Thursday 26 May 2016

ROUTE MASTER RML

Revs of engine on the London streets.

Ominibus was the first bus,

Until machines replaced horses.

The old buses were uncomfortable, they changed them to be more comfortable.

Eternal symble of London.

Mighty red towering gaint.

At the time of WW1 they sent lots of buses.

Sounds of horses replaced by horns.

They can smoke only on the top deck.

Effortlessly gliding around the streets.

Regal,  patriotic, pride of London.

A Modern Bus Driver Working Day

A drivers working day starts by "Signing On" for his duty in the Garage office(This office is known as THE OUTPUT).
This could be as early as 04:30am or as late as 17:00pm if you are driving the last bus of the day.You will be told which particular bus has been allocated for your duty.Having found his bus,he needs to do a number of checks like:
MAKING SURE ALL THE LIGHTS OUTSIDE THE BUS ARE WORKING (BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE HEAD ONES TOO)MAKING SURE ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE BUS ARE WORKING.(SALOON LIGHTS AND CAB LIGHTS).THE HORN IS WORKING.THE DOORS ARE OPENING AND CLOSING CORRECTLY. EMERGENCY DOOR ALARMS ARE WORKING,THE BELL PUSHES ARE WORKING. THE BUS RADIO IS WORKING THERE IS NO EXTERNAL BODYWORK DAMAGE.THE RADIATOR IN THE ENGINE IS FULL OF WATER.THE WINDSCREEN WIPERS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY.THE DRIVING MIRRORS ARE FIRMLY ATTACHED AND NOT BROKEN. 

The driver can now leave the garage and drive to his starting point.He will drive for a number of hours before having a break of at least 40 minutes, then take take over his second bus which is ether on the road or in the garage and drive for anther number of hours.When his duty is finished returns to the garage and pays in any money he has collected from passengers also hand in any lost - property which may have been left on the bus that day and then finally he "SIGNS OFF" and goes home.If he was involed in accident he will need to fill in an accident form for insurance reasons before he goes home.

BY SAMUEL FRANCO-HALILI

Routemaster Acrostic Poem

Rushing down effortlessly, as slick and fast as a jet.
Omnibuses didn’t stand a chance against this scarlet treasure of London.
Ushering passengers in as quick as possible: to continue the long journey.  
Tranquil atmospheres linger around the bus; ensuring comfort’s presence.
Elegantly swerving from, as it turns among London’s cobble ways.
Mourning over the buses of the past: its great ancestors.
Auburn paint enveloping the well-made structure.
Ssanitized from the distant world of yesterday’s buses, an what is coming.
The Routmaster has come and went, but will be the city’s lasting icon.
Evening lights com on at night, caring for passengers’ sight.
Roars from the vibrant engine travel through the raging fire within.


By Stefanos Year 6: WCPS

Routemaster Mason

Revs of engine on the London streets,

Omnibus was the first bus 



Until machines replaced horses.

The buses were all uncomfortable.

Most buses were red...

All buses were red!

Sounds of horses replaced by horns.              

They smoked upstairs.

Effortlessly across the city streets 

the Routemaster travelled.    



THE DIARY OF MARY MORGAN

DEAR DIARY                                                                           November 1940

Hello my name is Mary Morgan.I come from Poplar just down the streets,I am a clipper not a big deal.In November  1940 a ..... bomb dropped NEXT TO MY BUS ! I did not know what to do. I saw these to darling children so I had to save them with my coat. But the only thing that matters is that we are okay.When I came out of my bus, everybody said that I was a hero I don`t  even know why. I just saved them. The next day everybody wanted to take a painting of me I had to put lots of makeup on because I did not feel good about myself. But the Artist Catherine Kennington said I had to take it off. BUT MAYBE I DID ACTUALLY LOOK GOOD WITHOUT MAKEUP!

BY INES

Mary Morgan Saved My Life

Dear Diary,

Oh my I can't believe what has just happened I am so shaken up but feeling so grateful to be alive...
I was walking down the street minding my own buisness I watch the buses go by, I see people smiling, laughing just enjoying life.

