Former Glasgow clippie, 102, celebrates birthday on famous 'Corpy bus'

“It was all that running up and down the stairs on the buses 50 times a day,” says the 102-year-old, from Knightswood, with a twinkle in her eye. “That kept me fit.”

Isa, who worked as a conductor, or clippie, for 20 years was treated to a special birthday trip on an old Glasgow Corporation bus today.

Accompanied by her daughter Carol, son Paul and granddaughter Lorraine, she was driven out of the Knightswood depot where she worked in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Isa Dorman remembers her job as a former clippie (Image: Sourced)

“She loved every second, although told us off for creating a fuss,” explains Lorraine, with a laugh. “We are so grateful to everyone at Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust for doing this for her, it was a fantastic day.”

Isa was born in 1921 in Partick, and grew up in Maryhill. She left school at the age of 14 to work in MacLehose bookbinders near Anniesland, and during the war she worked for Rolls-Royce when it became a munitions factory at Hillington.

Former clippie Isa Dorman (Image: Sourced)

She stopped work to raise Paul and Carol, but at the age of 39 she decided to apply for a job as a clippie.

Lorraine explains: “She was raising her kids by herself and needed a good income, and after all those years raising her family, she wanted to do something for herself.

“In those days, the cut-off age for a clippie was 40, and she managed to get in just one month before her 40th birthday. She absolutely loved the job, and used to tell us all the time about the characters she met.”

Lorraine laughs: “She threw a good few folk off the bus for their cheek!”

Isa with her great granddaughters Freya and Lauren (Image: Isa Dorman)

By then living in Knightswood, Isa was based at the Great Western Road depot.

“She’d go in and sit in the bothy – the canteen – and if a conductor hadn’t turned up or was ill, she’d get called up to do the route,” says Lorraine.

“She did lots of different routes – I remember when I was wee sometimes in the summer holidays, I’d be plonked on a seat with a bag of sweeties and we’d head off wherever the bus was going that day.”

Isa Dorman is now 102 (Image: Sourced)

She grins: “I thought it was brilliant. You definitely couldn’t do that nowadays, but it was fun for me back then, all these old ladies coming on and sitting beside me for a chat.”

Isa retired at the age of 59, but up until her late 80s, she was still travelling on buses.

“Some of the drivers still recognised her and would give her a wave and a hello,” says Lorraine. “She loved going into town to pick up a bargain.

“She’s not quite so mobile now but she’s very sharp. I have always admired her strength and resilience. She’s not always had easy times in her life but she’s just got on with it, and she is a very positive person.”

Isa Dorman worked in Glasgow (Image: Sourced)

After all the excitement of the bus trip, Lorraine, Emmett, her daughters Freya and Lauren, and Carol and Paul will be helping Isa celebrate her milestone birthday with cake and a party at home.

“We don’t have a big family but we’re all close and we wanted to do something special,” says Lorraine. “My gran is a very special person – she’s just amazing.”

GVVT trustee Ed Bonner said: “At 102, Isa is the oldest surviving Corpy clippie and, as bus enthusiasts, we are privileged to be part of her birthday celebrations.

“She will be a special guest at our Family and Community Day at Bridgeton Bus Garage on July 30."