AN EMPLOYEE at Reading Buses has celebrated their 50th year with the company,
Amarjit, who started working with the company in 1975, has been described as one of the “best-loved” of the drivers there.
He was originally considered to young to drive when he joined at the age of 22, so began his time there as a conductor.
After three years as a conductor, on a wage of just 75p an hour, he was able to buy a house.
He then began driving, and recollects that he was driving vehicles from the 50s and 60s, which had heavy steering, and some models featured a steering column which came up through the floor, causing a considerable draft.
The background of employees at Reading Buses was very multi-cultural even back then – Amarjit remembers there being quite a few drivers from the West Indies, including people from the Windrush Generation, as well as from India and Pakistan.
Amarjit has also been the subject of newspaper articles after he helping to catch a burglar stealing from old people’s houses.
The police had circulated a picture of the suspect, whom Amarjit recognised as he got on his bus. Amarjit radioed through to control who alerted the authorities.
A little further on the route, police appeared and the man tried to flee by climbing on the roof of a house, but was caught.
The police were grateful for Amarjit’s help, and awarded him a certificate.
Amarjit; “If you broke down, you were expected to find a public phone to alert the inspectors – although if you didn’t appear after a while, they would send the emergency engineer to find out what had happened.”
Talking of changes in the 1980s, when drivers began issuing tickets, he explained: “I actually enjoyed issuing tickets as well as driving – I liked interacting with customers.
“I don’t think others were so keen though.”
Robert Williams, Reading Buses’ Chief Executive Officer said: “We are honoured that Amarjit is still a part of our Reading Buses family.
“Thank you and congratulations, Amarjit.”
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