The Jigsaw Project.

I remember my parents having this jigsaw - Waddingtons Pubs & Shops of London - the late seventies or early eighties  - and, looking for something to do during lockdown I located a copy on eBay.

As I child I was fascinated about the shop fronts featured so, some forty years on, having completed the jigsaw, I set about finding out more about the outlets featured, curious to find out how many, if any, still existed.

I’ve now trawled the ‘net more thoroughly for each one and the location of only one remains open to question. Once allowed I will head up to London and photograph each address and create a new montage, maybe even another jigsaw. Anyway, here we go, starting top left:

1. Floris. 89 Jermyn Street. Perfumers since 1730 and received their first Royal Warrant in 1820. Along with perfumes other specialities were combs, toothbrushes and mouthwash. The Spanish mahogany cabinets and glasswork were purchased at The Great Exhibition in 1852 are still in the shop today. Notable customers from the past include Florence Nightingale, Sir Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming and Marilyn Monroe.

2. The Markham Arms. 138 Kings Road. Built in the mid 19th century and is a grade II listed building. Was under the Ind Coope banner and like many London pubs had an international staff. One particular chap that worked there recalls serving Rod Stewart, George Best and Elton John amongst others. Popular with the gay community on Saturdays. Closed in the early nineties and is now a bank but, being a listed building, many features remain.

Resources: Closed Pubs | Historic England | British Listed Buildings

3. James Smith & Sons. 53 New Oxford Street. Umbrellas, walking sticks, seat sticks and accessories. Mr Smith started making and selling umbrellas in 1830 and moved to the current premises a few years later. The shop is still there today.

4. Tessiers. 26 New Bond Street. Jewellers and another listed building. Difficult to pin down exactly when the company was established but looks to be around the early to mid 1800’s. Moved to Burlington Arcade at some point but have since disappeared. The premises at New Bond Street, occupied most recently by another jewellers is showing ‘to-let’ on Google Maps. Savills agents reported in December 2019 that luxury retailer Faure le Page would be taking over the property although to date their website does not indicate such.

Resources: Historic England | Sussex Photo History | William Walter Antiques 

5. The Old Curiosity Shop. 13-14 Portsmouth Street. A 16th century London Landmark and built from reclaimed ships wood, it survived the Great Fire of 1666 and was patronised by Charles Dickens. Originally a dairy and a later a bookstore in Dickens’ days it is now a high end shoe retailer.

Resources: Atlas Obscura | London Town

6. Philip Antrobus. 11 New Bond Street. Jewellers established in 1815 who were commissioned by Prince Philip to design the Queens’ engagement ring, along with a bracelet containing diamonds from his mothers’ tiara. The company was acquired by Pragnell at some point and the unit has been occupied by Blanc Pain since 2014. It is possible that Philip Antrobus descended from the Antrobus family in Congleton.

Resources: Pragnell | Antrobus Pages | A Scrapbook of Cheshire

7. R Allen & Co. 117 Mount Street. High class butchers since 1830 and at the Grade II listed building at Mount Street since around 1880. The business was bought out in 2006 and closed in 2015 after falling into administration, the shops’ many fans taking to social media to blame the landlords for skyrocketing rents. Companies house report that R. Allen & Co Ltd (Butchers) was dissolved in 2017. In it’s place is a luxury deli from the Italian Marchesi group.

Resources: London Town | This is Money | Companies House

8. John Walker, a watch and clock maker with a strong connection to railways all over the world was established in 1830. A similar photo online puts the shop at 63 New Bond Street but that has been occupied by Fenwicks since 1891. The addresses shown on the front of the shop indicate previous locations. Apparently the firm was located at 1 South Molton Street in 1906 and moved to 64 South Molton Street in 1981, where a repair and restoration service continues today.

Resources: The Old Watchword | The Science Museum

9. Mr Pickwicks. 70 Leman Street. Originally the Garrick and renamed sometime prior to 1983, there has been a pub here since around 1831. The licence was revoked in 2010 following a drugs bust. It appears to have been taken over and renamed The Oliver Conquest in the same year and continues under that name today.

