'On the buses were signs of the times'

For example, ‘No Smoking Allowed’.

This would be found on the bulkhead in the lower saloon of a double decker.

To be fair, smokers could light up on the top deck, if they so wished.

Another one from yester- year, and one I remember seeing on the Preston Corporation buses, was ‘Spitting Strictly Prohibited’.

This would be found adjacent to the No Smoking sign.

Another sign, that has not been seen for well over 40 years, was: ‘Please lower your head when leaving your seat’.

This warning was affixed to the backs of seats in the lower saloon of a ‘Lowbridge’ double decker.

It was fitted to seats on the offside only.

The reason for the warning was the intrusion of the sunken offside gangway from the top deck.

I bet many a passenger forgot this and bumped their head.

For many years, my good lady and myself enjoyed holidays in North Wales.

One day we travelled from Pwllheli to Porthmadog, via an almost new single decker.

We had a rail and bus pass, so could leave the car behind.

The bus had many restrictions, beside the ‘No Smoking Allowed’, ‘No Canned Drinks’ and ‘No Fish and Chips’ to be taken on board.

I’m surprised the instructions were not also duplicated in Welsh, as this part of Wales is very pro-Welsh speaking.

A new sign seen recently on Stagecoach buses was ‘Stagecoach Welcome Breastfeeding Mothers’.

To date, I’ve not seen any mother taking up the offer.

E H Simister

Bamber Bridge