" and "curvy"! Quite apt I must say!

AL I C E P S URE FEAT

The event catered for all and included over 20 stalls selling a selection of model buses, books, timetables, photographs, clothing, videos etc.

There was also a CCTV room on board a bus where visitors had the chance to ask questions and gain an insight into what happens to CCTV footage once they leave the bus. “Interesting and informative�, was the description given by a couple who had just asked a series of questions to the Accident Prevention staff on board.

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Stockwell bus garage Open Day June 21 2014 One of the main interests on the day was the short architectural talks given by a London Transport Museum volunteer Peter Robinson. Peter, who has a wealth of knowledge on the iconic Stockwell building and its roof, spoke from the top deck of an open topper in front of a mesmerised audience.

Fun for the kids did not go amiss as we introduced them to Kiddies Corner where they had the chance to play on Transport

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for London’s bouncy bus and get their face painted into any design requested including bus stops and big red buses!

We also had author of Bradley the Bus, Inderjit Puaar, personally signing books.

Not forgetting everyone’s favourite (some may not admit it), the bus wash!

Virtually every trip, and there were plenty, had a full upper deck with many visitors experiencing this short and rare ride.

Kids and adults alike could not contain

themselves as the sound of the wash hit the bus and soapy water trickled down the windows! Some describing it as "the best 50p they had ever spent", the bus wash trips were very popular with smiles all around.

For the enthusiasts, we had a great display of buses gleaming with pride under the roof. Nobody short of a camera or ipad, it was similar to a red carpet event where photographs and

videos were being taken all day long.

Top favourite was the battle bus which is over 100 years old and took troops to the frontline in the First World War. Known as the B-Type, this bus was restored

by London Transport Museum and we are proud to say that it was unveiled to the public at our open day. Children and adults were overwhelmed and couldn’t wait to be photographed sitting in the front seat or climbing up the steep stairs

to gain a view from the top deck.

The open day, which was busy from start to finish, had a number of Go-Ahead London volunteers who took time out of their weekend to help out and make sure everyone was safe, comfortable and felt welcome. It is testament to their effort that the Stockwell Open Day was successful.

At this event, the chosen charity was Trinity Hospice who have provided free

care for dying people and their families for over 120 years. They are committed to helping people live life to the full and we are proud to have raised ÂŁ4,000 on the day with fees from stallholders, sales from bus wash trips, programmes and donations given to travel on the circular vintage bus trip to Westminster. A cheque was presented to Trinity Hospice by managing director John Trayner. (See page eight for details).

DEREK BARKER, general manager of Stockwell, was overwhelmed by the turnout on the day.

There were thousands bursting to get through the doors when they opened. And they were from all walks of life. I saw teenagers who had come to buy some old bus blinds and were ecstatic when they found them.

It was a great day and the feedback was so positive, I got so many thank-yous.

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Stockwell bus garage Open Day June 21 2014

TfL was full of praise for everyone at Go-Ahead London who worked so hard to put on a great show for visitors to the open day.

TfL’s managing director, surface transport, Leon Daniels, said: “Events like these give the travelling public a closer insight into the dedication and sheer hard work that goes on behind the scenes to keep buses running efficiently and reliably, providing a world-class transport system for a great city."

And now a great day for hospice!

Left: MD John Trayner presents the cheque to Trinity Hospice Chief Executive Dallas Pound, and, above, the caring work the money will help to fund.

AFTER a fantastic open day at Stockwell bus garage to help celebrate Transport for London’s Year of the Bus, managing director John Trayner was delighted to personally present the cheque for £4,000 which we raised to nominated charity, Trinity Hospice.

Chief Executive, Dallas Pound was most grateful for all of the generosity and hard work put in by Go-Ahead London and stated that all funds raised will most definitely benefit the organisation which needs to raise a staggering £7 million each year.

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And the hospice’s corporate fundraiser, Ben Morrison, who attended the open day, revealed how the money will be spent.

“It is due to events like Stockwell Open Day and the generous giving of the public that we are able to provide free, skilled and compassionate end-of-life care to people in central and south west London,” said Ben. “We are so grateful to everyone at GoAhead London and to the visitors who gave so generously.”

The proceeds of the day will go to

support the 80 nurses who provide care for 2,000 patients a year at the hospice in Clapham or in their homes.

“Only a third of our funding comes from the government and we simply wouldn’t exist without the support of local people over the years,” added Ben, who promoted the hospice’s work on a stall at the event.

“I had a really great day out, as I am sure did the families and bus enthusiasts who attended.”

Mulaba grafts to raise slum kids out of poverty

Mark Alleyne with the bus he drove in the cavalcade.

