HINDLEY Greener Tom Jackson has announced shame on me for not using a bus for over 20 years.

He says it’s no wonder we are suffering chronic traffic congestion and global warming.

He appeals to me to do my bit and save the planet - leave the car at home and use public transport.

Now Tom, how do you know I don’t use a bike?

I don’t, but I do only have a little Ka - and that’s because last time I caught the three buses home it took me almost four hours to get there! And I’m not moving.

Thanks for your blue bus memories following the recent reminisce.

George Platt of Arlington Drive, Leigh, is also old enough to remember the buses with open platforms and recalls jumping on and off while still moving. It was a matter of getting the timing right.

He says the dangers of these platforms were highlighted one night when he caught a late bus at Sandy Lane, Lowton, and sat on the long seat next to the platform looking directly up the stairs.

As the bus went over the railway bridge, just after the Railway Inn (now the Robin Hood), he heard someone coming down the stairs to get off at Jean Avenue. A young man appeared, carrying a baby in his left arm.

Halfway down he stumbled. and couldn’t grab hold of the handrail as it was on his left. He tried to reach for the vertical pole on his right; but was unable to catch hold. He hit the platform very hard on his knees, somehow managing to prevent the baby hitting the floor.

His momentum drove him forward through the open space; however, this time, he was able to clutch on to the vertical pole, on the edge of the platform.

The bus was travelling quite fast and was still 50 or 60 yards from the stop. His wife, following behind, was screaming as he fell off the bus and was dragged along, holding on to the pole and somehow holding the baby aloft. After 20 or 30 yards he could no longer hold on and ended up in the gutter.

His wife was now on the platform and preparing to jump off The conductor was not there and George managed to prevent her jumping off.

A car had stopped at the scene. Someone was holding the baby who appeared to be unhurt. The father looked to be unconscious and someone was ministering to him.

George says he got back on the bus which drove away and made his way home.

He said: “I have often wondered though if the father and child were OK.”

I now know that the No 9 Circular went from Spinning Jenny along Bradshawgate towards Bedford/Butts Bridge/down to Holden Road/ Avenue and back to Spinning Jenny. All stops on the way and a very useful service. Thanks to Alex, a former Holden Roader who now live in Menorca, lucky blighter, for that.

Edna Fletcher, of Atherton, recalls as a little girl travelling regularly on the no.2 bus, from Hadbutt Lane to the terminus at Astley Green by the canal. On her return journey, when she boarded the bus, the driver and the conductor would be sat at the back having a break.

They each had a flask of tea and butties which were kept in a tin.

She said: “I always wanted to be a conductor so that I could have my tea on a bus,and use one of those ticket machines that had a dial and handle to turn the tickets out. Happy days.”

They sure were when life was a bit more leisurely.

Thanks to to Leigh’s award winning bus operator Jim Stones for sending me the fleet history of Leigh Corporation Transport and a Classic Bus magazine featuring Leigh buses.

All interesting stuff.