Resources: East London Advertiser | Pub Wiki | What Pub |  Pubs & Beer

10. Carrington. 25 Old Bond Street - another Grade II listed building. Carrington & Co. jewellers and silversmiths were established in 1873, however all references point to them being at 130 Regent Street. I can’t as yet find definitive connection to them at Old Bond Street, however it seems likely it was the same company. Carrington received several Royal warrants and were later bought out by Collingwood. Collingwood appears to have closed in 2004. The premises has been occupied by Tiffany & Co since at least 2001.

Resources: Hancocks | Gazette

11. The Goose & Firkin. 47/48 Borough Street. Once part of the Firkin pub chain - set up in 1979 by David Bruce who bought run down pubs from the major breweries, and reintroduced the almost forgotten practice of brewing beer on the premises. The chain grew rapidly but was sold in 1988, eleven years later ending up in the hands of Bass who stopped brewing on site. The pub continues as the Duke of York now owned by Kent brewer Shepherd Neame.

Resources: What Pub | Good Beer Good Pubs

12. Barbers. 26 Bedfordbury. Originally Peter’s Gents Hairdressers - although apparently no-one called Peter has ever ran it - but since the eighties was run by younger family members and known as George the Barber. A screenshot from Google Maps, taken in July 2019, shows Peter’s Barber Shop on the door.

Resources: Shopfront Elegy | George The Barber

13. Cock & Lion. 62 Wigmore Street. Allegedly the only Cock & Lion in the whole of the UK. First licenced in the late 1700’s as the Lyon & Cock at 25 Wigmore Street and rebuilt in 1880. Still going today and just around the corner from Oxford Street.

Resources: Pub Wiki | What Pub

14. Coach & Horses. 5 Bruton Street. Thought to be one of the first properties to be built in Bruton Street and first licensed in 1738. Rebuilt in 1933 in mock Tudor style and features caricatures of 19th century politicians and cleric on it’s walls. A Youngers pub at the time of the photo and until at least 2007, it is now under the Green King banner .

Resources: Pub Wiki | What Pub

15. The George. 213 The Strand. Sitting opposite the Royal Courts of Justice the Tudor style frontage dates from a 1898 rebuild though it is said there has been a pub on the site since 1723. Other sources state that it started life as a coffee house. Greene King ales on offer.

Resources: What Pub | Pub Wiki

16. G.F. Trumper. 9 Curzon Street. Gentlemen's’ barbers and perfumers since 1875. The original mahogany cubicles remain and alongside haircutting and shaving they offer a number of high end mens’ beauty treatments and associated products.

Resources: Wikipedia

17. The Wig & Pen. 230 The Strand. The first of many thanks must go to the members of the Facebook Group London in the 60’s & 70’s for this one. I had mistakenly assumed that the building to the right was an entirely separate image when in fact it is one and the same. The two people walking to the right should have been a clue as well. An exclusive private members’ club and, as the name might suggest, was popular with lawyers and journalists. Once the home of the gatekeeper of Temple Bar who used to sell wares to the many who came to view the severed heads of traitors on the spikes of Temple Gate! It is said to be one of the few buildings in the area to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666, however it wasn’t so lucky in 2018 when it was hit by a London bus. The club closed in 2003 and is now the home of a Thai restaurant.

Resources: BBC News | The London I | TripTide | The Guardian

18. G. Smith & Son’s. 74 Charing Cross. Road. Tobacconist established in 1869, offered a walk in humidor for cigar fans and and numerous blends of loose tobacco and snuff too. It seems to have finally closed in 2011. Now occupied by waistcoat, tie and jewellery specialists Andy & Tuly.

Resources: Shopfront Elegy | Jane’s London

19. Gordon Gridley Antiques. 41 Camden Passage. Established in the early seventies by Mr Gridley - an  English teacher who turned his passion for antiques into a second income, eventually opening the shop. Said to be the oldest antiques shop in the Passage - Mr Gridley himself was 81 in 2013 when interviewed for an article - Posh Totty Designs have occupied the unit since 2017.