Celebrating 185 years of buses THE day after the successful Stockwell Open Day, was another great day out for GoAhead London at the Regent Street Bus Cavalcade, part of TFL’s ongoing Year of the Bus celebrations.

Camberwell-based driver Mark Alleyne was behind the wheel of a part-electric/partdiesel hybrid bus as it took its place in the cavalcade.

“The bus was chosen because it is one of the newer ones, from 2009/2010. It has seating technology, which tells passengers as they board whether there are seats available upstairs, and destinations technology which tells them where they are on their route, what tube station they are coming up to and whether it is running a good service.”

The cavalcade showcased buses from the past 185 years, which gave Mark, who has been a driver for 12 years, a chance to see what he might have been driving if he had been born in a different era.

“There were Routemasters, which I have driven, but with some of the older ones I was thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind driving that.’”

An important element of the day was the chance for members of the public to sit in the drivers’ seats and see things from their perspective.

“They got to see what we see and realised it is different from what they thought. A lot of them said to me: ‘I used to think bus drivers would purposefully close their doors and drive off when they saw us, but now I realise that they can only see so far.’”

Don't miss your last chance to win this fab car!

A CROYDON driver is bringing hope to hundreds of povertystricken children in his African homeland that is still bearing the scars of a devastating civil war.

When not driving on route T32 around New Addington, Ndjibu Mulaba raises money for the Development Community Centre, a charity he set up to support orphans and the disabled in the Congo.

But ‘Mulaba’, as he is known by colleagues, has made an even more concrete commitment.

From his own pocket, he bought a plot of derelict land at Kingabua, one of the poorest slum districts of Congolese capital Kinshasa, and then rolled up his sleeves and set about building a school in which local children could learn to read and write.

“I grew up in this district and when I returned for a visit and saw the effects of the long and

violent civil war, it gave me great pain, so I felt I had to do something,” said Mulaba.

“I started building the school in 2004, but there’s still much to do. There’s no electricity, so no lighting when it gets dark, and many of the children do not have a desk and have to sit on the floor. If we had a generator, we could do so much more, even get computers.”

Despite the stark facilities, the school is the main centre of learning for the district, with a staff of seven teachers providing an education to 600 children a day.

Mulaba also visits schools in the Croydon area to educate children about drug misuse and other personal health issues.

If you would like to support Mulaba’s work in the Congo, visit developement communitycentre.org

Attentive youngsters during lessons at Mulaba’s school.

Did you know? n £2 a month over a year provides a child with a full education n £5 a month over a year would fund a road to the school n £10 a month over a year would maintain the school, plus pay for equipment such as books, computers and teaching staff.

THIS is your last chance to be entered into the 500 Challenge 2014 – and give yourself a shot at winning a Fiat 500 worth more than £12,000!

To be in with a chance of winning the grand prize, which features an environmentally friendly engine and lots more cutting edge technology, you must continue to drive safely and fuel efficiently.

Specially selected Driver of the Month winners between March and August 2014 will be entered into the competition, which

takes place on September 18.

Entrants will have the opportunity to show off their driving ability, with one lucky winner becoming the owner of a brand new Fiat 500 car!

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FACE 2 Sandra’s all at sea after FACE retiring – and loving it!

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In our Face 2 Face column, we chat to Tony Bland, a leading driver at Belvedere who has worked for the company for six years. We ask Tony a series of lighthearted questions.

Q: What makes a good day at work?

A: No traffic or gaps in the route.

Q: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A: A motorcycle racer.

Q: What would your superpower be?

A: To make everybody in the world more tolerant..

Q: Who is your hero?

A: Barry Sheene.

Q: Who would you swap places with for a day if you could?

A: Valentino Rossi.

Q: If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Pork chops, chips, gravy and mixed veg.

Q: Do you have any hidden talents?

A: I can walk the width of a football pitch on my hands.

Q: What advice would you give a tourist in London?

A: Make sure you buy an oyster card, and don’t take the tube, take the bus.

Q: What’s your favourite TV show?

A: Celebrity Juice.

Q: What would your dream holiday be?

A: A world cruise.

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N JULY, 1969, Sandra McKinley applied for a job on London buses, just to fill a gap until she found something else.

But that stop-gap measure was to turn into a career in the bus industry spanning 45 years, culminating in her retirement from Go-Ahead London last month.

“I had gone to work in Jersey as a waitress and when I came back I wondered what to do and my mum suggested that I go on the buses as a stop-gap.”

Sandra’s first job on the buses was as a conductor. “I went to Camberwell Garage to have a test to show that I could add up and knew how much change to give, which I passed, and was sent to Chiswick for training.”

