Issue 36 July 2012 ON THE MOVE

PENSIONERS’ EDITION IT’S HERE… WE’RE READY The capital’s Tubes, trains and buses are preparing for the greatest challenge of their long and proud history. Around eight million people are visiting for the It is 50 years since London’s Olympic and Paralympic Games last trolleybus ran. Turn to with the overwhelming majority page 3 to find out how this using public transport to reach is being commemorated. venues. The transport ‘family’ – including past and present employees – can help ensure the END OF THE network does not get overloaded LINE by carefully planning journeys. Photo: London Transport Museum © The websites www. Perhaps some of our older readers Games due to the economic getaheadofthegames.com or can recall the last time the Games climate and post-war rationing. www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/ were held in London – in 1948. No new venues were built london2012 each have a wealth This great picture shows the and athletes stayed in existing of useful information. 1948 entrance to Westminster station accommodation instead of Key advice for people decorated for the occasion. Look an Olympic Village. One travelling during the Games is: and all at those fashions like the trilby thing hasn’t changed in the n Plan ahead and the mackintoshes. The event intervening years……it looks n Consider alternatives that became known as the Austerity like it’s been raining. n Try to avoid venue stations if you are not going to a Games event n Avoid busiest times if travel is essential END OF THE LINE n Avoid driving in affected areas. The A stock train – the oldest There will be a final A Overall, the mood is optimistic currently still working customer stock rail tour around the end with train on the LU network – is due to of September which will be Managing Director Mike Brown make its final journey later this year. publicised in the usual way saying: “We have a once-in-a- Built in the early 1960s by through the LT Museum and lifetime opportunity to show the Cravens of Sheffield, the trains website. The date is still to world what we can do. Nothing which still operate on the be confirmed. is more important than helping Metropolitan line, are being What are your memories of Londoners and visitors to our city phased out and replaced by a the A Stock? Write to us at the enjoy a great Games.” new fleet of S8 trains. usual email or postal addresses.

