A Story from The Lunch Club.......
From time to time we hope to bring you stories submitted by members of The Lunch Club.
The first story is submitted by Rene Mundy and is about her time as a bus conductress just after the war: -
“I joined the Birmingham Bus Service as a conductress also known as a 'clippie' way back in January 1946.
You had to have a very severe Medical Examination before they would
accept you. For instance you had to walk across a room so that they could see you had balance in your steps and that you were not flat footed. Then your heart was tested and you’re breathing and last of all was your hearing and your eyesight.
The next day you had to report to Rea Street in Digbeth, where
there was a large Transport Building which was where you did your training. You had to report there every morning at 9.00 o’clock until
5.00 pm for 4 weeks.
On the 5th week you were taken out, one at a time, on board a bus full of passengers. You had to collect the fares and the Inspector would then check the passenger’s tickets to see if you had made any mistake. When you got back to Rea Street, if you had passed, they would call out your name and tell you to go the Store Room to get itted for your uniform and then you were told which garage you were to work from. I was to work at Wellhead Lane Garage in Perry Barr. There was also another Garage on the Birchfield Road.
Our uniform consisted of navy blue trousers, jacket and beret. We
had a ticket rack which was pretty heavy to hold when full of tickets, a ticket punch and a leather money satchel for your money. We also had a metal ticket box full of tickets in order to fill up your rack."
Rene Mundy
From time to time we hope to bring you stories submitted by members of The Lunch Club.
The first story is submitted by Rene Mundy and is about her time as a bus conductress just after the war: -
“I joined the Birmingham Bus Service as a conductress also known as a 'clippie' way back in January 1946.
You had to have a very severe Medical Examination before they would
accept you. For instance you had to walk across a room so that they could see you had balance in your steps and that you were not flat footed. Then your heart was tested and you’re breathing and last of all was your hearing and your eyesight.
The next day you had to report to Rea Street in Digbeth, where
there was a large Transport Building which was where you did your training. You had to report there every morning at 9.00 o’clock until
5.00 pm for 4 weeks.
On the 5th week you were taken out, one at a time, on board a bus full of passengers. You had to collect the fares and the Inspector would then check the passenger’s tickets to see if you had made any mistake. When you got back to Rea Street, if you had passed, they would call out your name and tell you to go the Store Room to get itted for your uniform and then you were told which garage you were to work from. I was to work at Wellhead Lane Garage in Perry Barr. There was also another Garage on the Birchfield Road.
Our uniform consisted of navy blue trousers, jacket and beret. We
had a ticket rack which was pretty heavy to hold when full of tickets, a ticket punch and a leather money satchel for your money. We also had a metal ticket box full of tickets in order to fill up your rack."
Rene Mundy
Rene celebrating her 87th birthday at the Lunch Club in July 2012.
