General Information
During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster &
Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that
feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster
Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district
at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit
the information page. If you find a caption is
wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D
J Clark.
Date:
April 13th 2000
Location: Various Locations
Photographer's Diary
13th April - On the Buses
I really was not looking forward to this one. A streaming cold and a few days left before I was due to run the Marathon, and a day travelling on the buses did not appeal. I had the pass organised for this day so I had to go. I left the home and walked up to the bus stop - no clue as to when a bus might come. There I met two old ladies from across the street. We chatted and I took a few frames. Then out of no where two jugglers turned up with unicycles - I could tell it was going to be one of those days.
Arriving at the Bus station I jumped off and looked around - I saw a Bus to Keswick - a bit far for me but I thought worth a go. I showed my pass to the driver - he didn't seem too pleased but let me in and drove off. I wandered the bus shooting the odd frame. I had no clue as to what I was looking for, windows, people landscape, buses - all fair game. I came down after 5 minutes bored. Plucking up courage I went to speak to the driver, he lightened up and we laughed a bit. I shot as people got on and got off. Paul Turnball as he turned out to be called was a Scout leader 10 years driving the buses. He liked the job but complained of poor pay and uncaring managers. People were using the buses less these days and yet the roads were getting harder to use cars on. Strange.
I asked to get off before Kendal and Paul flagged down a bus going in the opposite direction. It was a similar story. A grumpy driver - turned happy and cheerful - I went on taking pictures. "It's a poor day for photos" I was told as the rain continued. I thought it was a good day actually.
Back at Lancaster I took some pictures of the Station and boarded another bus for Morecambe. It went all over the place but got there eventually. The Indian driver had worked all over the world doing every job you could think of. He liked Lancaster now though and saw himself settling down in the UK. "You always end up home at the end of the day in this job - that's what I like". The depot was closing, the station due to be knocked down but the future looked good. Everything was due for renewal. I found an old friend and took her picture on the top deck I returned and jumped off. Picking up another service I continued to be taken round the houses. This time a young energetic driver who had a chance of working in Torquay for the summer.
Arriving back in Lancaster - schools were out and the station was packed. I roamed with my camera and found some very interesting pictures. Somehow I felt a bit braver with young people. During the day I had a couple of angry folk having a go at me for taking their picture or even asking, which I tried to do in most cases. The lady in the information booth was very short - "I am busy" she told me as I tried to ask to make a picture. I walked out.
Taking a bus home I was thrown in with the school kids. Downstairs I shot a small group of girls who had taken over the back of the bus. Upstairs I was jeered and shouted at "Pedophile" - I carried on shooting in defiance and then retreated to find the driver. I was exhausted and collapsed in the chair at home. I will try and get some night pictures tomorrow.