otm PENSIONER NEWS otm PENSIONER NEWS Nominations for TfL Pension Consultative PENSIONERS’ Council in 2012 Nominations are being sought for TfL Pension FORUM SUMMARY Fund members to stand for election to the TfL Issues discussed at the meeting on 22 May 2012 Pension Consultative Council (PCC). included the following: Five representatives need to be selected to n TfL pension fund – The head of areas. An assurance was given to the replace those due to retire from office on 30 reward and pensions gave an update Pensioners’ Representatives that November 2012 under the PCC’s constitution. on current issues. In particular, it was continuing priority would be given to Representatives due to retire are Christopher noted that: this service. Miller and Michael Swiggs from Section 1) Progress with the 2012 Actuarial One (representing pensioners and deferred Valuation was currently on schedule n Staff Travel – The pensioners’ pensioners), Luke Howard from Section Two 2) An exercise was being conducted representatives were advised that, as (representing employees of TfL, its subsidiaries or to obtain the current address of all requested by them, a comprehensive contractors) and Eddie Darroch and Richard Head deferred members. list of the services on which retired from Section Three (representing employees staff PTAC facilities are available, of London Underground, its subsidiaries or n Pensioner liaison scheme including details of eligibility, was contractors, or of Tube Lines Limited). – Discussion took place on the being produced. Difficulties in Successful nominees in Section One should level of support for the pensioner obtaining privilege rate tickets on also note that attendance at Pensioner Forum liaison representatives to enable National Rail services when booking meetings is a requirement of election. them to provide information and offices are closed were discussed and Any TfL Pension Fund member may assistance to pensioners in their issues raised will be pursued by TfL. nominate another member as a candidate for election or re-election to the section that represents them both. Retiring representatives can also be nominated. Nominations must be made in writing by a Book winners member of the same section as the nominee. Congratulations to Each nomination must be countersigned by Mr J Turnbull of another Fund member represented by the memorial Orpington and Mr same section. The information listed below On 25 September 1940, a bomb fell on Colin Spennock and a personal statement of up to 100 words, Colindale Tube station killing a number of of King’s Lynn including the reason for standing for election, people including some London Transport staff. who were the or re-election, to the PCC, must accompany A memorial to all those killed that day will be winners of our the nomination. unveiled at the station on 25 September 2012. Do Not Alight n Name, as nominee wishes it to appear on For more information, or if you are Here book the ballot paper interested in attending the event, please competition. n Dates, if nominee has previously held office contact Helen Robinson on 020 7027 2832. as a Councillor n State whether pensioner or deferred pensioner if from Section One. CONTACT DETAILS FOR PENSIONER ENQUIRIES A passport-sized photograph may also be provided for inclusion in voting papers. TfL Pension Fund Pensioner Liaison Transport Benevolent For story suggestions Please note that the information provided 4th Floor, Wing Over Transport for London Fund or questions about Station, Floor 6, West Wing 0300 333 2000 otm magazine only – must be factual, appropriate and inoffensive. 55 Broadway, 55 Broadway call 020 7749 0169 or Completed nominations must be sent to London SW1H 0BD London SW1H 0BD Transport Friendly email otm@beetroot. helpdesk@ Society co.uk or write to otm the PCC Secretary Julian Collins, TfL Pensions tflpensionfund.co.uk 0800 015 5074 / 020 7240 8886 pensioners’ edition, 68 020 3283 4650 Directorate, 4th Floor, Wing Over Station, Tax Queries – Leonard Street, London 020 7918 3322/ EC2A 4QX London, SW1H 0BD, by Friday 17 August 020 7918 4720 Hospital Saturday Fund HM Inspector of Taxes 020 7928 6662 or 020 7918 3648 0845 300 0627 (quote 2012. Copies of the PCC constitution are also Staff Travel Hospital Savings ref 083/LT7 and your available from the same address. Transport for London, Association National Insurance Floor 1, 14 Pier Walk, 01264 353211 number) You can log If there are more nominations than North Greenwich, on to the TfL Pension vacancies, elections will be held by postal London SE10 0ES Simply Health Fund website at www. 0800 072 6719 tflpensionfund.co.uk ballot among Fund members in the relevant 0800 015 5073 sections. The opinions and views expressed in the advertisements in this magazine are in no way those of The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition London Underground Ltd or Transport for London. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not that the advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or necessarily represent the views of London Underground or the editorial team. All rights reserved. contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced in any form, including photocopying, without of the publishers, who reserve the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with consent of the holder of the copyright. Advertisements or other inserted material are accepted advertisements submitted to them at their absolute discretion and without explanation. All subject to the approval of the publishers and their current terms and conditions. advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice.

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In the last edition we asked if station inspector, station manager anyone knew the whereabouts of and duty train manager. Look Peter Howard who worked around Dave said: “In his off duty time the Hainault and Gants Hill areas of he enjoyed fishing, household Back in London. We were inundated with D.I.Y. and auto -maintenance, calls and were sorry to hear that socialising and, of course, the Peter – clearly a highly popular man odd pint. I found Peter to be a Ongar – had died in 1996. His close friend first class railwayman, solid and Want to head down memory Dave Thomas said he thought Peter dependable. Sadly, after struggling train? Catch a ride on a newly- joined London Transport as an with a long illness, he passed away reopened heritage railway that operating apprentice in December on 18 June 1996 at the young uses a former section of LU line. PETER HOWARD 1962 and was later a guard and age of 49. Hardly a day goes by Part of the Epping-Ongar a motorman before becoming a without me thinking of him.” railway, which was part of the Central Line until 1994, was One of the old reopened in May after a five- posters on display year gap, after volunteer teams Poster worked to renew track, refurbish boy The collection – consisting rolling stock and restore Got some blank space on of iconic LU advertising buildings. your wall and looking for posters dating from 1913 The five-mile section the perfect way to fill it to 1955, many designed by between Ongar and Coopersdale up? Get down to Christie’s the leading artists of the is now open to the public, and in in South Kensington on day – will raise an expected the long term, after track work 2 October 2012, where a £500,000 towards future is completed on the rest of the collection of 300 duplicate acquisition, conservation and line, will run up to Epping. vintage London Underground restoration work by LTM. You If you’d like to volunteer, posters from the archives of can preview 50 highlights of contact Bob on 07779 743465 or London Transport Museum the collection at Christie’s email volunteering@eorailway. (LTM) will be auctioned off. saleroom up to 24 August. co.uk. Advertisement Change your old, uncomfortable