Well I just started to walk home when a hear a yell " Get Down, Get Down!! " At first I pass it off as a mother telling her child to get down of a wall or something but no....just a few seconds later I hear and explosion I curl up in to a ball thinking ' this is it? really...? ' but I dont feel anything I look up to see a middleaged women sheilding me and another child with her jacket she appeared to work on a bus maybe a 'clippie' I look up at her tears escaping my eyes she gave me a warm smile that calmed me down somehow I smiled gratefully up at her giving her a hug she hugged me back and the other child " Thank you " I said happiness filling my voice " You saved my life " I finished she smiled lightly and put a hand on my shoulder " I'm Mary Morgan and anyone would've helped " And with that she left as did the other child I raced home to tell my parents how a women by the name of Mary Morgan just saved my life and I couldn't be more gratefull that she was there otherwise I wouldn't be here....Mary Morgan Saved My Life.

Fares Please questions

Fares Please Questions
1.       What is your full name?
2.       What year were you born?
3.       Where were you born?
4.       What did you parents do for a living?
5.       Describe what London and the buses were like during World War Two (If appropriate)
6.       When did you start working on the buses?
7.       Tell us how you came to be working on the buses?
8.       What did your family and friends think of your decision to work on the buses?
9.       Tell us about any family members who worked on the buses.
10.    Tell us about how you were recruited?
11.    Describe what your training was like.
12.    Take us briefly through the jobs you did connected with the buses.
13.    Tell us about your favourite job to do with the buses.
14.    Describe your favourite bus type.
15.    Describe your favourite bus route.
16.    Tell us about your favourite garage.
17.    Tell us about some slang words connected to working on the buses.
18.    What have been the things you have enjoyed most about your work?
19.    Describe what you did on your break times at work.
20.    How did immigration from the 1950s onwards affect the London bus.
21.    Historically, how have pay and conditions for men and women been different?
22.    Tell us about any discrimination you might have experienced at work.
23.    What are your relationships like with fellow workers?
24.    Tell us about any social or sporting clubs or events you have been involved with through work.
25.    What has been the role of the union in your work life?
26.    How did privatisation affect your working life?
27.    What things at work have been the most challenging?
28.    Describe what happened on your best day at work.
29.    Describe some funny incidents at work.
30.    What was your worst day at work?
31.    Tell us about any accidents you have been involved in at work.
32.    Compare modern buses with old buses.
33.    Tell us about the main changes in technology over your working life.
34.    Why do you think the London bus is so famous?
35.    Looking back, tell us what you think about your time working on the buses.
36.    Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your time on the buses?
THANK YOU


London transport acrostic poem

     Lot's of buses, Lot's of trains,
   
   Omnibuses were the first ones,
   
   None of the vehicles are not incredible,
 
     Don't try to hide from the tcket inspector and not pay!
 
   Omnibuses are still much loved today,
   
   Never be rude to the bus drivers (they'll kick you off the bus!)

   
   Trains are also a big part of London transport.
 
     Rain was an issue with the first omnibuses, as there was no roof!
 
     A lot of B-Tybe buses went out to war.
 
     Not everyone could afford a ride on an omnibus-It was a whole sixpence and a shilling.
 
     Some people tried to make a runner when the ticket inspector came around on those old buses...
 
     People were amazed by these incredible ideas, but not everyone liked the idea of a bus that's not           powered by horses... it was called a motorbus, considered way ahead of it's time by most.
   
   Omnibuses were top-notch tech back when they were brought to London-Like hoverboards today!
 
the Routmaster is the most popular bus-It also started the well-known red-bus tradition!
   
   They are now called Transport for London (or tfl)...

by Erik Kunz 

A London bus conductor

My name is Sulil and I am a bus conductor.I am originally from Barbados
and I came here beacause I was given a job as a conductor.

It is really fun driving all day and visiting new places. I love meeting new people and making tthem smile.Very rarely, I have to send someone of the bus for bad behaviour.The worst thing about my job is that I have to help the driver clean the mess that passengers make such as mud on the seats. To prevent this from happening we have new rules to make our job easier.

Once, as I was doing my job, People came to me and said I shouldn't be doing this job because I did not come from london. I thought that was mean because everyone is equal and we all deserve the same amount of resspect.

Even after this incident I still love my job!

