The South Notts Bus Company was formed in 1926 by Christopher Dabell.
Since then it has operated a regular route between Loughborough, Stanford on Soar, East Leake, Gotham, Clifton and Nottingham. We just call it the Number 1 bus. My kids take it to school, because the 7-45 from East Leake diverts to Loughborough Grammar School in termtimes. My Uncle Alan drove a South Notts bus in the 1970s, and one of my happiest childhood memories was coming from Southampton to visit him in 1973 and being allowed to ride with him all day. He was a proper Uncle!
Then in 1983, not long after our first date I took Rebecca in a date that saw us catch the Number 1 to The Chateau, a Berni Inn in Nottingham. I worked as a kitchen porter for the Berni Inn in Loughborough so got a 25% discount on our slap up 1980s steak dinner. How posh we thought we were!!
The company was taken over by Nottingham City Transport in 1991. Since the takeover, The distinctive blue maroon and cream buses have been replaced by the green of Nottingham City Transport (not all progress is good) and the depot in Gotham has been threatened with closure, though this isn't so certain according to the family hairdresser who works a few doors down! This is surely a good thing, because as the sign above the door says, this depot won "Bus Depot of the year" in 2011
As I've had my monthly haircut today I took a minute to take a couple of shots outside the depot. I will dedicate them all to my Uncle Alan, and a certain young man who lives in Gotham and loves the number 1 bus! He will see this shot I am sure.
By the way, for the superhero worshippers amongst you, Gotham is pronounced Goat'm in these parts.
There used to a be a site on the internet that was an homage to all things South Notts, but sadly it has disappeared. It had my Uncle Alan's name on it. In its absense, the Wiki page will have to suffice.
wonderful composition ..I love that you captured so many textures and I'm not sure why but the no smoking sign adds to the photo. You have mastered B&W
Happy memories Sean..... I bet you never go on a bus nowadays but we used to spend lots of time in our youth on them.
Although small this little bus depot has an air of pride in itself....do hope this depot stays alive. Great sign writing!
Love the lines and textures in this. It's rather a shame when public services cange their livery. Our local bus companies keep repainting their buses according to their routes and calling the routes rather odd names. confusing!
Interesting post Sean, a Bernie night out was the height of sophistication when I was in the sixth form! I love the retro sign of south notts , and do hope they don't change it. So envious of travelling the bus all day - my cousins and I used to play at being bus conductor and driver on the stairs at my grandmothers house. To travel all day on the real thing would have been such a treat!
Hey, Sean, are you trying to make me cry? I loved the South Notts buses way back! I used a service that South Notts, West Bridgford Urban District Council and Nottingham City Transport shared. Apart from South Notts having the best upholstery they also had the most friendly conductors and drivers! Your Uncle Alan may well have driven me although it might have been before his time. I love the Best Bus Depot sign! Treasure this shot. (And thank you for saying how to pronounce Gotham correctly!) I am going to have to Fav this even though you have taken hundreds of photos that are just as good and which I haven't faved!
These are great Sean. Love your historical anecdotes, very informative and interesting for a young person from Australia! I have only visited London once, on a one-day stopover but would love to take a drive through other parts of England. The scenery and architecture are so very different from here. I think this is my favourite of the three (?) … I'm not sure, I seem to have a thing for front-on shots at the moment. Maybe i'm developing a style, could be just a phase…
Super shot with its textures, gritty it is! Loved Berni Inns, my old youth group I've featured here trooped into one in Gloucester. We looked a mess in jeans and loud check shirts and were hidden at a table behind screens!
Although small this little bus depot has an air of pride in itself....do hope this depot stays alive. Great sign writing!