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3 otm PENSIONER NEWS Trolley good memories

In the last edition we asked you empty-handed though; from to write in with your trolleybus Stonebridge we ‘secured’ a Bus 1441 with crew on the last 603 at memories, and you didn’t destination blind!” recalls James. Tolworth Road disappoint. Patricia Kelland (whose late Here is a selection of your husband worked at LT) recalls the letters, edited for reasons of 696 whizzing down the hill near space. her home in Bexleyheath and James Stringer recalls listening for the hum of the bus travelling with a friend to on the pole outside her house as Stonebridge to welcome the last it approached. trolleybus home but not realising “I am told that as a child the it was also the last bus. Unable trams were a terror of mine. to get back home to Acton, a Much better on the trolleys, so friend’s father who owned a car much quieter!” had to come out to collect them. Steve Kirby (LT Revenue) “We did not come away believes the trolleybus should

never have been abandoned: “It The last 604 arrives at was ecologically sound, clean, Fulwell depot quiet and efficient which should have borne more weight than the relatively cheap diesel fuel at the time for motor buses. However, we did not think like that then.” Chris Hills, who joined the central buses traffic department at roadway in April 1961 aged 18, recalls being allowed to have the afternoon of 8 May 1962 off to watch the last trolleybus. “We arrived at Fulwell in time to see Diddler No 1 depart on its tour of the last remaining routes. The 603 was the first of the routes to finish. There were crowds outside the depot when we arrived, but we managed to find a vantage point to watch the remaining journeys arrive.”

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The 602 on service at The Dittons

David Carpenter who worked by cheering and other verbal in LU Operational Standards encouragement from some of says the 521/621 trolleybuses my classmates. The teachers ran past the front of his school disapproved but were powerless Thanks to Gordon Sylvester in a sweeping curve and recalls to stop the ritual.” for sending us in this terrific an ongoing problem with And John Harrold, from photo. Gordon is pictured in dewirements. Hounslow, has childhood front of the last trolleybus to “If we heard what became a memories of the old 657 run out of Fulwell depot in recognisable sound we would trolleybus route: “We would go May 1962. rush over to the window to see a up to the terminus and, when trolleybus with its booms waving the driver and conductor were wildly in the air and the hapless in the café, we would sneak conductor trying to retrieve them upstairs and hitch a free ride with a bamboo pole and put around the loop and then jump them back on the sires. Needless off at the first stop across the to say, this was accompanied road,” he recalls.

A driver straightens a bent trolleybus boom after a dewirement. The tool used was known as ‘a crow’

Hello trolley The 50th anniversary of STEAM QUERY London’s last trolleybus London Underground pensioner Roy Dyer attended a Steam services was marked in Open Day on Saturday 23rd June in Tyseley, Birmingham. May, with an open day One of the many working steam locomotives on display and display of classic was an old London Transport steam locomotive marked buses at Fulwell depot, L94, used to transport people in carriages up and down a and at the East Anglia small length of rail track. Roy wonders if any otm readers Transport Museum at know the history of the locomotive. Write to us at the Carlton Colville. usual address.