By Glenda Oloke

Letter Mayor of London

Sadiq Khan                                                     25/05/16
Mayor of London (2016-20)

Dear Mr Khan,
I am writing a formal letter of persuasion to invite you to the servicing of a London bus project. To begin with, this project, which is led by schools, associates with an oral history of the city’s buses; from the early Omnibus to the new Wrightmaster. In addition to this, an opening day of what will soon be a worldwide film on the history of buses will be held.
Before I explain about the CD that is in process, our class has come up with new ideas that could contribute to London’s future transport. So many ideas (mainly on road transportation) have come to perception that you can receive some of these ideas: the Luxor bus is a streamlined double- decker bus; commonly ‘a train on wheels’, as well as free Wi-Fi, an observation deck out of glass, more folded- up seats for buggy or wheelchair space; and, if possible, a wheelchair lift at the back: to enable buggy/wheelchair space on the top deck.
As well as this, we would like to invite you to join us at the debut of the new film on Thursday 14th July this year (2016); starting at 10:30am in the theatre of the London Transport Museum.  In relation to the schools, every accessible detail were conducted or produced by the pupils. Not only the film, but a booklet written by the children of Gateway and Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary school includes the formal history and quotes of ex and current bus drivers.  I would also like to draw your attention to the website; with access to the film, blogs and an oral history: Fares Please! An Oral history on London Buses.
Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary School would also like to invite you to our premises. This could give you an in-depth understanding of the standard of education across London, which I’m sure is a priority.
In conclusion, I hope that you may well be able to see the project’s finished product.

With Kind Regards,



Stefanos Mulugeta- Year 6 Pupil of Westminster Cathedral School

The Omnibus

Once There was a man called George Shillibeer.
Money was life to him.
Now he saw buses he wanted to buy one.
Ideas popped into his head.
But thought they weren't good enough .
Up to his head he couldn't wait to show the beauty.
So now the omnibus is born.

The diary of a 'Clippie'

Dear Diary,


I can't believe what happened to me today. A boy tried to get away with not having his ticket! But not on my watch! I'd seen that technique too many times. I asked him for his ticket but he just pretended that he couldn't hear me so I said a little louder " Can I have your ticket please?" and THEN he started crying!
me on the bus today
 Later on , when I'd finished my lunch, a bunch of girls tried telling me they had already given me their ticket! But I am not stupid . I had never seen them on the bus before,because they had just got on, but then the story changed completely to the fact that they were relatives of the conductor so he let them on for free.

The worst thing that happened today was that when I was on the bus some little boy ran past me and stole my ticket machine ! Not only did he leave a mark on my neck, because the string was around my neck, but he ran away with it when the bus started moving so I could not go after him. So I had to go back to the depot without my ticket machine. When the manager saw me he asked me what happened so I told him everything, exactly the way it happened. But he didn't believe me! He said that I probably just lost it or broke it and was making excuses! And when I told him that I was not lieing he said I was answering him back and then I got fired.This day was rubbish.

Till next time, Amber.

By Dian Pereira yr6

Wednesday 25 May 2016

I'm just a bus driver.....

Dear Diary,....

It's been 3 weeks. 3 whole weeks in this hell just a few weeks ago I was driving from Paddington to the bank and now I'm in the middle of a war. I'm just a bus driver I don't know anything about guns or....or ammunition I'm just a young chap from London.

It was only 3 weeks ago that I was driving my B-type bus and now my bus is being used as all sorts of things ambulances, messenger pigeon carriers and all sorts I just want to go back home. I NEVER imagined myself on the western front in....God knows where I just want to go back to the days where I'd wake up and get dressed in my uniform and drive all around London in my bus and pick up people and drive them from place to place not be woken up by yelling and screaming and having to put on filthy boots and step out into these hell holes that they call trenches what did I get myself into? I just don't know anymore. Why?....why me what have I EVER done to get myself in to this position. Not ever have I wanted to be a soldier I mean sure all boys say when they where younger they wanted to be soldier but me.....that has never been my dream no matter how boring or silly it sounds all I've ever wanted to be is a bus driver.

