I WAS involved in a fascinating reminisce on the old blue Leigh Corporation buses this week. The times when travelling on them was cheap and cheerful.

We were trying to recall destination numbers .

The first route I used was probably the 4B which went to Abbey Lane via Kirkhall Lane and Westleigh Lane, the second the No 6 to Higher Folds and the third the no 3 to Hindley Green.

I also regularly used the LUT red buses 54 to Wigan, when the full fare was 1s 3d (6p), and 82 and 84 to Atherton.

I didn't travel much wider than that on them and I haven't been on a bus now for over 20 years. The last time was 1987 and it was wet, freezing and full of kids playing radios. Awful. Things must have improved since then.

In the days of bus conductors and open backs when we used to jump on and off while they were moving we got to know the conductors well and had some good craik. I remember one telling me he put prams under the stairs so that when the bus rounded the tight bend at Plank Lane they might roll off.

When they were replaced by one man buses it was never the same again.

Other numbers I remember were Plank Lane 1, Astley and Cemetery 2, Manchester 26, Tamar 4, Crankwood Road 8, Circular 9 (I never knew where that went), and Warrington 46 and 47.

Any good old bus tales, contact me at lrichards@leighjournal.co.uk.