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Fondly remembered ROY BROOKS April 8 2012, aged 78 CYRIL GEORGE REDFORD LILY MARTIN Roy worked on the trolleybuses out of Wood 16 June 1998, aged 88 18 March 2012, aged 91 Green garage. Cyril was a sheet metal worker in the Lily was a conductress at Potters experimental department based at Chiswick Bar garage from 1951 to 1981. After JOYCE WILSON Works and was involved in the development her retirement, Lily continued her 18 May 2012, aged 85 of the Routemaster bus. connection with London Transport by Joyce worked in the canteen at Acton Works, doing part-time work checking loadings. Bollo Bridge. She joined the business in FREDERICK THOMAS WEBB January 1979 and retired in 1987. 14 December 2011, aged 83 JOSEPH ‘JOE’ TUCKER Fred worked as a bus mechanic at Walworth 21 March 2012, aged 102 GLADYS SELFE Garage from 1957 until his retirement in 1984. Joe was a highly-popular bus conductor 21 May 2012, aged 87 and Hackney resident who worked out Gladys joined London Transport in approximately DEREK CLARK of Stamford Hill garage. He also trained 1960 and worked as a conductress on the 27 December 2011, aged 79 younger colleagues. At the end of his number 15 bus and was based at Upton Park Derek was a civil engineer and retired as career he worked in the Group Planning Garage for all 28 years of her career. major project group B engineer (professional Office before retiring in 1983. services) based at Ashfield House. ELLEN PHILBEY JAN SZABAT 8 June 2012, aged 80 TERRY ANDREWS 26 March 2012, aged 98 Ellen worked for London Transport for 33 14 March 2012, aged 85 Jan joined London Underground years, of which nearly 30 were spent as a Terry spent most of his career in railway in the late 1940s as a station assistant. ‘clippie’ mainly on the 134 and 242 routes out operating, working up to senior posts before He later worked as a booking clerk of Potters Bar garage. She spent the last years finally using his experience to good effect in at and Whetstone retiring of her career as a counter assistant at Palmers London Transport International. in 1979. Green garage.

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7 otm HAVE YOUR SAY

Trying to trace Have Howard White is trying to trace his cousin Hyacinth White who he believes used to work on the buses in London though is uncertain in what capacity. Hyacinth was born in Your Say Manchester, Jamaica, before emigrating to the UK and Howard Thank you to everyone who has sent us a letter or shared their memories. We do read them all, believes she may have had the but due to limited space we are only able to publish a selection each time. Send your letters to: nickname Jippel or Gippel. otm Pensioners’ letters, beetroot, 68 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4QX or email otm@beetroot. If you knew Hyacinth please co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you. contact Howard on 020 7932 1190.

WORKING MEMORIES On the buses Mr J E Payne, 91, on 20 July Conductor Jimmy Green writes to tell us that he joined sent us this photograph London Transport in 1952 as a (1) taken at Chigwell Row station assistant at Tottenham bus stand on route 150 Court Road and later, around in 1964. 1960, became a driver or Jimmy, right, is pictured motorman which he continued to with his driver Bob Baker. do until his retirement in 1986. Jimmy transferred to “I worked on the 1938 Bow in 1965 and became a Stock,” he says, “the best driver in 1967 before taking 2 vehicles I had ever worked early retirement in 1993. on. These vehicles were Now living in Leigh-on- Do you remember David? solely used on the Northern Sea, Essex, Jimmy said: “It David Harman, pictured (2) line between High Barnet would be nice to hear from laying a wreath at the Cenotaph or to Morden, via 1 Bob again or any other old for London Transport in 1987, Charing Cross or Bank.” friends.” writes: “I joined in 1941 as a booking clerk on the District line. After serving in the Navy, I was promoted to senior booking clerk at Amersham. I qualified as a PAINTER MEN station master starting at Belsize Coach Painter Barrie Last sent Park. I ended my career at Baker us this picture (3) taken in the Street. I am now 86 and wonder early 1980s at Palmers Green if there is anyone alive who garage showing members of the remembers me?” operating and engineering staff. Barrie, who completed 36 years at Palmers Green and Enfield, is sitting on the box.

We love your old memories and pictures so please keep them coming. The best thing is to email any old pictures to otm@ beetroot.co.uk or post them, enclosing a sae, to the address above. 3

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