Resources: 32 Magazine | Ham & High 

20. The Opera Tavern. 23 Catherine Street. A Blue Plaque, visible in more recent photo’s gives the date as since 1879 but records indicate there has been a pub here since the 1791, initially the Yorkshire Grey, then the Sheridan Knowles, back when it was still Brydges Street. The name change to The Opera Tavern appears to have occurred in 1861. The name remains to this day but became a tapas bar and restaurant in around 2011.

Resources: Pub Wiki | Andy Hayler

21. The Camden Head. 2 Camden Passage, although the address is listed as 2 Camden Walk. Thanks must go once again to the London in the 60’s & 70’s Facebook group for helping me identify this. Not to be confused with The Camden Head in Camden High Street, the pub dates from 1849, has it’s own ghost (obviously) called George and has hosted comedy nights for many years. Another pub currently under the stewardship of Greene King.

Resources: Camden Passage | Pub Wiki 

22. M.B. Newman. 70 Charing Cross Road. Another identified with help this time from the Old London Photographs Facebook group. Charing Cross Road was always a likely bet given the plethora of bookshops there, however other information is proving difficult to come by. A photo online shows the bookshop in 1967 and the unit is now occupied by Cards Galore.

Resources: Getty Images

23. Nell of Old Drury. 29 Catherine Street. First licensed in 1835, rebuilt in 1883 and renamed in 1965 after Nell Gwynne, mistress  of King Charles II, although it’s also reported that there has been a pub on the site since at least 1660. A tunnel running between the pub and the Theatre Royal opposite was reportedly used by the King to visit Nell. Comedy nights seem to have been a feature more recently but current status is uncertain - they were still trading in 2020 but their website is currently unavailable.

Resources: What Pub | Pub Wiki

24. Roundhouse. 83-85 Wardour Street. The current building dates from 1892 and it was the Round House from 1862, renamed from the Blue Cross which appears to have been established around 1756. Popular at one time as a blues and skiffle club, it had certainly lost the Round House name by 2013. It currently houses Soho Residence, a ‘premier bar, club and lounge space’.

Resources: Pub Wiki | Cyril Davies | Grounded London

25. Paxtons Head. 153 Knightsbridge. Rebuilt in 1852 and renamed in honour of Joseph Paxton, the designer of the Crystal Palace, at around the time. The site of a public house since at least 1632, previous names being Kings Arms and Marquis of Granby or similar. Grade II listed and another that’s now under the stewardship of Greene King.

Resources: Pub Wiki | Historic England | What Pub

26. Ellen Keeley. 33 Neal Street. Ellen Kelly barrow makers were established in Ireland in 1830, the family coming over to England at the time of the potato famine. Likely at Neal Street from 1900-1982, the company, whose customers were mainly market traders', branched out in the 60’s hiring out to the film industry. Keely Hire exists today in Hertfordshire as a supplier of props to the film, television and events sector. The premises at Neal Street is currently a jean store.

Resources: The Seven Dials Trust 

27. J. R. Wall & Co. 399 St John Street. Thanks once again to members of the London in the 60’s & 70’s Facebook group for their help in locating this butchers. Sadly I have been unable to glean much more information about J. R. Wall & Co. but the name of the original owners - Bland - can be seen on the tiling below the windows and they were there from the later part of the 19th century. Since the early 2010’s the premises has been occupied by Turner & George - also butchers - or meat merchants as they have branded themselves. The building is listed and the white tiling remains to this day.

Resources: Shop Front Elegy | London Picture Archive | A London Inheritance

28. E. Joseph. 48a Charing Cross Road. Another bookseller, established by Emmanuel Joseph and at Charing Cross Road from around 1900. It became Quinto bookshop in 1983 until 2010 when they moved further up and since 2020 now operate solely online. Patisserie Valerie currently occupy the unit.

Resources: Abe Books | David Brass Rare Books | Spitalfields Life

29. Berry Brothers & Rudd. 3 St James Street. originally a coffee supplier and established in 1698 by a widow and mother by the name of Bourne. George Berry joined the company in 1803 and by 1810 it was his name above the door. It was the turn of the century before the company began to focus exclusively on wine. Hugh Rudd joined the company in 1920 and in 1940 a limited company was formed with the name that remains to this day. For a more in depth look at the history, do have a look at the About section on their website.

