BIRD'S EYE By The Hawk VIEW
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"Central Bus News" Latest on the staff communications front from London Transport is a news lettter, to be published from time to time, called "Central Bus News ". The first four-page issue, published this month, is devoted entirely to the new agreement which has just been concluded with the Transport and General Workers' Union. In a foreword, Mr. F. J. Lloyd, operating manager, states that in later numbers he will be dealing with " wider issues about the bus job itself ". "Central Bus News " is, I understand, to be sent to all London Transport's management staff—down to the inspectoir on the road. Explaining the idea of this new enterprise, Mr. Lloyd writes: "I want each one of you to know as much as possible what is happening in our department. I am thinking particularly of the inspector on the point, who, by the nature of his work, finds it difficult to keep informed on Central Bus matters." I'm told it's likely that the new publication will appear at roughly two-monthly intervals, and I can only applaud any attempt to enable left hands to know what right hands are doing in this vast undertaking.
Information comes my way which provides all the opportunities for platitudes, clichés, and ftogged-to-death puns beloved of headline and caption writers. Not being entirely proof against them, I'll settle for "Live Wire to Boost Sparks Industry "—for which he'll never forgive me. All of which leads to the nub, which is that Peter Flower, that popular and charming information officer of B.R.S. (he also handles T.H.C. information) is leaving to become assistant secretary, policy and information, Eastern Electricity Board.
His friends in the industry will, I know, join me in wishing him well; he won't be completely divorced from us, because E.E.B. has several hundred vehicles. Current Change
Five-Star Story Now that only three hotels in Britain, outside London, have the coveted five-star grading, The Commercial Motor's most junior reporter has revived the story of his night at the five-star Carlton in Bournemouth. Sent to the resort with a senior colleague, on a lastminute job in the height of the holiday season, they had to split up to get digs. One got fixed up in a place he knew on the west cliff; junior, in despair, tried the top hotel in the A.A. book, and got in at the Carlton. In the morning, he was interrupted at breakfast. A uniformed porter whispered in his ear: "Excuse me, sir, your man has arrived with your al8 car." Convinced he had been mistaken for a visiting millionaire, our junior went out to find—waiting to start on the day's job—colleague Dick Ross, CM's experienced staff photographer.
Last Word Plus Those who read the item on
this page last week headed "The Last Word" might like to know that there has been a further development. The "Keep Left" sign which had been installed in a narrow one-way street—to the consternation of a colleague of mine and various other motorists—has now been removed. My colleague thinks that this was probably because the concrete in which it had been set was broken on the first day the sign was set up. On following days he noticed that the whole assembly had been pushed back into the kerb—and deduced that this was the work of some irate motorist. So the b ... thing was shifted after all!
Tribute to L.A. "Whenever we have appeared
before you justice has always been done and has always been seen to be done ", said Mr. J. Longhorn, a Midlands advocate, in a tribute to Mr. Charles Hodgson, chairman of the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, when Mr. Hodgson appeared at a Leicester hearing for the last time recently.
Mr. Longhorn continued: " We are going to feel a deep sense of loss when you go to the North West area. I think this loss will be felt by everyone concerned with transport in this prea. Our loss is, of course, the North West's gain. You have been concerned with transport for a very long time indeed and you have a very firm grasp of all the difficulties in the cases which come before you. I wish you and your family a very happy time in the North West area." And so do we at The Commercial Motor. Good luck, Mr. Hodgson.
Sherriffs in Town Dunfermline's transport
department received worldwide publicity last week when Colin Sherriff, 13-year-o1d son of the City's transport officer, dynamic Ian Sherriff, received £380 for a faulty stamp he purchased of the Forth Road Bridge on the day the bridge was opened. Both father and son came to London to see the stamp put up for auction. After all the excitement, the photographic flashlights and the television interviews, they contacted "The Commercial Motor" and invited colleague Norman Tilsley to dine with them at an exclusive Indian restaurant in the West End.