When my dad was young, from about the age of 11 to 14, he used to go around collecting bus numbers. A bus number is the licence on the side not the bus number plate on the front. He and his friend Reg had all the books about collecting bus numbers.

In Upminster, near London, where he lived, there used to be a lot of buses and he had a book called "I Spy A Bus" and he used to go around trying to collect all the bus number that he could get. He had a bike and he used to ride from one side of London to the other if he had to.

Once he went to a bus garage in London. As he was not allowed in, he sneaked in later at night.

"Hey Reg let's go in this bus garage there is most of the rear numbers, somebody told me."

"Don't you think anyone will spot us because it's day".

No we will wait 'till tonight stupid."

He and his friend found all the bus numbers that they needed and when they had finished they went past the security guard's hut. They went up to him and as he was asleep they shouted, "'ELLO ALL!!!" The guard woke up with a start and then chased them out of the garage with a whip.

My dad was always truthful with the numbers he recorded. He would always make sure it was the same bus as in the book. "