30. Worcester Arms. 89 George Street. Appears to have been established in 1839 and in 1869 the address was 42 George Street before renumbering took place. The pub finally closed in around 2002 and a major redevelopment of the unit and surrounding buildings took place lasting several years. It is currently occupied by Santo Mare - and Italian seafood restaurant.

Resources: What Pub | Pub Wiki | Pubology

31. F. W. Collins & Sons. 14 Earlham Street. Ironmongers established in 1835 and owned by the Collins family for seven generations. The shop closed in 2008 and has been occupied since 2009 by The Vintage Showroom - specialists in vintage clothing and accessories. They’ve even named their in house clothing line F. W. Collins in honour of the previous occupants. Grade II listed.

Resources: Facebook Page | The Vintage Showroom Bio | Historic England

32. The Sherlock Holmes. 10 Northumberland Street. A pub since 1846 and rebuilt in 1883. The Northumberland Arms until 1957 when, then owners Whitbread recreated Holmes’ sitting room at 221b Baker Street with items rescued from the Holmes exhibition, part of the 1951 Festival of Britain. The sitting room can still be viewed through glass from the upstairs dining room and the pub is another currently under stewardship of Greene King.

Resources: Atlas Obscura | What Pub | Pub Wiki

33. L Cornelissen. 22 Great Queen Street. ‘Artists colourmen’ said to have been founded by a Belgian lithographer, initially at Drury Lane and reportedly moving to Great Queen Street in 1855, it’s home until 1977 when it closed following the death of the last of the Cornelissen’s. The name re-emerged at 105 Great Russell Street in 1979, now run by Nicholas Walt where it continues to this day. The most recent occupants of 22 Great Queen Street were Estate Agents.

34. Old King Lud. 12 Ludgate Circus. Built in 1870 and originally ‘The King Lud’, the name was changed to distinguish it from another pub - New King Lud - which had opened nearby, at some point before 1981. Closed in the very early nineties but emerged as ‘The Hogshead in Ludgate’ in 1993 as part of the Whitbread group, later changed to simply ‘Hogshead’ . It closed in 2005 and is currently home to a branch of the Leon fast food chain.

Resources: Closed Pubs

35. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. 145 Fleet Street, although the entrance is in Wine Office Court. Grade II listed and rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of London, there has been a pub on the site since 1538. Such literary figures as Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and P.G. Wodehouse amongst others are thought to have visited. The pub was home to an African Grey parrot - Polly - for over forty years. It’s death in 1926 was the subject of obituaries in newspapers worldwide. Now part of the Samuel Smiths group of pubs.

Resources: Wikipedia | Pub Wiki | What Pub

36. Paxton & Whitfield. 93 Jermyn Street. Cheesemongers since 1742, Stephen Cullum opened a market stall and his son Sam was joined by Harry Paxton and Charles Whitfield in 1790. The shop moved to 93 Jermyn Street in 1896 where it remains to this day. owned by several people since, the business has several Royal Warrants including Queen Victoria and currently Her Majesty the Queen and HRH the Prince of Wales. More history on the ‘Our Heritage’ section on their website.

37. Bond Street Kiosk. 34/35 New Bond Street. Tobacconist  in front Sotheby’s auction house. Sparse information on this one however a Private Limited Company was incorporated in 1971 and a stock photo shows it still there in 1991. The company was dissolved in 1996. It has some claim to fame, being shown in the 1983 James Bond Film Octopussy - Roger Moore can be seen standing outside with a magazine.

Resources: Alamy | UK Companies List | Pinterest | James Bond Locations

38. Shapland. 207 High Holborn.  A Grade II Listed building, at one time a tobacconist but by 1849 a pawnbroker, the name Shapland first appearing around 1891. The name Shapland  name remained until the early eighties when it became a branch of Goldsmiths. It is now occupied by Cards Galore.

Resources: London Historic Shops | London Picture Archive

39. Somers & Kirby. 48 Connaught Street. Information very thin of the ground for this one. A report puts Somers & Kirby at 20 Leinster Terrace in 1975 and a it is likely they were still at Connaught Street in 2006 with a comment that rising rents were forcing some businesses out. The company was dissolved in 2007, the premises currently being occupied by a dentist.

