Vintage Bus Picks Up Kids At Whithorn Primary

Transport and travelling have been on the agenda at the nursery lately. They are learning about how buses and public travel have evolved over the past 40 years.

The nursery got in touch with Stagecoach West Scotland who sent down an old Western Scottish bus built in 1977 and a coach which runs on the 500 service between Stranraer and Dumfries.

The kids popped on each bus and saw first-hand how much buses have changed over the last 40 years, before heading out for an exciting tour of the area.

The Stagecoach visit also supported the nursery's ‘Developing the Young Workforce plan’, giving the children an insight into the job of a bus driver.

Stagecoach West Scotland’s services play an important role in helping people in rural and urban areas access work, education, health, shopping and leisure and run accessible, convenient, safe and sustainable bus services for local communities. Jim Henderson, Assistant Operations Manager at Stagecoach West Scotland’s Stranraer and Dumfries depot, bought the Western bus in 2010 and has restored it to its former glory.

He said: “It’s always a real pleasure to see young kids take such an interest in the old vintage buses and seeing how much they have evolved into the fleet of modern, clean and efficient Stagecoach buses that they travel in today.

“The kids got to explore both buses and listened intently as I explained the differences between the old and new technology, such as the wheelchair ramp on the new coach and the bells that featured on the old buses.   

“The wee ones also loved their Stagecoach gift bags which included pencil cases, pencils and their very own driver badges. We then took them on a short tour of Whithorn before dropping them off back at nursery.”