Peter was born in Barbados in 1943.
In the early 60s, London Transport advertised in the Caribbean for bus drivers, and Peter applied for the job.
He and 17 other young men were flown from Barbados to Gatwick in 1964.
London Transport had arranged digs for them. They all stayed in a big house with three beds in each room and were given old army blankets to keep warm.
The training was intense. Peter said it was a bit like going to military school.
Every morning, the rookie bus drivers had to line up in a parade for inspection at the training centre in Chiswick.
In those days, buses had basic hydraulic brakes, so the drivers were trained on a skid pan, a large area of tarmac covered in oil and grease to replicate icy conditions.
The buses were driven fast around the skid pan and made to skid. The driver then had to regain control of the vehicle.
The buses were driven fast around the skid pan and made to skid. The driver then had to regain control of the vehicle.
Peter said it was a lot of fun, and the training must’ve worked, because he never had a crash during his 40 years of service.
I would like to have spoken with Peter longer, but ironically, his bus came, and we had to say goodbye.
