PUBLIC transport has kept South Reading connected to the centre of town over the years.
Technological advances in buses have served as a marker of the times, with mechanisms, styles and designs all changing.
David Turner, Whitley Community Museum curator, said: “Any photograph posted on the museum’s site that shows a bus always gets a good response. Very often you can work out the age of the photograph by the type of bus shown.”
The photo above dates from the early 1970s, with this bus making its way down Buckland Road. Brixham Road is visible to the right.
This style of bus was preceded by trolley buses during the 50s and 60s.
Many residents remembered living on this route and left comments under the post stating their house numbers.
This allowed for neighbours to reconnect, and in some cases, acquaint themselves for the first time.
According to Mr Turner, the houses pictured were often known as the ‘posh houses’ due to their large front and back gardens. He suspects that the photo was taken from the roof of the old Savoy Theatre.
With over 4,600 followers on Facebook, the Whitley Community Museum is an accessible online and in-person resource.
The group serves as a platform for residents past and present to share memories through photographs and comments.
It also allows group members to reconnect, with members reacquainting themselves with friends and schoolmates from decades ago.
The museum held a Whitley Way Back When event at the Community Cafe on Northumberland Avenue earlier this year to showcase its photographs and exhibits in-person.
For more information, search: Whitley Community Museum on www.facebook.com
