A former Glasgow bus driver has had his dream come true of driving an old-fashioned bus in the nick of time after 50 years of service to the city.
Glasgow resident, Ian Short, 75, started driving buses in Glasgow in 1969 at the age of just 22. Ian, originally from Scotstoun had his wish granted of driving a Leyland Titan bus that dates back to 1958.
Ian started his journey of becoming a bus driver after serving his apprenticeship at a Scottish automobile company called Albion Motors in Milngavie. This was later bought over by the most well-known bus manufacturers in the world, Leyland Motors.
READ MORE: Scotland's most popular baby names of 2022 as top spot changes for first time in 14 years
Ian, got his dream of driving a Leyland bus in the nick of time as insurance companies do not cover you after the age of 75. He even invited some of his old colleagues and friends on the journey to drive through Glasgow one last time.
Glasgow Live caught up with Ian to discuss his life as a bus driver, and engineer, driving a retro Leyland bus for the last time, and of course his retirement.
He said: “It is a good life being a coach driver. I’d always fancied a job being out and about, rather than being in a factory or an office.
“This is the farewell, and I am not unhappy about that, there comes a time that you should give it up, funnily enough, I have only just renewed my license.
“It is an insurance thing; you are okay up to 75 and everyone’s individual insurance policies are a bit different, but I am not going to start all of that. It’s time to sit, drink tea and talk rubbish.”
However, Ian didn’t just drive buses in Glasgow. He also did coach tours all over the United Kingdom for weeks at a time driving tourists to places like Torquey and Bournemouth.
Ian also had stints of being an engineer and working in the oil and gas industry. He reminisced about why he went into driving buses.
He added: “It was particularly good being a boy from Scotstoun I had never stayed in a hotel, in my life until I got a job as a bus driver.
“It’s great and it is good that all of my cronies are all here as well, it’s almost like a wee gala out.”
On the journey, alongside other passengers on the bus, Ian drove us to Polmadie to fill up on petrol and drove through the city centre to George Square, finishing off at Buchanan Bus Station.
Ian said this was a bit of “memory lane” as this reminded of him of the time when he was “a proper bus driver.”
The boy from Scotstoun who started driving buses for the council all those years ago is now enjoying retirement and is still involved with Bridgeton Bus Garage which is run by the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.
READ NEXT:
Drunk Glasgow care worker turned up at clients' homes and shouted abuse
Paisley schoolboy ran into burning home to save grandparents' dogs from horror fire
Rutherglen MP Margaret Ferrier could face by-election after Commons committee recommends suspension
Remembering 17 people who died in Glasgow and Lanarkshire this month
Fire on Trident nuclear submarine prompts safety concern for West Dunbartonshire residents