I know I cant turn back time but if I could...I would do something, anything to stop this war this prison of life. I can never un-see the things I've seen I can never un-hear the dreadful yells, screams, cries I've heard all I can do is fight. But I dont want to fight!!. Never in my life had I imagined that I'd go from driving around London to dodging bullets.

All the people I've talked to down hear say that this, this fighting, screaming, pain gives them adrenaline and tell me to cry them a river and get over it but I can't......I'm just a boy from London....
I'm just a bus driver.....


ACROSTIC POEM

On the bumpy cobbled roads, it bounced up and down.

Mothers and childern had priority.

No seats were comfortable.

In the carriage people jumped .

Bus driver was on top.

Using the whip to strike the horses.

Slowly, the omnibus travels.



The diary of Albert coe by paola



               Dear diary                                                               14th October 1940
             

       
  I'm Albert coe and i am from England! l am also a bus driver.
 I was on the 88 bus on 14th October 1940, when it all happened. The big explosion!

            This is how it all happened!

  I was driving my very nice bus on a very nice day, everyone was enjoying themselves. But                 then it all happened the.....big EXPLOSION! A really big bomb hit my beautiful bus, but
 that is not it, it fell into the BHL station and killed 68 people.(can you imagine that!)   It was really hard trying to save all of those people. I tried my best to save them. But i did find a way to save them, I dragged as much of the people I could, and took the out of the bus. I    don't know how much people I saved.
   

                                             "I can't make out why they chose me"
         
                                                          Quote by ,Albert coe
           

THE FIRST SCHOOL EVER TO GO TO THE LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LIBRARY BY INES AND CARTER

On Tuesday the 24 May some people from our class went to London Transport Museum Library were the first class ever to go there!  We interviewed  Laurie Akehurst . who is a volunteer at the library. He is very passionate about buses, he showed us his work on the country buses and the green line.
  We asked him some sophisticated questions.

                                                         Why like the RT?
  • He answered it was comfortable
  • It carried 56 people
  • He loved the smell or the new seats
                                                         When was the first female Bus driver?

  • The first female bus driver that was in the 1970 was called Jill Viner
  • Women was not suppose to do that job but the men went to war so some one had to do it.
                                                 Why did they get rid of the Route Master
  •     The newest Route Master in that time was 37 years old, and that is a very old.
                                                       What happened in the 1933
  • The London passenger Transport board was formed before that it was all private company. 
It was a pleasure to be talking to him about the London Buses.

A recount of a trip to The London Transport Museum

On Monday 23rd of May, Year 6 went to the London Transport Museum to learn about the history of the city's buses.

When we first arrived, we ventured to the Transportorium to experience a workshop, on designing a bus, called 'bid a bus'. Firstly, after we revised the history of buses, we split up into our four house teams. We had fifteen minutes to come up with ideas; it was a challenging act. Some of the best ideas included: the Luxor bus(a name), a window at the back, free WiFi, as well as suspense controls. As a result of this, a winner took several days to be decided. In addition to this, Sadiq Khan( who is the new Mayor of London) could see our results.

After a quick lunch break, we split into five groups to act- out scenes of the buses in history: it had a forty- five minute rehearsal to produce an act to show an audience.

Scene 1

The characters of this scene included: Joseph Johnson, William Topkins, James Fenner, William Page and Mary Goddard.

After a long argument, Mary Goddard and Joseph consult the bus depot, on in-bus behavior, after fighting to acquire the final top-deck bus seat.

Scene 2 

The characters of this scene are: Jim Woodwards, George Morris, Christabel Pankhurst, Ruby Morris, Sgt. Johnny Jackson, Lotte Woodwards.

After WW1 began in 1914, George Morris, who was sixty, and Jim Woodwards, who is twenty- three, are given white feathers for not being in Khaki.  As a result, they try to recruited, with George being too elderly. He was very disappointed as he saw his daughter becoming a clippie.

Scene 3 

The character of this scene are: Jim Woodwards, Chris Solly, Arthur Patridge, Ruby Morris, Archibald Rosenburg-Jackson and PC Seaby.

A coal miner, called Chris Solly, was on strike for more money. In contrast to this, some pirate companies began to take this to their advantage by attracting passengers. Jim and Chris were so furious that they got arrested; but freed by PC Seaby, for obstructing the Chocolate Express.