Resources: Shutterstock | GLIAS | UK Companies List

40. Finch’s/The Kings Arms. 190 Fulham Road. Originally The Kings Arms and now bearing that name again, re-built in 1861 and became Finch’s in 1994. A Youngs’ pub.

Resources: What Pub | Pub Wiki

41. Brodie & Middleton. 68 Drury Lane. Theatrical scenic supplies since 1840, based initially at 79 Long Acre and moving to Drury Lane in 1981. From 1999 they shared the premises with canvas supplier Russell & Chapple and moved to Store Street in 2015 where business continues today under the Russell & Chapple name. As of 2019 the Drury Lane premises appears to be empty, with what looks like flats above and across neighbouring units.

Resources: Russell & Chapple | Brodies | Shop Front Elegy

42. The Anglesea Arms. 15 Selwood Terrace. Previously a market garden and nursery, it’s a Grade II listed building dating from 1827, Charles Dickens was said to be a neighbour at one point. Still going today under the Metropolitan/Greene King umbrella.

Resources: What Pub

And there we have it! To summarise: The original location of 8. John Walker is still uncertain, but they are still trading. Of the remaining 41, 20 are still trading offering substantially the same service, although some have moved and names have changed. 15 are still in the same location trading under the same same some 40 or so years on.

As I said at the top, the next task is to plot them all on a map then, when circumstances allow, go and photograph them all - with possibly a drink in the pubs - purely for research purposes of course - the create a new montage and maybe have it made into a jigsaw.

Curried Parsnip Soup | 30/12/2020

• 500g parsnips
• 1/2 medium onion
• 1tsp garlic paste
• 1tbsp honey
• 1tsp curry powder
• Chicken stock cube
• 750ml boiling water approx

1. Peel, chop and shallow fry parsnips until starting to brown
2. Peel, chop and fry onion until soft. Add garlic paste, mix and fry for no more than a minute being careful not to burn paste.
3. dissolve stock cube in 500ml boiling water and add to soup maker along with the honey and curry powder.
4. Top up to ‘Minimum’ line with water. Run ‘Smooth’ programme.

Made 3 x 390g approx portions.

Chicken Casserole | 28/11/20

600g diced chicken breast, coated with flour and salt and pepper.

400g carrots, peeled and chopped.

250g chestnut mushrooms, quartered and fried.

3 sticks celery, chopped and fried.

Cup of frozen chopped onions, fried.

1 veg stock cube and approx pint/quarter of boiling water.

Cooked on Low for 4 hours.

Cup of frozen peas, dumplings and approx 250g of cooked gammon added.

Cooked on High with lid off for 1 hour.

Under high grill for approx 10 mins.

Made 4 very healthy portions. First taste - superb, maybe a little more juice next time.

17/11/20 | Sausage Casserole

• 6 ‘Country’ sausages - David Shoebridge - browned in f/pan
• 400g tin baked beans
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 350g potatoes, halved and sliced
• 1 tbsp worcester sauce
• 2 tsp Herbes de Provence
• 1 l/s veg stock cube
• 100ml boiling water for above
• Low & slow for 8 hrs.

Results/Comments

3 x 475g portions approx.

Carrot & coriander soup | 10/11/20

• 600g carrots
• 2 red onions
• 1 med potato
• 1 tsp coriander
• pint oxo l/s veg stock

Made three portions @ 500g approx.

Tomato & Basil soup | 10/11/20

• 500g passata
• red onion
• 2 sticks celery
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 2 med potatoes
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes - sieved
• 2 tbps basil
• pint garlic/herb stock

Made 5+ portions. Reduce toms next time and maybe a spud.

Tasted superb. Aim for four bigger portions next time.

Sweet Potato & Lentil soup | 10/11/20

• 600g peeled sweet pots
• large onion
• 100g red lentils, rinsed
• 1tsp garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp hot chilli powder
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 pints stock with 2 l/s veg oxo cubes

Made 4 x 500g portions. Reduce water content next time.