“I loved being a clippie. This was on the old buses, the RTs and the RMs, where the driver was in the cab at the front, so it was just you and the public at the back. I do have lots of funny stories from those days, but I don’t think they are printable!”

Sandra was later promoted to inspector and then to her final job of performance manager, or road manager as it was previously called, where she ensured that her team of controllers were running the best service possible on their routes.

“During the Primary Assessment Period (PAP), our aim is to pass the target set which gives us the option of taking a two-year extension to the contract and hopefully, with all round good performance, win future routes

Fond memories for Sandra. when they come up for tender.”

Although Sandra will still be using buses in her retirement, she will also be spending time on another mode of transport.

“I go on a lot of cruises and I will book a few more. I will also have time to see friends I haven’t seen for some time and potter around the garden, and I am planning to move to the seaside. But I will be taking a lot of fond memories of the very good people I have worked with over the years.”

Not a dent in 41 years and were a symbol of IN HIS 41 years on the London.” road, bus driver Pat Day, He said the hardest part who retired from Go-Ahead of the job is trying to keep London last month, never the buses on time. “You had an accident. just can’t always do it.”

It’s a record he’s justifiably And the best part? “My proud of, though equally mates and the friendships modest about.

– a bus garage is like a little “I’ve been lucky. I’ve community – and meeting driven a lot of buses over different people on the bus the years, but I’ve never every day. I will miss that.” had an accident and I’ve Now he’s retired: “I’ll be never had to call a Code doing a lot of decorating Red.” and gardening and a bit of Pat started work at travelling. I’ll also be able to New Cross Garage in spend more time with my 1973 before moving to three grandchildren.”

Bexleyheath in 2000 and Proud record – Pat Day. Talk of children reminds has seen many changes Pat of an embarrassing over the years, most incident in his career. notably in the types of buses he has driven.

“There were a lot of schoolchildren on the “I started on RTs which had gears. Of course, bus and they kept on ringing the bell, so I got they’re all automatic now and have power them all off the bus, but the bell kept ringing. steering which makes them easier to drive.

One of the buttons upstairs had got stuck, it Having said that, the RMs were easy to drive. wasn’t them at all.”

I really liked driving them. They had character

Cadets follow in the footsteps of the fallen A

GROUP of army cadets paid their solemn respects to the fallen of the First World War during a war graves visit supervised by New Cross driver Tom Herbert.

Tom, a volunteer instructor with 95 London Scottish Cadet Detachment in Eltham, helped arrange the weekend trip to Belgium to give the youngsters an appreciation of the ultimate sacrifices made by the London Scottish (LS) Company, the detachment’s sponsoring regiment.

The 24 cadets visited cemeteries around Ypres to lay wreaths before parading at the Menin Gate in front of more than 1,000 visitors as part of the 100th anniversary commemorations of World War One.

The following day, they marched at Messines to place a wreath on the LS memorial, accompanying the pipes and drums band of the LS and its association of the ‘old and bold’.

On October 31, 1914, about 900 troops from the regiment clashed with German forces near Messines in a battle for a strategically important ridge, suffering horrendous losses.

The troops had been transported to the front line in 34 B-Type London buses, known as ‘battle buses’.

“The cadets were given a battlefield tour, covering everywhere those soldiers went, walking over the very ground that 100 years before the soldiers had fought every inch for, many of whom were not much older than them,” said Tom.

Employee Commendations CAMBERWELL n ROUTE 68 driver Francis Agbonjinmi’s “pleasant, friendly and considerate” attitude when ensuring a wheelchair-user got off at the right stop has earned him a commendation from L Chang.

the wrong stop. n MRS D White wrote in praising route 257 instructor Paul Manning for his “calm, patient and supportive” treatment of drivers, and for the way he calmed a rowdy passenger with a little humour.

NEW CROSS n MRS C WOODS has commended route 436 driver Jean-Pierre Francis for being “endlessly helpful” to a variety of people in stressful London traffic on a very hot day. n ROUTE 36 driver Douglas Foster impressed Ms A Wright with the way he kept passengers calm during an encounter with a swarm of bees at the Marble Arch Station/Edgware Road stop.

He was “very, very nice”, she wrote. n PASSENGER Mike Brady was “overwhelmed and relieved” after being reunited with his brand new iPad and iPhone, and “thankful” to route 436 driver Ryan MacAulay for spotting he had left them on the bus.

ORPINGTON n A GRATEFUL Mrs A Alexander has commended route 126 driver Darren Gillett for “doing a great job” in lining up his bus with the kerb so she could get her buggy off the bus safely. n AN IMPRESSED Ms L Wales has commended route 353 driver Thomas Howard for “remaining calm” when confronted by four abusive young faredodgers. n TREVOR Hedges has been commended by Mrs A Norton for the “steady (not slow) pace” of his driving on route 320.

