A GLASGOW man has realised his childhood dream by buying his own bus.

‘Bus’ was one of Steven Booth’s first words and he has now achieved his lifelong goal by buying a 1974 former Greater Glasgow PTE double-decker – made the year he was born.

The 44-year-old, from Newlands, said: “I can’t really explain what the fascination is but it has always been there, for as long as I can remember.

“As a boy I used to go on trips round bus garages to take photos of buses.

“My dad was a Glasgow bus driver when I was little and may even have driven the bus I now own, and my grandfather was also a bus driver and inspector in the city too so maybe that had something to do with it.

“I still have his drivers badge and wear it as part of my authentic 1970s bus driver uniform.

“I know people think it is a bit mad, but lots also think it’s cool. I am never happier than when I am out driving my bus.

“My bus is known as AV1. It always attracts attention, kids wave while others take photos. The bus always seems to make older people feel quite nostalgic.

“If I am parked they always stop to tell me they were once a clippie or that they used to take a bus like mine to work.”

The programme manager also indulges his passion for all things bus as Chairman of the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust based at the former Bridgeton Bus Garage.

Home to more than 120 buses, coaches, commercial vehicles and fire appliances, the Trust allows the public access to vintage vehicles through open days and involvement at events throughout the city, recently as part of the Great Big Mackintosh Bus Tour and a vintage bus service for the city’s West End Festival.

Steven said: “I feel very privileged to be Chairman of The Trust. We are all really passionate about preserving Glasgow’s transport heritage and I am always amazed by how excited the public, young and old, get about being able to get close up to the old buses.

“They obviously bring back a lot of memories for people and we hear lots of stories from former drivers and clippies, many of the Trusts volunteers are former drivers too who have a fondness for the old buses they used to drive.”

Since 2005 the Trust has also operated Back on the Road, a project which aims to help people with drug or alcohol addiction problems by providing skills and experience which improve their chances of gaining work.

The Trust Chairman said: “It is really important to the Trust that we play our part in the wider community and everyone is really pleased that Back on the Road has been such a success.

“In the 13 years it’s been running, we have helped nearly 100 people readjust to life after addiction.

“Our commitment to being part of our fantastic city’s wonderful community is also why we try to be part of as many events as possible, such as the Great Big Mackintosh Bus Tour or the Doors Open Days Festival, which bring the people of Glasgow together to celebrate our culture and our heritage.

“Besides in my experience our old buses – as well as the other vehicles we are home to – never fail to make people smile.”

It has been a big year for The Trust as it marks the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the iconic Leyland Altlantean bus in Glasgow.

The occasion has seen the Trust publish a book called ‘Glasgow Atlanteans’ packed with unpublished photographs from enthusiasts featuring the “LAs” on the streets of the city in the 1950s through to the 1990s.

Steven said: “The first Leyland Atlantean bus in Glasgow was called “LA1” and represented a radical change in bus design.

“It was also one of the very first Atlanteans to enter service anywhere.

“This type of bus went on to form the backbone of the bus fleet in Glasgow for the next forty years with the city being one of the biggest users of the type in the world.

“Even if the name doesn’t ring any bells then their engine noise will certainly evoke memories of the city in years gone by.

“One member of the Trust has spent 12 years restoring an Atlantean to near factory condition – it was very much a labour of love.”

The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust’s annual open weekend will take place on October 13 and 14, where they are looking to continue to mark the Leyland Atlantean and its significance to Glasgow.

To find out more about their events or to order a copy of the ‘Glasgow Atlanteans’ book please visit their website: http://www.gvvt.org