A CORRESPONDENT asked the route of the erstwhile No 8 bus. I used that route every day from 1961 to 1967.
It ran from New Hinksey up the Abingdon Road and St Aldate’s, down The High and thence along the Marston Road. Half the buses then went to Northway (the parade of shops), one-third to Headley Way (Fortnam Close) and one-sixth went to Old Marston (the church). Older buses had destination blinds reading Great Headley and Canning Crescent.
The regular vehicles included the magnificent AEC Regents 973-5 CWL.
In late 1961 appeared Bristol Lodekkas and in 1962-3 AEC Bridgemasters.
These and other low-height buses were an oddity on a route devoid of bridges at a time when every year or so a standard height bus would have its roof ripped open by trying to pass under the station bridge.
Does anyone remember the colourful eccentric Joyce, whom I first encountered as a conductor on the No 8 service?
MARTIN ROBERTS
Stone Close
Botley
Oxford
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