NORTHUMBERLAND PARK n ALERT route 257 driver Martin Bennett “really brightened” Dr P Corson’s day after ensuring the passenger got to the right destination, having earlier got off at

RAINHAM n “THANK you for your honesty,” was how passenger Elisabetta Beccati commended W19 route driver Paul Creasy after he handed in her bag containing “valuable and personal” belongings that she had left on his bus.

STOCKWELL n PASSENGER Mollie Luther has commended route 170 driver Michael Silverson for helping her retrieve a bag containing important papers that she had left behind – and then for the way he “very politely” requested a mum with a large buggy to vacate the designated wheelchair space when it was needed. n GERMAN visitor Ms Klich was generous in her praise for James Pope who ensured she got to an urgent appointment on time after his route 11 bus had to make a detour because of a demonstration. n A VERY grateful Miss Mars has commended route 333 driver Jamie Gooding for returning her handbag which she had left on his bus.

SUTTON n ROUTE 154 driver Jamie Elmer has received a commendation from passenger Miss Meldrum for stopping for her, even though she hadn’t put her arm out, and for “patiently waiting for me to get my Oyster card out.”

WATERSIDE WAY n ROUTE G1 driver Ibrahim Mehiri has been commended by Mrs S Pacellini for helping a lady who hurt her head in a fall.

“He was very thoughtful and it was lovely to see such caring behaviour,” she wrote.

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A timely start to an Eiffel long journey The night riders from left, Jim Todd, Mark Caller and Karl Norton.

Night riders' fund raiser for heroes IT WAS heads down and all feet to the pedals when three Orpington drivers set off on a 100-mile overnight cycling challenge in support of forces charity Help for Heroes.

The plucky trio, Jim Todd, Mark Caller and Karl Norton, joined 250 other fundraisers for the ride, which started from Tedworth House, a recovery centre for wounded armed forces personnel run by the charity in Wiltshire.

The 2am start on June 8 ensured the cyclists had the roads to themselves, but the route to London threw up some hilly challenges.

“The hardest part of the ride was when we hit Box Hill after

75 miles,” said Jim. “The hills just rolled on and on, it was a challenge even for those with more experience.”

On arriving at Blackheath Common, the riders picked up their medals and then joined 3,000 other cyclists for the final leg of the journey to Horse Guards Parade, stopping off to pay their respects at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

“A big thank you to everyone who put a donation into the box at allocation, which totalled £75, and to Karl Griffin for organising the transport and Adrian Smithers for driving us to the start line,” Jim added.

In all, the night riders raised £1,000 for Help for Heroes.

The team arrives in Paris.

NEW CROSS engineer Luke d’Auvergne was among a group of four who cycled from London to Paris to raise money for a local children’s hospice.

Luke, plus fellow Go-Ahead London engineers Derek Parker, Nigel Pike and a friend, pedalled for 19 hours to cover the 281 miles from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower in June.

The team’s endeavours raised an estimated £1,200 for Dartford-based charity Chyps, which provides hospice care at

home for children and young people.

The keen cyclists, who often do the London to Brighton bike ride, began training for their French challenge at the beginning of the year, clocking up 60-70 miles twice a week as the date loomed.

“The hardest part was cycling through the French countryside where it was all hills,” said Luke. “But the roads in France were quite smooth.

We were really lucky and only had a couple of punctures.”

Karl just keeps on collecting!

ORPINGTON assistant operating manager Karl Griffin has taken the term ‘busman’s holiday’ to a new level because away from the depot his hobby is – collecting buses!

Over the years, Karl and fellow bus enthusiasts Mike Welch and Stuart Boxall have amassed a collection of 30 buses, mainly from the ‘80s and ‘90s and the present day.

“We do have some Routemasters and RFs but those iconic buses are being preserved by museums and heritage groups. We are preserving the generation of buses that no one else is,” said Karl.

The buses are kept in different locations, from farm units in Kent to a former RAF base in Oxford,

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but they do not remain idle.

“We do a lot with the local charity Harris Hospice Care, lending them a bus when they need a stand at a show.”

Karl admits that his hobby can be expensive, with vehicles costing anything from £500 to £1,500. It is also time-consuming as some buses need to be made roadworthy or spruced up. It is just an extension of a childhood passion for Karl, who joined a bus company as soon as he left school.

“My dad worked on the buses when I was growing up, so a big part of my life was spent in around bus garages. It was in my blood and it has just grown from there.”

One of the collection, a Metrobus 810.