Wigan Album

So this is the 'fella', is it, Ray. The 342 from Wigan to Billinge that gave thrills of a lifetime down Sandy Lane -Orrell, and Ormskirk Road - Pemberton. Yeah, ofcourse it is. I also remember my classmate who lived at the top of Sandy Lane, telling us that his dad worked as a bus driver - quite probably in the Wigan area -, and that their home had the 'rum' distinction of having its living-room in Orrell, while its kitchen lay firmly rooted in Billinge. Thanks.

Hi Philip, Your former classmate could have stood with one
foot in Billinge, and the other in Orrell, depending on the layout of his house. The Ribble PD2 No. 1438 was the very
first bus that I drove for Ribble. It is seen here, lurking
behind the Albion, showing its destination as Roby Mill.
The "Numbers" part of the destination box looks like it needs some attention. Ray.

Ray. Whereabouts was the terminus in Roby Mill?.

Ray: Despite the fact that your 1438 doesn't have a number to tally with its destination blind, its snarling angular countenance suggests, that not only does it have everything in place, but is also raring to go. The 1852 bearing a pallid frown in anticipation of Pem' and Orrell's hilly climbs.

These were the days when buses were painted in deep, rich colours and how much nicer they looked then. Does everyone remember the Baked Potato café, the milk-vending machine and the newsagents kiosk right at the end, flanked by two old red 'phone-boxes, (also painted a rich red and with a timelessness about them). I suppose 'phone-boxes are hardly needed these days.

Jack...The Roby Mill terminus was at "The Star" Public House
The bus stopped opposite the pub to drop off any passengers,
then drew forward on to the offside and stopped just past the pub, then reversed into the side road to the right, and
then turned left and parked in front of the "Star" until it
was time to return to Wigan. From memory, the 316 Roby Mill
was a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday service. I think the first Friday journey left Wigan about 9am, and on arrival at
the "Star", there could be as many as 50 people waiting to
board the bus to come to town to do their weekly shopping.
To me, I got the impression that the arrival of the Ribble
bus on a Friday morning was the highlight of the week there.
The next bus back to Roby Mill was just after dinnertime,
then the last one about 5pm. Saturday and Sunday were the same.

I need a phone-box right now Irene: Get me an ambulance, as I've just been stunned by your cavalcade of superlatives - lovely stuff! But just before departure, I must say that I also recall each of the fixtures that you've mentioned.

Jack - I think the Roby Mill Terminus was the bottom of Farley Lane/Crow Lane.
If I remember rightly, the service number was 316.

Mick...The 316 Roby Mill Terminus when I was driving Ribble
buses was Ayrefield Road, at the side of the Star Inn. Ray.

Thanks Ray.

Cheers Ray. Now you mention it, I can remember seeing the bus down there!

Another Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Ribble operation was
Route Number 105, Wigan to Bispham Green, a little village
between Mawdesley and Rufford. The journey frequency and timings were similar to those of the Roby Mill route.
One regular journey is still in my mind from almost 50 years
ago, Setting off from Hope Street about 9am,with a single
decker OMO bus, empty, except for an smart elderly lady who
was carrying a small bunch of flowers. Having paid me her busfare, about 1/10d return ticket, she requested that I stop the bus near Church Lane in Wrightington Village,which
wasn't an official stop, but it shortened her walk down the
lane to a church, where she would lay the flowers on the grave of her late husband. "With Pleasure Madam". Now on to
the terminus at the "Eagle And Child" at Bispham Green, load
approx 30 passengers, do a 3 point turn, and set off on the
return journey, picking up some more shoppers in Mawdesley
Village. Approaching Church Lane in Wrightington I could see
the elderly lady from earlier waving her hand for me to stop and pick her up, her knowing that it wasn't a proper
bus stop, despite me telling her 30 minutes ago that it would be me and this bus on the return journey. I did this
journey many times, and the elderly lady soon knew that she
would be looked after each time she travelled on my bus.
On days like this, it was a pleasure to be at work.

"I could write a book"

You should write a book Ray or a story to Past Forward magazine! .? I'm sure it would go down well with the readers - we all like a bit of nostalgia and I 'm sure they would accept it with a couple of your old photos. Believe me they would!

Ray when I worked on the Ribble It was the only service I never did it used to show Bretherton on the blind

The advert on the bus at the rear is for Desmond Morris's book 'The Naked Ape', so that probably dates the photo to 1967/1968.