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All aboard: District councillor Peter Cartwright has bought himself a bus

If Wycombe district councillor Peter Cartwright is renowned for anything it is for his passion for buses and his encyclopaedic knowledge of bus time tables and routes.

So it is no surprise that he is the council's cabinet member for transport.

Now he has put his money where his passion is and is the proud owner of a 40-year-old Routemaster bus, which has seen service in High Wycombe and London.

Cllr Cartwright has wanted to own a Routemaster since he was 11. So when he realised Transport for London was selling off its Routemaster fleet in favour of something more up to date he seized his chance.

With the help of former Wycombe bus driver Frank Brown he brought his prize back from Purfleet through the centre of London to Wycombe.

The bus registration JJD 440D started life painted green and in Wycombe, but for 27 years was red, running on route 12 from Notting Hill Gate to Dulwich.

Cllr Cartwright wanted green, so a trip to Southend followed his purchase, to recreate the original livery.

The bus also has its original number plates while its original destination curtain, saying it is bound for Totteridge, came from Cllr Cartwright's collection of memorabilia.

His first view of it was in 1955 when, as a schoolboy, he was on a trip to London and saw it parked up as a prototype in Horse Guards Parade.

"I thought at the time I would like to have one of these, but it's taken me 50 years," he said.

Cllr Cartwright has not driven it yet, but relies on Frank, who was a conductor on that very bus 30 years ago when it was based at the London Transport garage at what is now Staples, at the foot of Marlow Hill, High Wycombe.

But he will be able to, provided there are no more than eight passengers.

Instead, the bus will be seen at classic bus rallies.

From Bucks Free Press 4:37pm Monday 18th April 2005