Sweet Potato Soup 10/11/20

• 470g sweet potato peeled
• 280g carrots
• large onion
• 2 tsp garlic paste
• 1.5 pint of oxo l/s veg stock

Made 4 x 400g portions.

Leek & Potato Soup | 09/11/20

• 400g Leeks
• 265g spuds
• Low salt veg Oxo cube
• 1.5 pint boiling water

Made 3 x 500g portions. Aim for 4 x 400g next time.

Beef Stew & Dumplings 07/11/20

Stew

• 1 .75 lb stewing beef partially fat trimmed (Shoebridge butchers)
• 300g closed cup chestnut mushrooms, chopped and fried
• 1 large onion, chopped and fried
• 2 sticks of celery
• 3 medium carrots
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 5 tsp Worcester sauce
• 2 x low salt beef Oxo/pint boiling water

6 hours on low + 45 mins on high with dumplings, last 20 mins open then 6 mins under grill.

Dumplings

• 240g pack of Atora veg suet
• 515g SR flour
• 6 tsp parsley
• 15 tbps cold water

Freeze, separated on GP paper for at least 2 hours, can then be boxed up and frozen/used as required.

Results/Comments

4 dumplings added - divided into 4 portions - around 500g per portion.

Dumplings very good. Just should have put more than one in each portion! Meat - ok, just one chewy bit but no better or worse than anything else tbh. Mushrooms - rather firm and chewy. Either didn't fry them for long enough or just a different brand - Sainsburys.

Reduce Worcester sauce a tad and perhaps reduce to 200g/250g mushrooms.

A Wake Up Call

As many of you will already know I’ve missed work a lot. Since the school closed early in March I’ve been longing for the day when I could get back driving, see my colleagues and the kids and return to the structure that working life brings. You’ll know that I found lockdown tough at times - as did many many others - and at times didn’t handle it well at all. Whilst the chance to finally get away in the caravan again was welcome it was the start of the new school term in September that I was focussing on - back to a routine and a sense of self worth in the knowledge that I would be earning money again rather than sitting on my backside and getting paid for it - although I should say now that I was extremely grateful for the furlough scheme - it did at least remove financial worries.

The first step in prior to the new term was a medical - not specifically because of the pandemic - as drivers we have one every two years anyway. That came on Tuesday 25th August - just a over a week before the start of term. 

And I failed.

My blood pressure - specifically the lower diastolic reading was consistently too high. I managed one reading within the lower limits specified by the DVLA for bus drivers but needed at least two to pass. Declared unfit to drive, I was gutted, having pinned my hopes on returning to work in September. I came away understandably distraught and upset.

My first call was too my GP to arrange an appointment, I hoped quickly, however nothing was available until the 8th meaning that there was no way I’d be returning to work at the start of term.

Whilst I was obviously upset the unpalatable truth was, it was my fault. I have not looked after myself during lockdown, initially at least treating everyday as a weekend.  Too many suppers of cheese, biscuits and salty meats, chocolate with the inevitable liquid accompaniment many nights of the week and a lack of motivation to get any sort of regular exercise, combined with regular mugs of tea and strong coffee have taken it’s toll. Sure I knew I’d gained a little weight but had no idea what was going on inside. Whilst I’d survived lockdown mentally, physically I had clearly suffered. Doing a jigsaw maybe good for the brain but not for the waistline, particularly when accompanied by excessive amounts or sugar, salt, fat, caffeine and alcohol.

I went to bed that night with a headache which was to persist for most of the next day. The Occupational Health practitioner had said that If I could produce three official readings within the prescribed limits then she would reconsider. I tried all the local pharmacies that normally offer blood pressure testing but none were doing so because of Covid. My manager was also exploring all avenues to see if there was any way of moving things forward more quickly in the hope of minimising the delay before my return to work.

Then a friend sent me a link to a pharmacy that offered private consultations with a GP over a video link in a cubicle equipped with various medical devices, including a blood pressure monitor. I booked and paid for an appointment and presented myself there the following afternoon. I explained the circumstances and did the blood pressure checks, the GP monitoring the results over the video link. I was just in the prescribed limits - although still higher than ideal - and came away a little happier knowing that, for now, I’d done what I could at least, forwarding the report to the OH practitioner as soon as it arrived by email.

