Happy Days Coaches Coachdriver, and now ex Geography Teacher.

I went to Portsmouth Polytechnic in the late seventies to study a Geography degree, and qualified in '81. I had wanted to work for the National Bus Compnay or London Transport as a graduate recruit, but times were hard back then and competiton fierce.

So, I ended up taking my PSV licence with Happy Days Coaches under the expert guidance of Keith Soden, as my father knew the tours manager at the time - Dennis Wenlock, who later fell from grace. I worked initially part time, filling in full time on busy weekends driving Ford Willowbrook Exprerssways on schools and stage carriage services. By September 82 I was taken on full time promising to stay at least "2 years" to Ken Austin, as he was worried I would leave for a higher paid job because of my qualifications. I stayed until 1989, and then went back part time at weekends!!!

During that time I drove various Ford coaches until 86 when I transferred to Volvo and DAF power, driving ex Wallace Arnold Volvo Dominants, and ex Park's of Hamilton Volvo Dominant 1, and an ex Smith's of Tysoe DAF Duple 340.

I ended with driving double decker coaches for 3 seasons, Neoplans x 2 and a DAF SBR3000 Paramount 4000 in all over white.

I drove on Timesacape holidays contracts to Maurach, Mayrhofen, Lake Garda and Lido di Jesolo for 2 and a bit seasons, and for Provincial Tours on their Lourdes contract for a whole season. I also took Liverpool FC to the FA cup final at Wembley in 1989 driving E111 KFA Neoplan decker. Kenny Dalgliesh was the manager and Bruce Grobelaar was full of wit when he sat behinad me on the return journey, with the FA cup reslendant on the front dash! My claim to fame I guess !!!

I left in 89 and went to Keele University to do a PGCE to become a Geography teacher as I had become a single man - coach driving is not conducive to a Happy marriage!!! I then worked at Haywood Engineering College until 2012 when I took redundancy. I now am hoping to become a pub landlord!!!

During my driving days as well as Happy Days I worked for the following companies, due to my connections at the time - Leon's of Stafford, Staffordian Travel (when it was separate to Happy Days), Truemans Travel from Camberley (my mate Mike from Portsmouth still works there), and Paramount Leisure.

I also drove Walton High Schools JHA 234 L when I was a trainee teacher there in early 1990. Hopefully, I will drive again somewhere else in my later years !!!

I am currently negotiating to buy the lease on a pub, though which one it is remains to be seen. I had hoped to go to Bromyard, Herefordshire, but a misunderstanding on the terms of the lease led to that deal falling through.

Well, as 2013 begins it seems that I am on my way to Cornwall to take over as licensee and tenant at "The Carbeile Inn" at Torpoint, just across the ferry from Plymouth. So, my search for a pub is nearly complete.

in 2018 I returned to work for the Leon's Travel group as a Happy Days driver..