Scene 4

The characters were: Mary Morgan, Sir Alan Patrick Herbert, H.T Carr, Catherine and Eric Kennington and Albert Coe. H.T Carr wants Eric Kennington to draw a portrait of those who are modest heroes. The people who he had chosen were: Mary Morgan and Albert Coe. Mary Morgan did not think she was pretty enough to have her portrait drawn.

Scene 5

The characters in this scene are; Harold Blackman, Carl Hoyte, Ron Noades, Ismay O' Neil, Shirly Macdonald and Terry Bullivant.

In June  1963, Harold Blackman signed a contract to work as a conductor for London Transport. After trying to introduce himself to the English people, they ignored him. He tries to rent a flat. However, Ron Noades points at a racial sign saying no Blacks, Irish, or dogs. Ron slams a door into Blackman's face. Next, Harold walks away with his new friends and joins a L.G.O.C cricket club.

Free exploration and History 

After all the workshops,we had  an opportunity to explore the museum. We saw buses, trains and hackney cabs!
The buses first began when George Shillibeer, a wealthy man, collaborated with France to make the first Omnibus in 1829.
Over time a knife- board bus was developed with a top deck, after that, NS buses ran with a roof. Future developments were made, with adverts covering the staircases for a number of reasons. The most well known is the Routemaster, a top noch bus, that entered service in 1959. As well as this,  a new Routemaster came to the streets of London; will this be the new city icon?


To summarise, this trip was very enjoyable and we think we learnt a lot and had fun!

By Roisin Bunting and Stefanos Mulugeta
..

Routemaster Bus

R iding on the cobbled streets of London.
 
 
O ver-taking small, useless, minucle cars.
 
 
U nspeakable red, shining beauty winking as it rides by.
 
 
T ransfixed people looking jealously, saving up six pence and 1 chilling every day.
 
 
 
E xcitedly pouncing on ready to glide through the pardise streets.
 
 
 
M emorable experiences to remember for a life time
 
 
 
A gitated children looking out the window or pretending to sleep!
 
 
 
S leep or sneak you're always caught out by the conductor.
 
 
 
T ake a chance, you're kicked off the bus!
 
 
 
E nchanting the children as it rattles down the street.
 
 
 
R outemaster, roll, Routemaster, meet!                                                    By Roisin Bunting

The History of The Bus

Clippedy, Clop go the horses dancing down the streets,
As the people inside jump around in their seats,
Because of the mountain-like cobbles on the ground,
  People sometimes end up falling face down.
The bus with the stairs
Suddenly the roar of the engine comes around,
As man-made machines come to town,
With adverts around the spiral stairs,
While the 'Clippies' asks for  the fares.

Next comes the bus with the driver and stairs inside,
Connected to the rails the bus easily slides,
With the people on the knifeboard seats , sitting side by side,
The people of London enjoy the ride.

By Diana Pereira yr6

The First Omnibus By Glenda Oloke Yr6

 
   The first Omnibus went click,clack and clot,
       It was driven by 3 horses on a very nice trot!
    But on the bus everywhere was a jiggle,
        It looked as if everyone was doing a wiggle!

     The second Omnibus had stairs at the back,
        for the sake of elderlies there was also a rack!
      The bus was born in 1910,
        when men looked at women's privacy- bad men!

    The third Omnibus as usual was red,
         there was also a roof for the drivers head!
     At the top of the bus was a yellow roof,
         and at the bottom an engine instead of a horse's hooves!


    The Routemaster was the best of all,
         it was so good that nobody would fall!
     While everyone enjoyed the ride,
         Adverts surrounded them inside!
  
     No conductors on a modern bus,
         you swipe your oyster which isn't a fuss!
     modern buses are very busy,
      eventhough they do not have a 'Clippie'
    

Acton Depot Trip by Erik

  On Friday, 20th May, Year 6 went on a trip to Acton Depot! And the best part..., we went on a classic routemaster! Now that's a much better way to get around than the tube! But, the most important part of the trip is, of course, learning history!