With the headache still persisting I settled down on the sofa in the hope of a nap and was just drifting off when the phone rang - it was the OH practitioner. She had reviewed my case, along with the new set of results, with a colleague and was calling to advise that they would pass me fit to drive, subject to a review in three months. I can’t begin to describe to you the relief that I would finally be returning to work as planned. After a horrible 30 hours or so where I had mentally beaten myself up for being so foolish, I was back on track.

I’d ‘got away with it’ - just - but now it is down to me to get myself fitter. The routine of being back at work will help - the early morning walks will resume, my alcohol consumption will drop dramatically as I rarely drink during the week for obvious reasons - and partially as a result - the sugary, salty and fatty snacks will lessen considerably too. I’ll make changes to my diet - less caffeine, plenty of water, more fruit and vegetables. My appointment with the GP remains and if the changes I make are not enough and I have to go on medication so be it, but that will be a last resort. I’ve been extremely foolish but shouldn’t dwell on that - the best thing I can do is try to put it right. A wake up call indeed.

Cheers

Rich.

When will I see you again | The diary of a school minibus driver

With plenty of time on my hands for the foreseeable future - as have many - I thought I’d fire up the laptop and recall some of the events of the last few days from my perspective. This may be the first of many, or just the one, we will see how it goes.

Day 0 - Monday 16th March 2020

It had been a long weekend, with a rapidly scheduled INSET day on the previous Friday, to implement remote learning systems and the like and many of us wondered whether they’d call a halt to the school term a week early. There were no updates over the weekend so it was all systems go this morning, bringing the kids in as per usual, nipping home for breakfast then gathering with fellow drivers outside the Prep school, for the short drive down to the sports ground for the younger kids’ games session at 10am.

Our manager appeared, called us all together and informed us that the school would likely be closing today - nothing had been confirmed officially yet - and that it may well be that two ‘Home’ runs were required, taking the Prep kids separately from the those in the Senior school. This of course aroused talk that there was an suspected virus outbreak there.

Rather than head home for lunch I hung around, like many, in case we were needed early. There were no further updates and the older Prep kids were despatched to the sports ground as per normal, although their session was much shorter than is usual.

About 4pm the message came that the school was closing and that the Home run would proceed as normal. Shortly before the 5pm departure time the kids boarded as per usual, noticeably excited. I missed the start of the 5pm briefing but caught most of it as we made our way along the coast to Eastbourne, dropping the kids off on the way. There was no need to take the minibus back to school that night, so I was home a little earlier than is usual for an end of term, catching up with the news and starting to absorb the full implications of the contents of the briefing.

Am email from the college confirmed what we’d suspected - one kid had fallen ill and four further boys in the same house were showing symptoms, along with one of the tutors. This virus, so far confined, in our minds anyway to other places, had moved much, much closer to home. It was getting real.

Day 1 - Tuesday 17th March

There was no rush to take the minibus back - after all it wouldn’t be needed - but thanks to my body clock, not to mention the silly o’clock alarm I’d failed to switch off, I was still awake early, thoughts tumbling around in my head.

Shortly after 9am I departed, the minibus for once being parked close to the flat, for the short trip not to the college but to the sports ground in East Brighton park, near the Caravan & Motorhome club site. Roughly half the fleet was already there, some drivers choosing to bring back their chariots last night or first thing. I reversed in, killed the engine and had a check in the back for rubbish, Thankfully ‘my’ kids - for that’s how I think of them - are pretty tidy. I retracted the mirrors, recorded the closing mileage in the log, locked her up and made my way to the exit, looking wistfully back over the gates. The government announcement about national closure of schools had not yet come but I wondered when I’d be called upon to spin up the engine of the mostly faithful No.2 minibus again.

I could have got a bus along Eastern road to the college to hand in the ‘tin’ - the box containing the keys, fuel card, vehicle log and breakdown and insurance certificates - but there wasn’t one due so instead walked, waving to another driver on the way who was just returning his vehicle.

