Living in Cambridge as a child we went everywhere on our bikes; as little ones my sister and I sat on tiny seats fastened to the frames of our parents bike, perched between their knees. In Cambridge we had red double decker buses, and occasionally we would catch these, but mostly we went by bike.
The first bus journey I can remember was when I was very young, maybe only about four years old; my Mum was ill, maybe with mumps, and I was going to spend the day with my Grandma Ida who lived in the village of Harston. My dad took me to Drummer Street Bus Station, and put me on a green bus – I was amazed as I had only ever seen red buses before, I think this one must have been a country service. I am amazed now that I was put on the bus, on my own, at that age, and entrusted to the bus conductress to put me off at Harston where Ida would be waiting.
I had no fears or worries and happily walked along the inside of the bus to the front seat nearest the driver’s cab; the seat faced back down the aisle so I was travelling backwards. The conductoress was very kind and jolly and called me ‘ducks’ which sent me into fits of giggles. She was wearing a uniform and had the ticket machine slung over her shoulder, and it may have been belted round her waist too. It had a little handle which she turned to issue the ticket which I held onto all the way to Harston.
Can you imagine a parent putting a four year-old child alone on a bus now? How times have changed!
Grandma and Grandpa lived in the family home of Newton View, where mum and her sisters and brother grew up.
Lois Elsden 