  On the journey, we met an actor who was playing a 'clippie' from WW2. A 'clippie' is a nickname for a female ticket inspectorA ticket inspector would walk up and down the bus, asking everyone for their tickets, making sure they had paid. This was originally a job for men, but most of the men went out the war, and most of the females stayed. therefore, they used the ladies to do the job, as they still had to keep the buses running! They were then given the nickname 'clippies'.

  We also met a man called Cecil, who was from Barbados, and came to what they called the mother country (the called it this as the Queen lives here, and they are part of the commonwealth). But, there was lots of racism at the time, so not everyone was happy about people like him working for such an iconic bitish company-London Transport/Transport for london. However, they ignored these rude people and kepton going (well, most of them anyway...). Cecil worked a s a bus conductor for most of his life.

  Once we got to Acton Depot, we watched a short video about the history of buses. Then, we went into groups and, using the informaton we had gathered from the video, we partcipated in an adaptation of the famous TV show-'Who wants to be a millionare?'... they called it: 'Who wants to be a shillibeer?'

After this, we all had a look at all the veihcles they have in the museum... there were so many! It was lovely...

By Erik, Year 6

An Omnibus By Eliza

An Omnibus
By Eliza
 
Once upon before the time of the machine the horse drawn bus was created.
Masterminded by George Shellibeer in 1829.
Never before, had London seen a carriage with such beauty.
In all its glory, So divine.
Before the public eye hadn't seen shared travel for all.
Un-veiled finally.
So the Omnibus was born.

London Transport library by Paola and Ines

On Tuesday the 24 May, the writing group were split in to, two groups one for art and writing.The writing group got to go to the library,but did you know that we were the first class ever to be in there?It was In London Transport Museum.

First the writing group went to the library and we heard: stories about the old buses and bus drivers, we asked questions and we had a little mini quiz. One of the stories we had heard was about a boy and a bus driver. The bus driver saw a little boy crying and said 
"What is wrong oh, dear child, " The little boy said crying
" I am lost and I have no money!" So the bus driver went to the police station and handed him in!
But you will never know what the police man said,
"Oh not you again I have had enough of your silly jokes!" "This boy comes every day and plays this joke on us just because we give him milk and biscuits every time." 

Then we got to look around the library. I never knew that there was so much books on transport!!! I found a book with poems that people wrote about transport. I also saw a book about all the bus drivers and people who went to war.

Finally we put our books away and sat down. The lady asked us a little quiz we got all of them correct, it was only four questions. But the best thing is that the man gave us..... real I mean real tickets from the buses in the olden days. They used these tickets to get on the bus instead of oysters.


The diary of Catherine Kennington

Dear Diary,

I am so happy that my dad Eric Kennington,
was asked by H.T.Carr to paint heroes . As you
know, my dad is a sculpture and artist. But this time he
was asked to paint these two people Mary Morgan
and Albert Coe. Well Mary Morgan was on her bus
and stamping the tickets because she was a 'Clippie'.
Then out of nowhere, a bomb dropped and exploded and bravley
saved two children by moving them out of the way and she  
protected them with her jacket. Then Sir Alan Patrick Herbet
wanted to paint her. Mary got really scared and started to put
on loads of make up. I tried to tell she needed to show her
natural beauty. But she still didn't listen to me. Albert Coe's story
was very touching he made me feel I was there.Well he was driving
his bus when a bomb fell and made a huge hole  and his bus fell into the hole
but he survived. So he crawled out and started to drag the people who were
inside the bus to saftey. Now Sir Alan Patrick Herbet is going to paint him.
Albert Coe said he doesn't understand why he was chosen and he was only
doing his job.I am so happy to be part of this today. In my eyes these two are
heroes.

Love Catherine Kennington.
XX
BY Daisy.

ACROSTIC POEM by Daniel Mazzanti

Reves of the engine on the London streets.

Omnibus  was the first bus.

Until machine replaced  horses.

The old buses were uncomfortable so they changed it to be more comfortable.

Eternal symbol of London.

Mighty red towering gaint.

At the time of WW1 they sent buses to 'The Front'.

Sounds of horses repled by horns.

They can smoke only on the top deck of the bus because the roof was yellow.

Effortlessly gliding around the streets.

Regal, patriotic, pride of London.