Tin deposited at the Lodge, I said goodbye to the staff there and made the short walk to the seafront. The No. 27 bus appeared after a short while and I hopped on, doubling the number of passengers to two.

There was a shift change a few stops along and I heard the departing driver comment that it had been a waste of time. Shortly after my fellow passenger departed leaving the bus to myself. It was weird - Brighton & Hoves’ buses are well used - the second most in the country after London - and I’d never known it this quiet. The mind was wandering again and I decided to do a social media update, posting the picture I took of the minibuses all lined up behind locked gates. It was then, I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed a few quiet tears. Suddenly a major part of my life ceased to exist - I’ve said before how important work was me in the weeks and months following Trev’s death. It gave me focus, some grounding and a reminder that life goes on. In Transport we’re a pretty close knit bunch, always looking out for one another and pitching in to help each other out when need be. I had no idea when I would get to see them again. The kids too - and their parents. Having done the same run for so long I know a lot of them pretty well and enjoy the responsibility of them being in my care for up to two hours a day, bringing them in and getting them home safely. It was probably the wider implications personally too - my upcoming trip away in Patsy was now very much in the balance - and all this weighed very heavily indeed. It was the loneliest I’ve felt for a long long while.

18 Months

It seems incredible that 18 months have passed since Trev left us and, whilst I still miss him greatly, the fact that he was so cruelly robbed of his retirement hurts the most. 

Looking back at the last year and half though, alongside the inevitably emotional troughs and dark days, I've been getting on with it, enjoying some great trips away in Patsy, seeing new places, making new friends and enjoying the company of existing ones. Work is going well and I've enjoyed doing new things too, things that perhaps we wouldn't necessarily have done together.

My thoughts on the afterlife mirror Trev's - but, if he was up there looking down, or down there looking up (!) I'd like to think he'd be pleased with how I'm doing. He would have plenty to say on the recent political shenanigans too. He would roll his eyes at some of my outfits and probably tell me to keep an eye on the booze. But overall I reckon he'd say "you're doing alright Rich'. That means a lot. 

11 Months

Jeez, it’s getting close.

A challenging month emotionally in a number of ways. I found myself getting quite apprehensive about a birthday party I had been invited to - something I normally relish. The thought of turning up, on my own, in amongst all the couples was starting to seriously bother me. Fortunately the opportunity arose to share a cab with some friends and I felt much more relaxed having got that sorted.

The party itself - the 60th of a very dear friend - was good fun, really good fun. However there was those moments that came right out of the blue hat had me creeping away for a moment or two as the eyes starting leaking. There should have been two of us here - Trev was no dancer but he’d have loved the social side and the chance to catch up with everyone.

June also saw the end of term at the school where I work - early I know but Independent schools keep their own timetable. Again, a day of real mixed emotions - four kids who had been on my bus for six years - now young adults - left having completed their A-Levels. No kids of my own of course, so this is the nearest I was likely to get and I felt quite proud of them. Proud of myself too as their parents had effectively entrusted them into my care for upwards of two hours a day for the last six years.

The end of term also saw the departure of friend and colleague Tony who was retiring. Tony took over the route from Trev when he first ‘left’ and is the second longest serving driver after me. We had the inevitable after school get together in the pub and that night at home after brought with it quite a few tears, the eventual release of the days emotions no doubt.

in addition, this would have been my last day at the school – at least for a while. As some will know we had loose plans for a long trip, skirting where possible the coastline of Britain to celebrate Trev’s retirement. It would have been fun but challenging and not one I could currently contemplate doing solo.

These hurdles keep coming and there’s another as get ready I depart for my summer trip, culminating in the return to Colchester in a months time. I say get ready - I’ve done a little in preparation but am approaching it with some trepidation, remembering that we left the flat this time last year, and Trev was never to return. I have a number of sites booked prior to the return to Colchester but to be honest I can’t strike up any enthusiasm whatsoever. I’m pondering delaying my departure but we’ll see.

This months photo is from roughly 20 years ago, in my mobile home in Waterbeach, a little village to the north of Cambridge, with, of course Dipsy, a present from his fellow cabbies at CamTax.